Senior Development Associate

Join the Ontario Science Centre, one of Canada's most visited cultural attractions and a world-renowned educational institution that attracts a million visitors a year. We offer hands-on experiences and insights into science and technology that help visitors of all ages understand and contribute to the world around us. Play a key role in expanding new and existing funding partnerships, achieving revenue goals and ensuring optimum stewardship as a key member of our Development team.

What can I expect to do in this role?

You will play a leadership role in initiating, developing and nurturing relationships with government and other partners/funders in order to secure support for the Science Centre's priorities and programs through mutually beneficial relationships. The position provides leadership for the Centre's efforts to strategically identify/develop opportunities and prospects and to secure and steward grants, funding partnerships and donations. The role requires a self-starter with a strategic orientation, strong partnership development, sales and stewardship experience and superior written and oral communication abilities.

How do I qualify?

Knowledge of Grant, Partnership and Fundraising Principles

• Knowledge of standards and practices in grants, sponsorships and partnerships to ensure that Science Centre programs are competitive and successful
• Knowledge of sales and marketing principles, and best practices
• Knowledge of federal and provincial grant programs and processes
• Knowledge of research and prospecting techniques
• Knowledge and proven ability in partnership and fundraising techniques and trends to establish appropriate revenue targets and develop effective sales and stewardship strategies
• Ability to plan, execute and evaluate strategies to attract and secure partners and deliver optimal outcome of projects/programs

Grant and Partnership Sales and Marketing Experience

• Progressively responsible experience in securing government grants, funding partnerships, and donations - Preferably in an arts, culture or education institution
• Proven experience and success in identifying and developing opportunities and securing grants and support at the $100k+ level
• Experience identifying, developing and pricing supporter opportunities and creating grant applications and strategic proposals to meet supporter needs
• Demonstrated knowledge of government, corporate and philanthropic sectors
• Demonstrated knowledge of government goals, priorities and opportunities
• Proven ability to engage new prospects through independent research, prospect identification and cold-calling
• Knowledge of general contract administration and sales agreement structure
• Ability to prepare resource forecasts and revenue projections

Communication, Collaboration and Relationship Management Skills

• Superior written skills and outstanding attention to detail to write: strategic proposals, applications, sales and reporting documents; and, powerful and compelling engagement, cultivation and stewardship communications
• Superior oral communication, presentation, negotiation and relationship management abilities to engage, manage and successfully work with partners and supporters
• Ability to collaborate with external partners to identify external needs and opportunities and create compelling linkages to Science Centre needs, opportunities and offerings
• Ability to collaborate internally on development of partnership opportunities and plans for grant, sponsorship and other funding relationships
• Ability to work with Science Centre staff, consultants, communication agencies or others to develop recognition and promotional initiatives
• Collaboration and consultation skills to interact effectively with managers/staff from various departments , consultants, agencies and others

Strategic Planning and Project Management Abilities

• Strategic planning abilities to: identify and develop support opportunities within the Centre; identify funding prospects; and, strategically design and position projects and benefits to meet both Science Centre and supporter/partner needs and objectives
• Project management skills to manage solicitation projects including: research, proposal development, budgeting, application/proposal strategy and writing, supporter engagement, and project reporting and evaluation in co-ordination with other departments.
• Collaboration and consultation skills to interact effectively with managers/staff from various departments , consultants, agencies and others

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Friday, September 5, 2014 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.