Job Specification

Purpose :

To plan, develop and manage the Annual Giving and Major Gifts/Donor Relations Program for the Ontario Science
Centre (OSC).

To develop, recommend and implement strategic direction and policy related to prospect cultivation, funding solicitation,
volunteer management and stewardship of donors.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Strategy/Policy Development
Develops and recommends short- and long-term strategies and policy on prospect cultivation, funding solicitation and
stewardship to increase/maximize net annual donations by individuals.

Identifies issues and problems that potentially impact on achievement of objectives, develops solutions and
recommends remedial courses of action.

2. Events Planning and Fundraising
Researches donor prospects; develops mechanisms for raising funds, including fundraising events and point-of-entry
experiences; prepares proposals, and develops and implements approved plans. Manages protocol and logistics for
donor events.

Participates in the development of sponsorship packages, and in seeking and stewarding sponsors pertaining to
fundraising events. Develops collateral promotional materials.

3. Advice and Liaison
Provides advice to branch management and senior management regarding strategic direction setting, policy for the
program, events planning and execution, and other matters/issues related to program development and implementation.
Liaises with the Board of Trustee members, influential volunteers, volunteer committees and OSC senior staff regarding
volunteer-assisted fundraising events, and to identify prospective donors.

Advise on industry best practices, creating/delivering briefs, presentations for Director/VP, External Relations, OSC's
senior management/management Represents the Ontario Science Centre in championing the OSC positioning statement, key messages and brand in direct dealings with influential current/prospective donors.

4. Business/Operational Planning and Support Develops and recommends annual business plan objectives, revenue targets/budgets and re-estimates, and donation categories/levels.

Develops business cases, operational plans, activities and timelines; monitors and reports on progress against plans.
Analyzes and evaluates campaign results, and develops new/modified business strategies and plans to meet financial targets.

Determines process and system needs to support the program's operational requirements, and makes
recommendations.

5. Leadership and Coordination
Leads and coordinates the work of staff and volunteers assigned to undertake program activities and participate in
donor/member events.

Recruits, trains and coordinates volunteer committees related to event planning and revenue generation.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:

Cultural and educational not-for-profit donor and alumni relations management theory, principles, methods, techniques
and best practices to provide leadership in developing and recommending strategic direction and business/operational plans for the OSC Annual Giving Program.

Industry standards and benchmarks to establish donation categories/levels and program measures.

OSC programs and services, and related programs of other government agencies to develop and implement relevant
program strategies and plans; and to champion purpose/position to current and potential donors.

Business and operational planning, development of revenue targets, policy and practices to participate in the
development of business/operational/events plans, budgets and revenue targets.

Volunteer management techniques and processes to effectively utilize volunteers for fundraising events.

Program planning and project management methodologies, processes, standards and guidelines to develop and
recommend strategies and program plans; and to plan and facilitate implementation.

Financial reporting guidelines, processes and procedures to participate in the development of budgets and revenue
targets.

Leadership skills to supervise staff and volunteers working on program initiatives/activities.

Analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to assess opportunities for program development; and to analyze
and evaluate campaign results and other program-related data/information.

Government/OSC decision-making structures and processes to obtain approvals of recommendations.

Written communication techniques to prepare and edit planning documents, business cases, proposals, presentations,
briefings, sponsorship materials, promotional materials and correspondence.

Word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software programs to produce documents; analyze data/information;
and prepare presentations.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

Interpersonal, presentation and relationship management skills to develop and maintain effective working relationships
with management, committees, program staff, donors and other stakeholders; to make presentations; to resolve donors'
concerns and issues; and to obtain, provide or exchange information with all levels of management, program staff,
members, donors and other stakeholders.

Collaboration and facilitation skills to collaborate with management and program staff on the development of strategies,
plans and events; and to collaborate with the AD Strategic Communications on brand positioning and key message
development for donors.

Persuasive skills to enlist the support and involvement of senior management, committee members and other
stakeholders in cultivating donors; and to cultivate, solicit and steward key influential donors.

Negotiation skills to resolve issues with suppliers.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analytical and problem-solving skills to:

Develop and recommend program and operational plans, revenue targets, budget and staffing requirements.
Identify prospective donors by working with Board members and senior volunteers.

Identify ways to champion the OSC profile/position in dealings with key influential donors.

Analyze and evaluate campaign results, and develop and recommend new/revised business strategies and plans.

Address and resolve operational problems escalated by staff and/or identified as barriers to progress of the program.

Identify the need and make recommendations for contracting out work, and for additional program staff resources.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
Providing advice to Branch management and senior management on establishing strategic direction to develop the Annual Giving and Major Gifts Program.

Developing business and operational plans for the program.

Representing OSC interests and advancing brand positioning in dealings with the Board and donors.

Supervising operational activities related to the program.

Implementing program plans/activities, including introductory, cultivation and fundraising events.

Has latitude to participate in the development of the budget, budget re-estimates and revenue targets for the program; and to verify expenditures prior to approval.

Decisions are guided by OSC mandate and strategic direction for the Annual Giving and Major Gifts/Donor Relations Program, and relevant policies, directives and guidelines; government/ministry policy development and decision-making structures and processes; government/OSC financial policies, procedures, directives and guidelines; project management guidelines, standards and processes; and corporate and ministry procedures governing the preparation of promotional/sponsorship materials and documents.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

Branch management and senior management to provide advice regarding program direction, to seek direction, to provide briefings/updates, to enlist support and involvement in cultivating key influential prospects and to obtain approval of recommendations and required resources.

OSC counterparts to collaborate on development and implementation of common operational systems, processes, etc.
and to discuss proposed donor communications.

Donors, including solicitation and stewardship of the most influential donors, to provide information; to champion the
OSC purpose/position; and to resolve issues and concerns.

Industry experts to benchmark leading programs; and to acquire information on best practices.
External suppliers to resolve problems.

Guidance / Supervision :

Supervises staff involved in donor cultivation, gift processing, solicitation, renewal, stewardship, fund management and
related systems development and maintenance.

Assigns and reviews work and monitors progress, and ensures completion of work within assigned deadlines; provides input into performance assessments; and provides training.

Supervises and coordinates the work of volunteers.

Demands / Pressures :

Occasional unexpected work demands on short notice, changes to deadlines on short notice, and tight time pressures.
Occasional conflicting work demands resulting from multiple assignments.

Work Demands :

Occasional unexpected work demands on short notice, changes to deadlines on short notice, and tight time pressures.
Occasional conflicting work demands resulting from multiple assignments.

Mental / Sensory :

Frequent periods of concentration to analyze and evaluate data/information to draw conclusions; to prepare financial/budgeting documents and develop strategic/operational plans; and to develop promotional/sponsorship materials.

Moderate periods of giving instructions to assign work to program staff and volunteers.

Conditions / Environment :

Work is performed in a typical office environment.