Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To achieve revenue generation targets by initiating, developing and nurturing Ontario Science Centre (OSC) relationships with granting bodies, corporations, foundations, government partners, and individual donors that can support specific projects and ongoing programs at the OSC, and to form mutually beneficial partnerships.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Reporting to the Director, Development and Partnerships, the Senior Development Associate generates revenue by initiating, developing and nurturing OSC relationships with granting bodies, corporations, foundations, individual donors and other funders to support specific projects and ongoing programs at the OSC.

Strategy, Planning & Program Development Duties/Responsibilities
- Developing fundraising strategies, revenue forecasts and projections for government project funding, corporate, foundation partnership/sponsorship, and individual donor programs at the OSC.
- Executing and evaluating strategies to secure government project funding and attract corporate, foundation, and individual donors in collaboration with the Director and other department staff, and preparing resource requirement forecasts.
- Developing strategies, plans and systems to ensure ongoing grantor, sponsor, corporate donor/partner, and individual donor prospect cultivation.
- Projecting optimal outcomes (funds, services, or partnerships) of specific projects or programs and developing strategies to maximize income and/or other opportunities.
- Maintaining understanding and awareness of OSC priorities, products and unique market offerings.
- Keeping fully apprised of funding opportunities including researching and developing plans for identifying new revenue generation leads.
- Gathering/disseminating information from/to Development and OSC staff, as well as Board members as appropriate.
- Creating and implementing integrated plans to influence stakeholder opinions and drive funding support
- Proactively monitoring, interpreting and reporting on industry trends and stakeholder activities, including the political, regulatory, economic, and general public sentiment landscapes
- Working with Director to manage and foster relationships with the Ontario Science Centre Board of Trustees including serving as a contact for the Fundraising Committee of the Board.
- Acting as lead and liaison on assigned portfolio and campaigns including presenting strategies to Board of Trustees, establishing connections, and working with Trustees where applicable to support the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of donor relationships and fundraising opportunities

Prospecting, Sales & Stewardship Duties/Responsibilities
- Overseeing development of target lists, initiating and maintaining corporate, foundation, and/or individual donor relationships that are/may become funders or influencers, and developing rationales and approach strategies for each assigned project.
- Recommending proposal or product variation and/or development required to meet stakeholder needs and objectives.
- Developing pricing and creative sales packages for assigned projects to achieve OSC objectives.
- Arranging meetings for the CEO, VP, Director, and other key OSC staff to meet with stakeholders and donors throughout the GTA and nationally in order to build understanding of the OSC's mission and seek increased support.
- Managing solicitation projects while collaborating with internal stakeholders, including research, proposal development, budget preparation, drafting and revision of applications/proposals, and submission.
- Pitching, negotiating, closing sales, and preparing contract agreements with clients.
- Fostering relationships and building trust with internal and external stakeholders and providing client liaison and co-ordination.
- Overseeing the stewardship/service of client relationships including mentoring and coaching Development Associate and Development Coordinator in their support of prospect research, program coordination, and servicing stakeholders.
- Preparing written materials tailored for various audiences and platforms such as agendas, activity reports, stakeholder maps, briefing documents, presentations, submissions and leave-behinds
- Maintaining records to prioritize actions, proposals, submissions, and reports including tracking all required reports and deadlines for funded projects, assisting staff in maintaining evidence of successful completion of project objectives, and maintaining ongoing records of proposal deadlines, pending requests and future submissions.
- Providing updates to Director on the progress of grant submissions, sponsorship opportunities, individual gifts, sales, and contract negotiations, and identifying issues and recommending possible remedial actions.
- Collaborating on development of promotion strategies and plans for sponsorship and other funding relationships at the OSC, working with internal staff, consultants, communication agencies or others to develop media coverage, advertising programs, brochures, videos, displays etc.

General Duties/Responsibilities
- Establishing and maintaining records of industry contacts, suppliers and contractors who may provide information, competitive intelligence about market and partnership opportunities.
- Developing OSC staff awareness of funders' expectations and assisting in planning operations improvements to better position the OSC as a desirable recipient of grants. Areas of consideration include: research and evaluation, education, education technology, science and technology awareness, the environment and innovation.
- Establishing and maintaining appropriate communication channels within OSC to ensure efficient flow of information.
- Working with project teams to plan and execute virtual and in-person events and meetings.
- Supporting and participating in Membership events, as appropriate.
- Other duties as required or assigned.

Staffing and Licensing :

Possible weekend and evening work to support fundraising events.

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of:
• Standards and practices in sponsorship and fundraising community to ensure that OSC programs are competitive and successful.
• OSC mission, mandate, policies and direction to anticipate both opportunities and potentially sensitive matters.
• Government project funding, sponsorship, fundraising and individual giving theory, techniques and trends to establish appropriate revenue targets, develop effective sales strategies and targeted proposals/presentations, and implement effective cultivation programs.
• Research and prospecting techniques.
• Sales, marketing and media relations principles and theory.
• General contract administration and sales agreement structure.
• Federal, provincial and municipal grant and project funding programs.
• OSC financial reporting and accounting systems.

Skills :

Job requires:
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills to make presentations and secure favourable funding agreements.
• Superior presentation and relationship management skills to pitch, manage and successfully work with partners, sponsors, and donors.
• Well-developed written skills to create proposals/applications, sales and other documents.
• Sound judgement and analytical skills which involves understanding the parameters of the role and keeping in mind the implications of a decision on OSC's mission, mandate, operations, internal and external relations.
• Coaching/mentoring skills to monitor and provide technical oversight of Development Associate and Development Coordinator work.
• Collaboration and consultation skills to interact effectively with Fundraising Committee of the Board, managers/staff from various departments, consultants and communication agencies and others to develop media coverage, advertising programs, brochures, videos, displays etc.
• Initiative and time management skills to set own work priorities and oversee progress of projects/campaigns with contributors from across the OSC.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.

Freedom of Action :

Freedom of Action

Worked is performed under the overall direction set by the Director within OSC mission, mandate, business values and ethics, policies, guidelines and standards related to sponsorship and fundraising, and within recognized fundraising practices and standards. Work is reviewed by Director when grant/sponsorship/donation plans are submitted and are assessed for effectiveness of strategies and tactics recommended. The position is required to refer to Director those situations that vary from the previously established sponsorship plans, or policy changes.

Independence of action is demonstrated in effectively assessing readiness of potential grantors/sponsors/donors, creating promotional material that describe OSC projects and programs to potential funders, and developing proposals that will attract funding for OSC projects and programs. The position exercises significant freedom of action in developing specific project strategies and customized sponsor/donor proposals and benefits. Judgement and independence of action is required in conceptualising and implementing appropriate plans on how to approach each grantor/sponsor/donor. Job participates in ongoing development and review of policies and guidelines, including pricing, recognition and development of benefit packages. The position operates independently in determining the methods to be used to determine stakeholder needs and development of proposed agreements, and to recommend various options.

The complexity of the assignments/projects handled by the position are demonstrated by its use of reasoning/problem solving skills to find, develop, and negotiate agreements in order to generate revenues and other benefits for the OSC.