Department: Development - Lazaridis School 

Job Type: Continuing

Full-time/Part-time: Full Time (>=1249 hrs/year) 

Campus: Waterloo 

Reports to: AVP, Advancement

Employee Group: Management 

Application Deadline: April 9, 2026

Requisition ID: 10719 

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier’s thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 21,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Laurier's Waterloo, Kitchener, and Brantford campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources, and not to engage in conflict. Laurier's Milton campus is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and part of the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 between the British Crown and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

This job posting is for a current vacancy.

Position Summary

Located within one of the most vibrant startup communities in Canada, the Director will be based on Laurier’s Waterloo campus with occasional travel required.

Reporting to the AVP Advancement with accountabilities to and direction from the Dean of the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics, the Director of Development, (Lazaridis) develops and implements major gift, principal giving and donor relations strategies in support of the priorities and values established through consultation with University leadership.. They will work closely with the Dean in the Lazaridis School to develop and implement the case for strategic fundraising priorities; ensure funds are spent in accordance with donor intent; and guide the Lazaridis School Dean and faculty in fundraising activities.

The Director, Development (Lazaridis) will act as a strategic support and lead partner in the management and advancement of goals and metrics developed for Lazaridis School development, ensuring the program meets its annual metrics and goals. The incumbent will lead and provide direct and functional management for the Lazaridis School, working with colleagues in the Advancement Team, direct reports, collaborative partners, and leadership from across the university to grow philanthropic strategy, competency, and major giving capacity.

The incumbent will manage and advance an assigned list of approximately 50 principal and major gift donors and prospects to secure gifts and pledges of between $25,000 to more than $1 million from individuals, corporations and foundations in support of the Lazaridis School’s strategic priorities. The Director will work with Principal and Major gift prospects to achieve annual fundraising targets.

This position has a Faculty-specific mandate and is based at the Waterloo Campus The incumbent will provide leadership in a multi-campus environment, requiring regular interaction, communication, and collaboration with external partners and internal stakeholders at Laurier campuses. The Director will ensure that institution policies, programs and services are delivered equitably across all campuses and reflect the needs of local stakeholders. As a key member of the Advancement team at Laurier, the Director, Development (Lazaridis) participates in university-wide strategy, planning and initiatives, which will enhance fundraising activities, specifically at the major giving level and will play an advising and strategic thought partnership role, working with fundraisers as part of a team developing and advancing strategies.

Key Duties & Responsibilites:

Major Gift Fundraising and Prospect Management

• Manages an assigned list of principal and major gift donors and prospects representing individuals, foundations, corporations, and associations for the purpose of securing financial support;
• Develops and implements strategies for identification, cultivation, and solicitation of prospects to achieve financial targets;
• Coordinates prospect/donor calls, makes visits and ensures all necessary follow-up including correspondence to donors, contact reports, updates to Banner, and drafting of terms and conditions;
• Develops, submits, and follows up on funding proposals to prospective donors;
• Develops and implements strategies for Major Gift prospects
• Develops and implements strategies for Principal Gift prospects in concert with the Director of Principal Giving.
• Develops and implements, in concert with the Donor Relations Manager, stewardship strategy for individual donors, including gift announcements, donor cultivation/recognition events, and reports to donors on progress and outcomes of fundraising projects they have supported with a view to strengthening those relationships.

Faculty Specific Fundraising, Planning, Strategy Development & Reporting

• Advances the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics’ involvement in the overall Development program; collaborates with Faculty resources in fulfilling the plan;
• Reports at minimum, monthly to the Dean of Lazaridis on all fundraising and donor relations initiatives;
• Maintains a good working knowledge of the activities, priorities and needs in teaching, research, and other areas of the Lazaridis School;
• Engages and assists the Dean of Lazaridis and individual faculty members in fundraising and donor relations activities on behalf of the unit;
• If requested by the Dean, participates in Dean’s Advisory board meetings and other relevant bodies at which reports on development activities may be provided;
• Maintains a high degree of sensitivity to the specific needs, values and culture of the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics and engages faculty members as appropriate
• Works collaboratively with peers within the Development team, specifically Directors of Development and the AVP Development; to ensure prospect identification and relationship building occurs;
• Maintains collaborative and productive working relationships with peers within the External Relations team including: Alumni Relations, Advancement Services Government Relations, Communications and Marketing, etc.
• Develops and implements plans for fundraising activities which support the priorities of the Lazaridis School, including specific measurable goals for revenue raised and solicitations;
• Develops reports on fundraising progress

University Wide Fundraising, Planning, Strategy Development & Reporting

• Participates in revenue projections and forecasting through fundraising activity to satisfy KPI’s in the Advancement Plan;
• Provides practical advice on fundraising success probabilities for projects and appeal to external funders;
• Reports bi-weekly to the AVP, Advancement on all fundraising and donor relations initiatives;
• Recommends specific actions to increase the effectiveness of advancement activities including own performance;
• Engages and assists Senior Leadership and Volunteers in fundraising and donor relations activities on behalf of the University.
• Develops and implements plans for fundraising activities which support the priorities of the University, including specific measurable goals for visits and solicitations;
• Develops reports on fundraising progress;
• Meets regularly with the Advancement team and works collaboratively with peers within the Advancement team, specifically Directors and the AVP Advancement; to ensure prospect identification and relationship building occurs;
• Maintains collaborative and productive working relationships with peers within the External Relations team including: Alumni Relations, Advancement Services Government Relations, Communications and Marketing, etc.

External Communications

• Collaborates with other Advancement staff to prepare and coordinate all communication pertaining to fundraising and donor relations within the units;
• Prepares and edits relevant communications materials, such as project descriptions, case statements, funding proposals, and gift agreements.
• Assists and advises the AVP, Advancement on specific fundraising initiatives and strategies.

Volunteer Management, Faculty Liaison and Administration

• Identifies, recruits and manages volunteers to assist in fundraising activities as appropriate;
• In consultation with other colleagues, ensures the effective and efficient use of centralized resources and information;
• Contributes to the preparation and management of the annual budget for Advancement;

Leadership

• Works closely with AVP, Advancement, VP of Advancement & External Relations, and Dean of Lazaridis to establish annual and multi-year fundraising goals for Lazaridis School
• Oversees the development and implementation of customized strategies and individualized strategic approaches to engage the interest and philanthropic investment (of major gifts $25,000 and up) of individuals (alumni and friends) corporations, and foundations, in support of priorities of Laurier; 
• Develops and manages timelines for various fundraising activities to ensure strategic plans and critical fundraising processes are carried out in a timely manner;
• Monitors and evaluates fundraising activities to ensure that the fundraising goals are being achieved;
• Coaches Development team and collaborative partners as needed to strengthen strategies to ensure success.
• Influence and motivate others by building relationships and directing work as a liaison between groups with a focus on solving unstructured problems.
• Supervises a team that consists of one Associate Directors

Qualifications

• University degree
• Established leader with progressive and proven experience providing leadership in development and experience as well as in a major gift fundraising and donor relations function, Capital Campaign experience preferred
• Strong experience closing gifts at the major and principal gift level
• A strong interest and recognition in value of the post-secondary education and continuous learning
• An understanding how to partner with subject matter experts to promote an engagement and investment the university culture and the various regulations pertaining to fundraising
• Goal oriented and committed to achieving results
• Strong managerial skills an asset
• Strong organizational and operational skills
• Fundraising strategy and development and operationalization of the fundraising plan
• Demonstrated leadership and team building skills including experience in goal setting, motivating, leading, supervising, evaluating, and developing a capable team of professionals
• Experience collaborating with a variety of stakeholders, particularly senior volunteer leadership, senior leadership teams
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Strong planning and project management skills
• Sound analytical and decision-making skills
• Relationship building skills, good judgement and diplomacy

Hours of Work 

This is a Full Time, Continuing position. The normal hours of work are Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

This position is eligible for a flexible work arrangement, as per Policy 8.14 (Flexible Work Policy). All arrangement must be approved by the direct manager. In-person attendance for events, as required to meet operational needs, is expected. On occasion, this schedule may need to be adjusted to meet operational requirements.

Compensation 

Level: MG-3A

Rate of pay: $107,968 to $134,960

Broad salary ranges include a hiring range ($107,968- $121,464 of range midpoint), a target range ($121,465 - $148,456 of range midpoint), and a premium range ($148,457 - $168,700 of range midpoint).

When new employees are hired the appropriate base salary is determined using these sub-ranges as a guide while adhering to rules on hiring as defined in our compensation policy. Considerations for new hire salaries include, qualifications and length/depth of required experience, relevant market rates for similar jobs, internal equity, and estimated learning curve in starting the job.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careers for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.

Please note, when pre-screening questions are used as part of the application process, AI is utilized to score responses. All other aspects of the hiring process are reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team.