Skip to Main Content

Development Officer

Posting Details

Position Information

Position Title Development Officer
Position Summary
The Development Officer will establish and develop long-term philanthropic relationships and partnership opportunities for Red Deer Polytechnic. The incumbent will grow and retain a portfolio of donors and prospects with the potential of making major contributions, as well as build and grow relationships through individual donor engagement strategies. The Development Officer will research, plan, and develop comprehensive strategic fundraising activities for targeted initiatives that support the advancement of Red Deer Polytechnic. The success of efforts will raise funds and build engagement across the institution, locally, regionally and nationally through donations, as well as strengthen RDP’s leadership as a student centered and community responsive Polytechnic. The Development Officer will be an integral contributor to a dynamic team that seeks to achieve ambitious goals in pursuit of the Polytechnic’s fundraising priorities.
Position Responsibilities
Revenue Generation
  • Develop, implement, and manage plans for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations
  • Develop and implement strategies to build relationships with donors and secure future major gifts
  • Plan and execute stewardship plans for their portfolio of current major gift donors
  • Interpret the interests of potential donors or stakeholders and translate them into attractive opportunities for investment in RDP activities and initiatives
  • Communicate the institution’s objectives in a persuasive and stimulating manner with all stakeholders through a strong understanding of the immediate priority funding needs
  • Identify potential fundraising opportunities and donors, develop relationships and beneficial networks, and secure donations that meet targets
  • Negotiate and secure funding in support of all Schools, programs and RDP fund development initiatives

Prospect Development & Management
  • Manage prospect development process (identification, research, cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship) of individuals and organizations that are major gift prospects
  • Maintain a major gift portfolio of donors/prospects in order to build and maintain strong relationships with donors in order to ensure their ongoing philanthropy for Red Deer Polytechnic and satisfaction with their respective gifts
  • Track regularly through Moves Management program prospect development and gift closure in terms of defined personal and philanthropy team goals
  • Conduct research on new funding prospects
  • Create compelling and persuasive asks for prospective donors
  • Identify prospects through activities such as database scanning and prospect identification, in collaboration with the Philanthropy and Alumni Relations team
  • Meet individually with prospective donors, and provide opportunities for giving including presenting proposals and solicit outright gifts
  • Manage a portfolio of approximately 75 prospects with the capacity to make 5 and 6-figure gifts, develop comprehensive cultivation and solicitation plans, and track donor activity for prospects
  • Develop and maintain personal contact with an assigned portfolio of prospects for major gifts with the goal of moving these prospects through the development continuum
Stewardship
  • Collaborate with key internal stakeholders to generate strategically aligned ideas that will be developed into value laden proposals to prospective donors
  • Engage in networking opportunities to support the fund development model
  • Cultivate high quality experiences with prospective and secured donors
  • Develop and build upon existing relationships with donors
  • Assist in building and maintaining long-term relationships with external stakeholders associated with Red Deer Polytechnic and its various fundraising initiatives
  • Develop and cultivate relationships on behalf of RDP with businesses, alumni, and associations in order to advance RDP’s vision and mission through donations
  • Support development of gift agreements and stewardship plans for secured donations and gifts in accordance with RDP policies and procedures
  • Ensure commitments to donors are met and ensure excellent donor relations
Required Qualifications
  • Four (4) year undergraduate degree, or three (3) year undergraduate degree plus one full additional year of university in a related program representing four years of study or equivalent in Business/Marketing.
  • Experience in fund development facilitation and management
  • Success in acquiring major gifts from donors over $25,000
  • Motivated to work in a fundraising/philanthropic industry
  • Excellent oral, written, analytical, problem solving and technical skills, with strong attention to detail
  • Demonstrates initiative, resourcefulness, and is results oriented
  • Strong organizational and planning skills, including an ability to determine priorities, be self-directed, and work with minimal supervision
  • Ability to build strong collaborative relationships, with a variety of business and community members
  • Ability to interact successfully with diverse clientele, confidently selecting the correct approach
  • Experience engaging academic leaders, faculty and community partners in the development of meaningful and productive relationships with prospects and donors coupled with a propensity to think aspirational and a firm commitment to thrive in a unique culture of philanthropy
  • Ability to exercise discretion, integrity and confidentiality and act in a professional manner appropriate to the situation
  • Resourceful and creative; a true relationship builder with ability to inspire and engage
  • Experience in drafting proposals, briefings, contact notes, stewardship plans/letters and other correspondence for prospects
  • Experience developing and executing strategic business and action plans
  • Proficient in the following computer applications: Microsoft Office Suite, Raisers Edge NXT (or other relational databases)
Preferred Qualifications
  • Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification desired
Salary or Hourly? Salary
Salary $73,572 - $86,069
Benefits and Compensation Information
Red Deer Polytechnic offers a comprehensive benefits package including extended health and dental care through Blue Cross, access to a health spending account, pension plan, Employee & Family Assistance Program, generous vacation allotments, credit tuition waivers and opportunities for professional development funding. Additional time off due to Institution closures between Christmas and New Year general holidays.

*Eligibility to access the above mentioned benefits dependent upon the AUPE Collective Agreement and related RDP policies.
About Red Deer Polytechnic
Focused on advancing the economic and social priorities of Alberta, Red Deer Polytechnic(RDP) provides more than 80 industry-relevant programs within a breadth of credentials to approximately 6,300 credit and apprenticeship students and 3,400+ learners with Continuing Education programming. With modern teaching and learning spaces, and state-of-the-art research and innovation centres in advanced manufacturing and energy innovation, the Polytechnic provides applied research opportunities, leadership in the social, economic, and cultural development of Alberta, and myriad lifelong learning opportunities.

Red Deer Polytechnic’s main campus is located on Treaty 7, Treaty 6 and Métis ancestral lands. This is where we will strive to honour and transform our relationships with one another.

Whatever brings you to Red Deer Polytechnic, we are glad you are here. And we look forward to having you as a valued member of our polytechnic community.
Posting Detail Information

Competition Number 2024-A-044
Employment Type Permanent Full-Time
Number of Vacancies 1
Desired Start Date 06/17/2024
Position End Date (if term-certain)
FTE 1.0
Hours of Work Normal working hours are 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week. Evenings and weekends required as nessecary
Open Date 04/18/2024
Close Date
Open Until Filled Yes
Note to Applicant
To fulfill Red Deer Polytechnic’s mission to enrich the intellectual, economic, cultural, and social development of Central Alberta, people representing diverse perspectives and experiences are required. We welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous persons, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, persons with any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Red Deer Polytechnic will provide job applicants with accommodations in accordance with the Alberta Human Rights Code. To request an accommodation, please contact Peopleandculture@rdpolytech.ca. 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
Special Instructions to Applicants

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Documents Needed To Apply

Required Documents
  1. Cover Letter
  2. Resume
Optional Documents