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Opportunities

Director, Fund Development

CAREERS: The Next Generation

Status: Open Location: Edmonton, AB

The Organization

CAREERS: The Next Generation (“CAREERS”) is Alberta’s leading youth workforce development organization, partnering with industry, education, government and communities to provide career awareness, exploration and internship opportunities for youth. Through these partnerships, CAREERS connects young Albertans with opportunities to explore career pathways while supporting the development of Alberta’s skilled workforce.

With approximately 70 employees and a growing impact across the province, CAREERS is expanding its reach and deepening its programs to support connected and empowered youth. Its work is enabled by relationships across government, industry, education, communities and philanthropy, making a diversified and sustainable funding model important to the organization’s continued growth.

As CAREERS expands, there is an opportunity to strengthen and integrate its approach to fund development across government, corporate and industry investment, individual giving, foundations and campaign initiatives. This includes broadening the organization’s funding base, strengthening existing partnerships and developing new relationships that support its mission and long-term financial sustainability.

For more information about CAREERS: The Next Generation, please visit their website.

The Opportunity

Reports to:President & CEO
Direct Reports:1: Provincial Manager, Corporate Partnerships
Location:Edmonton, AB

Mandate

Reporting to the President & CEO, the Director of Fund Development (the Director) provides strategic leadership for the development and execution of a comprehensive, multi-channel fund development strategy that advances CAREERS’ mission, financial sustainability and long-term growth. A member of the senior leadership team, the Director will establish an integrated approach to revenue generation spanning government partnerships, corporate and industry investment, campaigns, individual giving and foundation relations.

The Director will strengthen and diversify CAREERS’ funding base by building relationships with government, industry, corporate and philanthropic partners and translating organizational priorities and impact into compelling investment opportunities. The role combines fund development strategy with active relationship building, solicitation and stewardship, requiring the Director to establish credibility with senior decision-makers and represent CAREERS effectively with external partners.

An important leadership priority will be building the systems, processes, performance measures and team capability required for a mature and sustainable fund development function. The Director will provide strategic counsel to the President & CEO and senior leadership on funding trends, opportunities and risks while supporting leadership and Board members in developing relationships with prospective funders and donors.

Key Accountabilities

Fund Development Strategy & Leadership

  • Develop, implement and evaluate a comprehensive, multi-year fund development strategy aligned with CAREERS’ strategic direction and organizational priorities.
  • Establish an integrated funding framework across government, industry, corporate, individual, foundation and campaign revenue streams, identifying opportunities to diversify revenue and strengthen long-term sustainability.
  • Develop and manage the annual fundraising budget, establishing clear priorities, targets and performance measures across funding streams.
  • Provide strategic counsel to the President & CEO and senior leadership on fundraising trends, philanthropic opportunities, funding risks and organizational positioning.
  • Establish effective fund development systems, processes and reporting practices; monitor performance against targets and provide regular reporting to leadership and quarterly reporting to the Board.

Government & Institutional Funding

  • Lead CAREERS’ government relations strategy to stabilize and grow provincial government funding, demonstrating clear alignment between CAREERS’ impact and government priorities and mandates.
  • Build and maintain proactive relationships with provincial, federal and municipal government representatives through consistent communication, organizational updates and strategic engagement.
  • Position CAREERS’ work within broader economic, workforce and skills-development priorities, developing compelling funding narratives and partnership opportunities for government audiences.
  • Monitor government priorities and funding opportunities and advise organizational leadership on emerging opportunities, risks and implications.

Individual & Community Philanthropy

  • Build and lead a robust individual giving program aligned with CAREERS’ fund development strategy.
  • Develop compelling cases for support that connect CAREERS’ impact on youth career development with community economic competitiveness and Alberta’s skilled workforce needs.
  • Identify, cultivate, solicit and steward individual donors, major gift prospects, legacy donors and family foundations.
  • Partner with the President & CEO, senior leadership and Board members to identify, cultivate and solicit high-value prospects.
  • Develop thoughtful donor engagement and stewardship practices that support long-term relationships and recurring philanthropic investment.

Foundation Relations

  • Identify and cultivate relationships with foundations whose priorities align with CAREERS’ mission and strategic direction.
  • Develop compelling proposals, grant applications and funding requests that clearly demonstrate organizational impact and alignment with funder priorities.
  • Manage foundation relationships throughout the funding cycle, including cultivation, reporting, stewardship and renewal.
  • Strengthen and grow foundation support as part of CAREERS’ broader revenue diversification strategy.

Industry Investment & Partnership Growth

  • Lead the strategy to grow industry investment, increasing both the number of corporate and employer partners and the value of their financial support.
  • Develop a clear value proposition framework that demonstrates the benefits and return on investment associated with supporting CAREERS, including opportunities to engage industries beyond current sectors.
  • Build a strong network of senior industry relationships and convert prospective partners into corporate investors and sponsors.
  • Develop strategies to deepen existing relationships and transition one-time investors into annual and multi-year funding partners.
  • Establish stewardship and recognition practices that appropriately acknowledge and celebrate industry investment and strengthen long-term relationships.

Campaigns, Communications & External Profile

  • Lead fund development campaigns and other strategic funding initiatives in support of CAREERS’ organizational priorities.
  • Work collaboratively with Marketing & Communications to develop investment proposals, marketing materials, public relations initiatives and recognition strategies that strengthen fund development and partner engagement.
  • Translate CAREERS’ impact into clear and compelling narratives for government, corporate, industry and philanthropic audiences.
  • Serve as a spokesperson and brand ambassador with government officials, corporate leaders, donors and philanthropic partners, representing CAREERS at industry events, meetings and other external forums.

People Leadership & Fund Development Capacity

  • Provide leadership to the Fund Development team, establishing clear priorities, expectations and accountability for results.
  • Build, mentor and develop a high-performing team while strengthening the capability of emerging fundraising professionals.
  • Foster collaboration between Fund Development and other areas of CAREERS, ensuring funding strategies and external commitments are well aligned with organizational priorities and program impact.
  • Establish the tools, processes and performance disciplines required to support an effective, scalable fund development function.

First-Year Deliverables / Measures of Success

Success in the first year will be determined by the candidate’s ability to:

  • Develop a strong understanding of CAREERS’ organization, programs, stakeholders, funding model and annual operating and funding cycles, establishing the foundation for effective long-term fund development leadership.
  • Build strong, collaborative relationships with the established team across the fund development portfolio, creating alignment around priorities and leveraging the team’s existing knowledge and capabilities.
  • Assess CAREERS’ current fund development approach and identify opportunities to strengthen and evolve its longer-term strategy across government, non-government and philanthropic funding streams.
  • Demonstrate meaningful progress in advancing fund development priorities while learning the distinct cycles, relationships and timing that influence funding throughout the year.
  • By the end of the first year, establish a clear, informed and actionable fund development strategy that provides a strong foundation and direction for CAREERS’ longer-term revenue development efforts.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will have the following:

Education:

  • A post-secondary education in a relevant field.
  • Equivalent combination of education and direct relevant leadership experience will be considered.

Experience:

  • Progressive fund development experience with demonstrated success developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies across multiple revenue streams.
  • A proven record of securing significant philanthropic support and driving revenue growth through relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, industry and/or institutional funders.
  • Experience translating organizational priorities and demonstrated impact into compelling cases for support, proposals and investment opportunities for diverse funding audiences.
  • Demonstrated ability to build, cultivate, solicit and steward relationships with senior decision-makers, donors, corporate partners and other external stakeholders.
  • Experience developing or growing individual and major giving programs and cultivating high-value philanthropic prospects.
  • Experience with foundation relations, including prospect identification, proposal development, grant applications, stewardship, reporting and renewals.
  • Experience building corporate and industry partnerships and developing value propositions that convert organizational impact into meaningful investment opportunities.
  • Experience leading and developing fundraising professionals, including coaching, mentoring and building team capability.
  • Experience establishing fundraising plans, budgets, targets, performance measures, systems and reporting practices.
  • Experience advising senior leadership and working collaboratively with executives and Board members in support of fund development and relationship-building activities.
  • Experience in government relations and developing relationships with public-sector funders, including strengthening existing partnerships and identifying opportunities to stabilize and grow government investment.

Competencies and Attributes:

  • Strategic and commercially minded, with the ability to build an integrated fund development strategy while remaining personally engaged in relationship development and fundraising execution.
  • An accomplished relationship builder who establishes credibility and trust with government officials, corporate and industry leaders, donors, foundations and community partners.
  • Strong fundraising judgement, with the ability to assess opportunities, prioritize prospects and align funding strategies with organizational objectives.
  • A persuasive communicator and storyteller who can translate CAREERS’ impact and priorities into compelling funding narratives for different audiences.
  • Strong public relations and presentation skills, with the presence and judgement to represent CAREERS credibly in senior external settings.
  • Collaborative and organizationally minded, with the ability to work effectively across leadership, program and communications teams and engage the President & CEO and Board appropriately in fundraising.
  • A capable people leader who develops talent, sets clear expectations and builds an accountable, high-performing team.
  • Analytical and results-oriented, using targets, performance measures and funding data to evaluate progress and inform decisions.
  • Adaptable and proactive, able to identify emerging funding opportunities, new industry sectors and changing philanthropic priorities while maintaining focus on long-term sustainability.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

CAREERS: The Next Generation is committed to diversity, inclusion and belonging and recognizes that a diverse team strengthens the organization and its ability to serve youth, partners and communities across Alberta. CAREERS welcomes applications from all qualified individuals. In accordance with provincial legislation, accommodations are available upon request throughout the recruitment and assessment process.

Application Instructions

If this opportunity excites you, please send an application package, including your resume and cover letter, to connect@mullenleadership.com. In the subject line of your email, please include the organization’s name and the position title.

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