Director, Major and Transformational Gift Communications

Cancer affects everyone. It remains the leading cause of death in Canada and the second worldwide, with cases expected to double in the next 20 years. Accelerating cancer research and care is our top priority.

At The Princess Margaret, our bold vision is to Conquer Cancer In Our Lifetime.

As one of the world’s top five cancer research centers, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is renowned for groundbreaking scientific discoveries and exceptional patient care. The Foundation’s role is to support, enable, and accelerate this vital work.

Signs of a brighter future are evident. Our dedicated community, combined with the excellence, determination, and creative thinking of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre team, is driving a movement against cancer. Together, we can make a profound impact, prolonging lives and giving people more time with their loved ones.

With the generous support of our passionate community, The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (PMCF) is transforming the cancer experience, offering real hope to patients in Canada and around the world. In the past fiscal year, PMCF raised $284 million, our highest revenue ever, and granted $144.9 million to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. These crucial funds are propelling world-class cancer research and setting new standards of care.

Through the power of our movement, we will achieve our vision to Conquer Cancer In Our Lifetime. Every donation made today accelerates cancer research, improving and prolonging lives tomorrow.

Union: Non-Union
Site: 700 University Avenue
Department: Major and Estate Giving
Reports to: Senior Director, Donor Experience and Stewardship
Hours: 35 hours
Wage range or Salary: $108,000 - $130,000 + additional compensation
Status: Permanent, Full Time
Posted Date: October 10, 2024
Closing Date: October 27, 2024

Established in 1982, PMCF has been setting daring and audacious goals with a mindset that is driven by our culture and passion for the cause. We have pioneered many successful fundraising programs, including our world-leading Princess Margaret Home Lottery, and some of the world’s largest peer-to-peer cancer fundraising events, and have sophisticated Major & Transformational Gifts and Estates & Gift Planning programs.

Now we are seeking a strategic, creative and collaborative people leader who is adept in strategic donor communications including fundraising materials and stewardship reporting and will partner with a diverse team of 30+ communications, stewardship and fundraising professionals in achieving their ambitious goals as we plan a historic, comprehensive fundraising campaign for The Princess Margaret.

Reporting to the Senior Director, Donor Experience and Stewardship, the Director, Strategic Insights will be responsible for leading a team of communications specialists that deliver best-in-class donor communications. The Director will liaise with team members across PMCF and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre to support collaborative and impactful materials that help elevate achievement and results in major, transformational and estate giving and across the organization.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
• Manage and lead a high-performing and dynamic team of Communications Specialists and Sr. Communications Specialists and collaborate effectively with other members of the Major and Estate Giving team and other departments to maximize the impact of major and transformational donor communications
• Oversee the strategy and effective development of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation’s transformational and major gift fundraising and stewardship materials which includes case statements, solicitation letters, proposals, pitch decks, 1-pagers and stewardship reports, ensuring materials are written and designed to the highest quality
• Manage the in-take process of requests from fundraisers, assigning and prioritizing projects with the team based on strategic goals, workflow and impact potential
• Work closely with foundation colleagues and Cancer Centre partners to understand project needs and participate in strategy sessions to align donor communication efforts with fundraising goals and priorities
• In collaboration with the communications specialists develop key messages and narratives for fundraising priorities and portfolios
• When necessary, directly develop and write donor communications materials including case statements, proposals, presentations and impact reports
• Track and report on the impact of fundraising and stewardship materials, reporting results and evaluating new opportunities
• Ensure fundraising and stewardship materials prepared by the team meet PMCF’s brand and writing standards and that there is a consistent voice, style and design across materials
• Partners with the Donor Experience team to enhance major and transformational gift communications efforts
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and implement best-practices that drives efficiency and best-in-class support for proposal development, impact reporting, and donor stewardship
• Partner with communications colleagues across The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre to identify new content opportunities in support of major and transformational giving priorities
• Provide mentorship, coaching and professional development opportunities to team members including conducting performance evaluations that address team members' needs
• Manage relationships with external freelancers and vendors as needed

• A senior level communications professional with a minimum of 10 years of experience preferably in non-profit communications, health care, or journalism
• Experience developing successful fundraising and stewardship materials at the major ($100k to $1M+) and transformational ($5M+) donor level
• Outstanding people leadership, mentorship, coaching and team building abilities, and a minimum 3 years of experience managing employees
• Excellent writing and editing skills coupled with strong critical thinking and communication skills, both oral and written
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate complex ideas into compelling narratives for broad audiences
• Exceptional negotiation abilities, conflict resolution skills and a strong sense of diplomacy
• Strong project management skills in order to manage a multitude of projects under tight deadlines
• A commitment to excellence and quality assurance including exceptional reviewing and copy-editing skills
• High proficiency in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), and project management tools (Asana), design tools such as InDesign and experience using platforms like ThankView an asset
• Strong alignment with the values of Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism (IDEAA)
• University degree in science/health-related discipline is an asset

We believe that the way we work together is just as important as what we accomplish. By making choices and taking actions that align with our values, we achieve greater success, and our work lives become happier and more meaningful.

At PMCF, we strive to foster a culture built on Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence (CARE). Central to these values is our commitment to IDEAA: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism.

• Experience a sense of purpose that you won’t get anywhere else, in any other job. You will be making a difference for millions of people impacted by cancer
• We offer a competitive compensation package including competitive salary, incentive pay, health benefits, and Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan
• We have an open and approachable culture that enables you to bring your best ideas forward
• We will invest in your growth through ongoing learning opportunities, individual development planning, and education assistance programs
• We offer a hybrid work environment with Tuesday, Thursday and one other day per week in office, or as required subject to business needs

UHN is a respectful, caring, and inclusive workplace. We are committed to championing accessibility, diversity and equal opportunity and welcomes all applicants including but not limited to: all religions and ethnicities, LGBTQ2s+, BIPOC, persons with disabilities and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process providing the applicant has met the Bona-fide requirements for the open position. Applicants need to make their requirements known when contacted.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates.  Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.