Research Development Associate Jobs in Waterloo, ON

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Posting Information:
This posting is for an existing vacancy.

The internal posting deadline for this position isThursday, June 11, 2026 at 11:59PM.
This is a Career Path position. The final level will bedeterminedbased ondemonstratedskills and experience.
Anticipated hiring ranges:

• USG 12: $95,538.29- $119,422.87
• USG 13: $104,002.41- $130,003.01

Job Description:

Primary Purpose

The Associate Director, Development is responsible for the implementation of fundraising campaigns for the Faculty of Engineering. Using professional expertise in fundraising, proactive leadership skills and outstanding communications and interpersonal skills, the Associate Director is directly responsible for

executing the major gifts, annual giving and leadership fundraising, strategic internal management, and managing a personal portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and donors. Other responsibilities include providing leadership to three fundraising staff members which include: Development Officers with varying levels of experience.

Key Accountabilities

Fundraising program implementation

• Develops and maintains a good working knowledge of the University's activities and the Faculty of Engineering's priority projects;
• Serves as a front-line fundraiser and manages, plans, develops, implements and evaluates fundraising strategies for a significant pool of assigned major gift prospects consisting of individuals, alumni, corporations, foundations; also responsible for prospects in assigned geographic areas
• Assists the Senior Director, Advancement in the Faculty of Engineering with management and implementation of special projects and campaign planning and priorities as assigned;
• Directly responsible for the Annual Fund and Leadership giving portfolio of the Faculty
• Actively manages prospect identification, review, research, management and clearance;
• Directs the strategic development of cultivation and solicitation plans and gift proposals for specific projects, including written proposals, oral presentations and volunteer management;
• Participates in the identification, recruitment, training, management and stewardship of volunteer teams when applicable.

Team Leadership & Management

• Provides leadership to fundraising staff that consists of development officers
• Includes proactive training, mentorship and management of direct reports and development of tools and resources for these team members;
• Motivates by providing leadership, priority setting and management direction and empowering them to strive and achieve agreed upon goals while ensuring that they have the necessary knowledge and tools for success.

Annual Fund

• Works with assigned Development Officer to articulate the Faculty fundraising priorities for incorporation into central annual giving activities aimed at achieving a high rate of participation among Alumni, Faculty, Staff, Retirees and Friends of the Faculty of Engineering;
• Actively participates in stewardship of annual donors to the Faculty of Engineering by providing information and impact statements to inform stewardship activities managed centrally and by creating strategies for Faculty-specific stewardship activities aimed at deepening engagement with current donors and building the pipeline for Leadership, Major, and Planned Gifts;
• Encourage the partnerships between Faculty of Engineering advancement staff and key Annual Giving staff in order to build strategy around identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding Circle level and Faculty/Staff/Retiree donors and prospects.

Major Gifts

The Associate Director of Development has particular responsibility for identifying cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major donors at the highest possible level ($100,000 to $1M+).

With the Senior Director, Advancement organizes and executes the Faculty's Major Gift Program; establishes a prospect review program to evaluate giving potential of individual, corporate and foundation prospects across Canada and internationally;

• Assumes primary responsibility for a significant portfolio of major gift prospects and donors;
• develops and implements tailored action plans, solicitation strategies and proposals, and stewardship plans for each prospect; makes face-to-face calls both with and without key volunteers and University faculty;
• Through cultivation and solicitation efforts, establishes and maintain relationships with appropriate senior officers, board members and donations officers in corporate, foundation, associations and individual sectors
• Initiates relationships with potentially generous donors, develops and cultivates commitment and works toward its translation into financial and volunteer support;
• Initiates, leads, directs and manages programs designed to obtain maximum financial support from a wide range of potential individual donors;
• Directs proactive research on individuals identified as having significant donor potential;
• Plans and hosts campus visits for principal and major gift donors and prospective donors and alumni.
• Ensures detailed notes are recorded for the prospect tracking and clearance systems and prepares regular progress reporting on fundraising targets through standardized reporting tools and systems
• Manages fundraising and other special events intended to facilitate the advancement program for the Faculty

Relationship Building and Maintenance including but not limited to the following:

• Develops effective relationships with senior academic administrators, faculty and senior volunteers (identifies, motivates and advises volunteers) as well as representatives of the philanthropic community.
• Through cultivation and solicitation efforts, establishes and maintains relationships with appropriate senior officers, and donations officers in corporate, foundation, association and individual sectors.

Required Qualifications

Education

• University degree or equivalent education and experience

Experience

• Minimum 8 years of progressive fundraising experience with capital campaign experience considered an asset
• Competencies will include strategic thinking, people management, interpersonal, organizational and communication skills;
• Working knowledge of the university environment and in particular, the Faculty of Engineering is a definite asset.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Adept at learning and using a CRM database in support of advancement activities (ie. Raiser's Edge)
• Understanding and appreciation of the key role of a university education and in particular Engineering, and the crucial importance of attracting and retaining the very best talent available (students, faculty, staff);
• Understanding of the university environment including the integration of research and teaching;
• Knowledge of giving vehicles and non-complex gifts;
• Proven competence in project management, multi-tasking, planning, analytical and organizational skills;
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, oral and writing skills including the expertise to create promotional materials and proposals;
• Political acumen and problem solving skills are required;
• Willingness to travel and work extended hours as required (some weekends and evenings);
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently and effectively as part of a team with a broad mandate in a fast-paced, highly computerized and challenging environment;
• Knowledge and excellence in working with fundraising software is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated relationship building skills, excellent time management and proven ability to meet competing deadlines in an organized manner.
• Must have strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Computer literacy and working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Constituent Management Software.
• CFRE or fundraising certificate an asset but not required.

Equity Statement
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.
The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Metis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.
The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources athrhelp@uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.