Annual Giving Officer (Phonathon)

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University Advancement (UA) promotes McGill to its global community and to the public, engaging alumni, volunteers and friends of the University, and building on McGill’s record of fundraising success in support of University priorities.

By joining UA, you can be part of a dynamic and exciting team of professionals that is making an extraordinary impact on the world by advancing the philanthropic and engagement ambitions of McGill University.

To find out more about UA, please visit us at www.mcgill.ca/advancement/ua-careers .

Position Summary: 

Reporting to the Associate Director, Annual Giving, the Annual Giving Officer (Phonathon) will participate in the development, evaluation and implementation of comprehensive strategies for University Advancement’s (UA) fundraising call centre with the aim of increasing philanthropic support to the University. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring the smooth functioning of the fundraising call centre, which includes managing the daily operations of the unit and ensuring the effective recruitment, management and supervision of student callers and team leads. The incumbent will also participate in budgetary reviews, data analysis and segmentation, and will contribute to the ongoing assessment, enhancement and continuous improvement of the call centre through annual program reviews and performance evaluation.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manage all aspects of UA’s fundraising call centre, including the day-to-day operations and staff management.
• Identify, recruit, train, and manage a team of 50 part-time, unionized student staff who contact McGill alumni, parents, faculty/staff and friends to secure financial contributions, increase engagement with McGill and update contact information.
• Establish and manage deadlines, goals and financial objectives related to fundraising responsibilities.  Develop and implement strategies to motivate staff and improve performance and retention through goal setting, securing external sponsorships, and implementing financial incentives.
• Develop and execute calling, segmentation, and data analysis strategies to ensure the effective solicitation and engagement of relevant donor cohorts. Monitor performance and adapt strategies in response to evolving donor trends.
• Act as a point of escalation for donors within the calling pool, addressing inquiries and concerns while identifying opportunities to advance individuals through the donor pipeline.
• Partner with Advancement Operations and other University Advancement teams to ensure donor and campaign information obtained through the call centre is accurately recorded, efficiently transferred between systems, and maintained to support business operations.
• In collaboration with Annual Giving (AG) and other University Advancement (UA) teams, identify and develop opportunities for coordinated solicitation, engagement and stewardship strategies that advance donor relationships and support broader UA objectives. Foster partnerships with stakeholders to align outreach efforts and identify opportunities to strengthen donor engagement, stewardship, and solicitation strategies.
• Research and implement best practices from other universities and similar institutions relating to staff retention, caller motivation, and calling segmentation/strategies to ensure the program achieves and exceeds expected objectives.

• Undertake special projects and support the Annual Giving team as needed.

Other Qualifying Skills and/or Abilities

• Experience in a fundraising environment preferred; experience as a frontline fundraiser, in donor solicitation, or in cold-calling is considered an asset.
• Established ability to effectively manage, supervise and motivate staff and proven leadership skills. Experience working with unionized staff is considered an asset.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical skills and strategic thinking.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and to manage multiple projects within tightly prescribed timetables.
• Can work independently and collaboratively in a team environment. Proven interpersonal, relationship-building, and diplomatic skills, with the ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and work to achieve shared objectives.
• Results-driven self-starter with the ability to analyze successes and failures, identify opportunities for improvement, and take appropriate corrective action.
• Established track record of discretion and sound judgment when handling confidential and privileged information.
• Technical proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Outlook, CRMs and fundraising database systems, calling platforms, and reporting tools. Ability to troubleshoot technical issues, learn new technologies quickly, and support the effective use of systems in a call centre environment.
• Knowledge of French and English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level 3 on a scale of 0-4.

Additional Information:

• The work schedule is Sunday through Thursday, from noon to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays.
• Presence on-site required.
• Testing may be administered.

As one of Montreal's Top Employers, here is what we offer:

• Competitive benefits package (Health, Dental, Life Insurance)
• Defined contribution pension plan (with employer contribution up to 10%)
• Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
• Competitive vacation policy
• Two (2) personal days
• Two (2) floating holidays
• Nine (9) "Summer Fridays" - paid days off between the St-Jean Baptiste holiday and Labour Day
• Paid time off over the December holiday period
• Tuition waiver for regular employees and their dependents

Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.

Knowledge of English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level 3 on a scale of 0-4.

For a definition of our language proficiency levels, please click here.

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