Senior Development Officer

Senior Development Officer  

Permanent, Full Time (1.0 FTE), starting February 2026  

One of our core values at St. Michaels University School is respect. With this in mind, we acknowledge that our school rests in the heart of Straits Salish territory, a living culture with its own rites, ceremonies, and unfolding history. We honour the Esquimalt, Songhees, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples – whose homelands we share and whom we recognize as our neighbours. 

The Senior Development Officer plays a key role in advancing St. Michaels University School’s (SMUS) strategic priorities by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors. Reporting to the Director of Advancement, this position builds and maintains meaningful relationships with parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and other community members to strengthen engagement and increase philanthropic support. As an ambassador of SMUS, the Senior Development Officer works both independently and collaboratively within a complex environment to implement effective development strategies to enhance donor engagement, participation, relationships, and overall revenue generation. 

Work Schedule: 

Department hours of work are from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday to Friday. Due to the nature of this role, the Senior Development Officer will occasionally need to be available outside of regular work hours. 

Responsibilities include: 

Fundraising 

Identify and cultivate new donors, with a special focus on engaging community members and grateful families. 
Qualify new potential donors and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects. 
Develop and implement strategies to cultivate and solicit gifts from existing major donors. 
Engage with donors through personal visits, phone calls, events, and written communications. 
Develop and implement annual and multi-year plans for SMUS fundraising initiatives in collaboration with the Director of Advancement. 
Ensure alignment with fundraising policies, CRA guidelines, and AFP ethical standards. 
Assist with the management of the student awards program. 
Incorporate legacy giving discussions into donor fundraising plans. 
Participate in Advancement training, meetings, and planning activities. 
Gather insights from stakeholders to refine messaging, priorities, and goals. 
Present findings and recommendations to the Director to support planning. 
Stewardship & Reporting  

Working with the Advancement Assistant, oversee timely recognition and impact reporting to donors. 
Develop tailored donor engagement plans to deepen affinity and commitment to SMUS. 
Identify and assist in writing donor stories.  
Develop fundraising materials including gift agreements, proposals and cases for support. 
Ensure up-to-date information is entered into the database, Raiser’s Edge NXT.  
Experience and Qualifications: 

Bachelor’s degree and/or appropriate training and experience in a related field. 
Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in fundraising or a closely related discipline, preferably within an educational or comparably complex environment. 
Experience in an academic setting and recognized professional accreditation such as CFRE, or working towards a CFRE, would be considered assets. 
Demonstrated success in goal setting, working with senior leadership, managing collaborative relationships, and identifying target audiences. 
Experience managing volunteers and community engagement is preferred. 
Goal-driven with high energy and dedication to SMUS’s mission. 
Demonstrated integrity, discretion, and professional maturity. 
Results-oriented with initiative and creativity. 
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills. 
Analytical and organizational skills with effective project management. 
Strategic and creative problem-solving abilities. 
Excellent written and oral communication skills. 
Proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge/NXT) and Microsoft Office/Google Suite. 
Salary: 

Annual salary range: $65,700 – $98,500 

Criminal Record Check: 

Must pass and maintain a clear Solicitor General criminal record check for the purpose of working with children. 

Application Details: 

Please apply by 2:00 pm Tuesday, January 27, 2026. 

About St. Michaels University School: 

Located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, St. Michaels University School (SMUS) is a Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 day and boarding school with a global reputation for academic excellence. 

Our students from over 30 countries all over the world have opportunities in academics, athletics, arts, leadership, service and outdoor education, and are inspired by an extraordinary staff committed to character growth and preparing students for what lies ahead in life. The school’s Mission shapes these endeavours: Our school seeks the excellence in all of us, with passion and compassion. We are a community shaped by the pursuit of truth and goodness, providing outstanding preparation for life. At St. Michaels University School, we seek to employ and empower individuals who wish to forge impactful relationships and careers that place our students at the centre. We firmly believe that expanding our diversity while adjusting our practice will lead to becoming the community we envision – a place where staff and students share a sense that they fully belong.