Job Title

Director of Advancement Position Overview The Director of Advancement is a senior leadership role responsible for building and executing a comprehensive advancement strategy that supports the schools mission and long-term sustainability. This individual will lead fundraising, donor relations, alumni engagement, community partnerships, and advancement operations, and will work closely with the Heads of School, the marketing and communications lead, the Board of Directors, and key stakeholders. This role requires a strategic, relationship-driven fundraiser who is confident in leading the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors, with a strong emphasis on personally conducting major gift solicitations and direct asks. In addition, they will be responsible for managing a donor pipeline and driving results. It also includes leadership of community engagement and alumni programming. The Director will lead campaign readiness as the school prepares for a future capital campaign, and when ready, will manage campaign planning and launch. Key Responsibilities 1) Advancement Strategy and Leadership Develop and implement a multi-year advancement strategy aligned with the schools mission and strategic priorities Serve as a key advisor to the Head(s) of School and Board on philanthropy, engagement, and community partnerships Set annual fundraising goals, metrics, and forecasts, and report progress regularly to leadership and the Board Prepare and manage the advancement budget and fundraising projections 2) Fundraising and Development- lead all fundraising initiatives, including: A) Annual campaign / annual giving: Major gifts and leadership gifts Capital campaign planning and execution (as applicable) Special events and engagement-driven fundraising Planned giving: Legacy and Endowment B) Core fundraising accountabilities: Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospects Confidently solicit gifts/donations, and lead solicitation conversations, with appropriate involvement of school leadership and volunteer partners Develop compelling cases for support and donor-facing materials in collaboration with Marketing and Communications Ensure consistent moves management and disciplined follow-through from first touch through stewardship C) Donor, Parent, and Community Relations Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, parents, alumni, grandparents, and community partners Ensure timely, thoughtful stewardship and recognition Represent the school positively within the Montreal Jewish community and strengthen strategic community partnerships D) Alumni Engagement and Community Building Oversee alumni relations strategy to strengthen long-term engagement, connection, and giving Plan and deliver community-building events and engagement initiatives for families, alumni, donors, and friends of the school Lead alumni outreach and touchpoints (email, phone, in-person), including signature gatherings and hospitality for visiting alumni Coordinate engagement communications in partnership with Marketing and Communications (calendar, campaigns, segmentation, and messaging) E) Board and Volunteer Engagement Support the Board of Directors and Advancement/Fundraising Committees Recruit, train, and support volunteer fundraisers and ambassadors Prepare materials, dashboards, and updates for Board meetings; support agendas, speaking notes, and follow-up actions F) Capital Campaign Leadership, Once Ready Lead campaign readiness: infrastructure, prospect strategy, pipeline planning, volunteer structure, and reporting Coordinate prospect strategy meetings, briefing materials, and follow-up tracking for leadership and volunteers Oversee proposal and solicitation material development, pledge/gift agreement tracking, and campaign reporting Coordinate campaign events and volunteer meetings, including logistics, materials, and notes Qualifications and Experience 710+ years in advancement, development, or fundraising (independent school or community organization preferred) Proven success in securing major gifts and managing donor relationships end-to-end Demonstrated success in fundraising with professionalism, warmth, and sound judgment Strong moves management and CRM/database fluency; close attention to detail for data integrity and reporting Strong project management and event leadership capability Experience working with Boards and senior leadership; comfortable supporting and activating volunteer fundraisers Understanding of Jewish communal life and philanthropy is highly preferred Language Requirements Fluency in English and French required Personal Attributes Warm, confident, relationship-oriented, and discreet Strategic and highly accountable, with strong follow-through and comfort juggling priorities Systems-minded and committed to continuous improvement Why join our clients team? Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on Jewish education in Montreal Collaborative leadership team and engaged community Competitive compensation and benefits, commensurate with experience