Director of Advancement

School Profile:

Vancouver Talmud Torah is an inclusive Jewish community day school committed to academic excellence and nurturing lifelong learners who engage the world through Jewish traditions and values. At Vancouver Talmud Torah, we provide a stimulating and challenging educational environment infused with meaningful learning experiences. Our school serves families from a diverse range of Jewish backgrounds and religious practices.

Our faculty and staff are an integral part of our school community. VTT provides the opportunity to work in a collaborative, innovative and engaging educational setting. We are committed to on-going professional development and mentorship. Our school offers a culture that values academic excellence, community, inclusivity, and social responsibility.

Position Overview:

We are currently seeking an experienced Director of Advancement.

The Director of Advancement serves as a key member of the senior leadership team and is responsible for the strategic planning, oversight, and execution of all fundraising, development, and external relations activities. This includes annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, alumni engagement, community outreach, donor stewardship, and the school’s planned capital campaign. The Director will lead efforts to cultivate a culture of philanthropy within the school community and advance the school’s mission by securing resources to support both its short- and long-term goals. The ideal candidate will be an experienced fundraising professional with strong relationship-building skills and a passion for Jewish education.

Key Responsibilities:

Campaign Leadership & Strategy:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive capital campaign plan, including goals, timelines, and strategies for donor engagement.
• Work closely with the Head of School, Board of Trustees, Development department and Campaign Committee to drive campaign success.
• Coordinate campaign messaging, branding, and marketing materials in partnership with the communications team.

Donor Cultivation & Fundraising:

• Identify, cultivate, and solicit major donors, including individuals, foundations, and corporations.
• Develop personalized strategies for engaging high-net-worth donors and securing lead gifts.
• Maintain a portfolio of key prospects and manage donor relationships through tailored engagement.
• Plan and execute major fundraising events, campaign kick-offs, and donor recognition initiatives.

Stewardship & Recognition:

• Ensure high levels of donor engagement and recognition through personalized stewardship efforts.
• Develop meaningful acknowledgment programs and donor recognition opportunities, including naming rights.
• Oversee the fulfillment of donor commitments and provide regular campaign updates.

Collaboration & Reporting:

• Work in close collaboration with school leadership, faculty, and the Board to align campaign efforts with institutional priorities.
• Prepare campaign progress reports for leadership and provide data-driven recommendations.
• Oversee prospect research, campaign tracking, and gift acknowledgment processes.
• Ensure compliance with fundraising ethics, policies, and best practices.

Volunteer Management:

• Recruit, train, and manage fundraising volunteers, including members of the Capital Campaign Cabinet and other development-related committees.
• Provide volunteers with clear goals, roles, and timelines to support campaign execution and donor outreach.
• Facilitate regular meetings and communications to ensure alignment and progress among volunteer teams.
• Recognize and steward volunteer contributions to encourage ongoing involvement and leadership.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5-7 years of experience in philanthropy, non-profit management, or a related field, including significant experience in capital campaigns, major gift fundraising, donor development and relationship management.
• Proven success in working with major donors, foundations, and legacy planning, ideally within the Jewish community or a similar non-profit environment.
• Strong knowledge of fundraising best practices, prospect research, and donor engagement strategies.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, community leaders, and stakeholders.
• Highly organized with exceptional project management skills and attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with CRM or fundraising software (Raiser’s Edge, Veracros).
• Passion for education and commitment to the mission of independent schools and Jewish education
• Strong understanding of the Jewish community, its values, and its institutions is an asset.
• Experience managing financial oversight, including budgeting, grant-making, and financial reporting.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality.
• A collaborative, team-oriented mindset with a focus on building partnerships and achieving common goals.

Benefits

• Salary range of $150,000-$170,000 per year depending on qualifications and experience.
• Upon passing a 3 month probationary period, extended health & dental, disability, RRSP matching
• Paid Jewish holidays including 2 weeks winter break, 2 weeks Passover (spring break), 2 weeks vacation (increasing to 3 weeks after 5 years of service).
• Discounted health club membership at the JCC

Application deadline: We are accepting rolling applications until the position is filled.

Check the status of the search process here