Job Requisition ID:


Time Type:
Full time

Employee Group:
Staff

Job Category:
Advancement and Alumni Engagement

Employment Type:
Permanent

Department:
Advancement and External Relations - Major and Principal Giving

Hiring Range:
$87,620.25 - $109,525.32

Posting Information:This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Internal posting expires Friday August 7th at 11:59 PM

Job Description:

Primary Purpose

Accountable to the Senior Director, Principal Gifts, the Principal Partnership Liaison provides strategic oversight for the highly personalized engagement, stewardship, advancement, and implementation plans associated with the University of Waterloo's corporate, foundation, and individual principal gift donors and prospects. Working in partnership with Advancement colleagues, senior university leadership, and academic partners, the incumbent develops and operationalizes implementation, stewardship and partnership-continuity strategies for secured transformational gifts, contributing to the University's principal gift revenue goals and long-term fundraising success.

This role is dedicated to supporting the University's most complex, high-value donor relationships, working alongside the Senior Director, Principal Gifts to ensure strategic alignment, relationship continuity, successful gift realization, and an exceptional donor experience.

Key Accountabilities

Gift Implementation & Partnership Continuity
• Serves as the operational liaison between Advancement, faculties, senior leadership, and donors to ensure principal gift commitments are fulfilled as intended
• Partners with the Senior Director, Principal Gifts to coordinate long-term partnership continuity with committed principal gift donors, recognizing readiness, timing, and alignment for future engagement.
• Coordinates cross-functional implementation activities following donor commitments to ensure the successful realization of secured principal gift commitments
• Ensures continuity and institutional memory across principal gift relationships by maintaining accurate documentation of donor intent, engagement history, and strategic considerations.
• Oversees the creation and execution of draft Terms of Reference for endowment and trust donations on behalf of the Principal Gifts Team and the Vice-President, Advancement & External Relations.
• Identifies renewal readiness and opportunities requiring specialized philanthropic expertise, coordinating referrals to Planned Giving or other Advancement specialists.

Strategic Communications & Donor Engagement
• Oversees the development of stewardship and partnership materials for principal gift donors
• Develops and oversees high-level reports, executive presentations, correspondence and engagement initiatives tailored to sophisticated principal gift partners and senior university leadership.
• Maintains accurate records on Advancement's CRM documenting significant principal gift cultivation, solicitation and stewardship actions, and strategic next steps.
• Ensures coherent, consistent messaging across all principal gift donor communications and engagement activities, in collaboration with Advancement and campus partners.
• Coordinates the timing and cadence of principal gift communications, special projects, and initiatives to support long-term engagement, ensuring clarity, alignment, and a high-quality donor experience.
• Contributes to a 'One Advancement' team model by fostering collaboration across Advancement, faculties, and central units, coordinating closely with Advancement Strategy, Alumni Relations, and Donor Relations to deliver aligned, high-quality principal gift engagement, stewardship, recognition, and partnership management activities that ensure a seamless donor experience.

Relationship Management & Operational Excellence
• Advances long-term continuity of relationships with principal gifts partners through engagement strategies such as calls on companies, arranging site visits to campus, special events, announcements, information exchanges, etc.
• Serves as a strategic partner to the Office of the President, Office of the Vice-President, Advancement and External Relations, Advancement Strategy, Alumni Relations and Donor Relations teams with Principal Gifts donors in coordinating communications and building relationships with principal gift donors, and in maintaining long-term engagement following transformational giving.
• Provides strategic advice to senior Advancement leaders by identifying implementation considerations that may influence future donor strategies
• Builds and sustains trusted relationships as a responsive point of contact, anticipating partner needs, and resolving issues to ensure a seamless experience
• Develops and maintains processes, templates, and documentation that support consistency, efficiency, and continuous improvement within principal gift operations.
• Anticipates and resolves risks to the fulfillment of principal gift commitments across faculties and administrative units, exercising judgment and influence to align stakeholders where no formal authority exists.
• Provides support for special projects and initiatives related to principal gift activities, as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Education
• University degree or equivalent education or experience.

Experience
• 6+ years of progressive fundraising and/or partnership engagement, donor relations, business development, client relationship management, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex stakeholder relationships involving senior executives, high-net-worth individuals, institutional leaders, or corporate partners.
• Experience developing and implementing multi-faceted engagement strategies requiring significant coordination across multiple stakeholders, priorities, and organizational units.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
• Understanding and appreciation of the key role of a university education 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 to navigate complex institutional structures in support of principal gift relationships.
• Knowledge of giving vehicles and non-complex gifts, with the ability to support and coordinate sophisticated gift strategies in collaboration with colleagues.
• Knowledge and excellence in working with fundraising software is considered an asset.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Strong relationship management skills with experience working with senior executives, donors, and institutional leaders.
• Excellent oral and written communication, presentation, interpersonal, and facilitation skills.
• Political acumen and discretion when handling confidential information and high-profile relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently and effectively as part of a team with a broad mandate in a fast-paced and challenging environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and Constituent Management Software.
• Willingness to travel and work extended hours as required (some weekends and evenings).