Campaign Director
NAIT
Salary: $109,064.28 - $144,494.48 - (plus defined benefits pension plan and relocation support)
Please Note: This is a temporary position ending on or before September 1, 2030, with the possibility of extension.
NAIT is embarking on the most ambitious and transformative fundraising initiative in its history, a comprehensive campaign centered around the new Advanced Skills Centre. This bold project will expand NAIT’s capacity to train an additional 4,200 apprentices, support interdisciplinary learning, and engage youth and the community through skilled trades and technologies programming. To lead this exciting opportunity, we are seeking a highly strategic and experienced Campaign Director to spearhead the planning, coordination, and execution of this transformational campaign.
As the Campaign Director, you will be accountable for the full lifecycle of NAIT’s largest-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign, overseeing a campaign goal of $200 million. This includes developing a multi-year campaign strategy, managing campaign operations and reporting, and ensuring continuous progress toward fundraising milestones. The successful candidate will bring proven expertise in leading complex, large-scale campaigns, with a focus on execution and results.
Reporting to the Associate Vice-President, Advancement and Alumni Relations, the Campaign Director will provide direct leadership for the campaign’s day-to-day operations, while also stewarding its most senior volunteers and champions, the Campaign Cabinet, ensuring they are meaningfully engaged, well-informed, and equipped to maximize their influence. You will track campaign performance, anticipate risks, and implement mitigation strategies to ensure campaign success.
Working closely with the broader Development, Donor Relations, Alumni Relations, and CRM teams, you will ensure that all campaign activity is coordinated, aligned, and purpose driven. This role demands a leader who excels at collaboration, accountability, and strategic execution and who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Campaign Strategy, Leadership & Execution
Lead the strategy, design, and implementation of a multi-phase, multi-year comprehensive campaign plan, anchored by the Advanced Skills Centre and other institutional priorities.
Establish and monitor campaign fundraising goals, success metrics, timelines, and critical milestones.
Develop and execute mitigation strategies to address emerging risks or challenges in campaign momentum.
Ensure accurate, timely reporting to NAIT leadership, the Board of Governors, Campaign Cabinet, and senior stakeholders.
Maintain oversight of the campaign’s operational budget, performance dashboards, and donor pipeline health.
Campaign Cabinet & Volunteer Leadership
Provide direct oversight and strategic guidance to the Campaign Cabinet, NAIT’s most senior campaign volunteers.
Collaborate with external advisors to recruit, onboard, and steward Cabinet members.
Plan and lead Cabinet meetings, prepare briefings, and facilitate meaningful engagement opportunities that support donor outreach and solicitation.
Stakeholder Engagement & Fundraising
Manage a portfolio of top prospects and donors, with a focus on securing major and principal gifts in support of the Advanced Skills Centre and related campaign priorities.
Coordinate strategic engagement activities, including tours of the Advanced Skills Centre site, briefings, and donor experiences, to advance campaign priorities.
Serve as a visible campaign representative with internal and external stakeholders, including industry leaders, alumni, donors, and community champions.
Collaboration & Team Integration
Ensure that all campaign activities across Development, Donor Relations, Alumni Relations, and CRM teams are strategically aligned and collaboratively executed.
Promote a unified campaign vision and foster a culture of shared purpose, strategic coordination, and open communication.
Work closely with Advancement leadership to integrate campaign planning into ongoing operations and business processes.
Campaign Communications & Donor Recognition
Partner with Marketing and Communications to develop a compelling campaign narrative and communications plan for all phases of the campaign.
Partner with Marketing and Communications on the creation of campaign collateral, including templates for proposals, cases for support, and digital and web content.
Work collaboratively with Donor Relations to ensure naming opportunities and recognition plans within the construction project are strategically integrated and aligned with campaign objectives.
Team Leadership
Lead and support a team of campaign-focused professionals.
Foster a high-performing team culture centered on trust and impact.
Skills & Abilities:
Strategic Leadership: Demonstrated success in leading large-scale, multi-year fundraising campaigns from planning to completion.
Fundraising Expertise: Deep experience in major gift strategy, solicitation planning, and campaign metrics management.
Stakeholder Engagement: Exceptional skill in building and sustaining meaningful relationships with senior volunteers, donors, and institutional leaders.
Execution & Accountability: Proven ability to manage complex projects, monitor performance, and ensure team-wide accountability to goals.
Collaboration & Influence: Skilled in fostering cross-functional collaboration, navigating complexity, and building consensus.
Communication & Stewardship: Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation skills, with a strong grasp of campaign storytelling and donor-centric messaging.
Data-Informed Leadership: Strong analytical abilities with experience using CRMs and dashboards to inform strategy and decision making.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., business, fundraising, communications, or a relevant discipline).
Minimum 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in institutional advancement, including direct oversight of a major fundraising campaign.
Demonstrated success in managing campaign volunteers and coordinating across internal teams to drive shared outcomes.
Experience in post-secondary or complex non-profit settings is preferred.
Ability to think strategically and adapt to changing circumstances in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Applicants with education credentials earned outside of Canada should have their credentials evaluated by World Education Services or the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS).
Remuneration: $112,336.12 - $148,829.20 annually, plus a comprehensive benefits package.
Please submit a resume and cover letter to be considered for this opportunity.
About NAIT
We are proud to have been named one of Alberta’s Top Employers for 14 consecutive years. Being part of a community that makes a difference in the lives of students, staff, industry clients and partners, NAIT’s culture reflects our shared values of respect, collaboration, celebration, creativity, and accountability.
People are what make NAIT great, and we prioritize the employee experience. We offer benefits and unique perks focusing on health and wellness, work-life balance, recognition, and professional and personal growth. In addition to excellent vacation time, we offer paid time off between Christmas and New Year's.
NAIT supports a flexible work environment, enabling staff to request approval for on-campus, off-site, or hybrid work arrangements based on the nature of the role. Please note that remote positions require employees to reside within Canada.
NAIT is committed to fostering an environment that supports equity and cultivates inclusion through our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy. We are a proud partner of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion and Pride at Work Canada. While we encourage all qualified applicants to apply, only those being considered will be contacted. If you require any accommodations, please connect with us at careers@nait.ca.