Associate Director, Advancement Communication

Now hiring: Associate Director, Advancement Communications

Employment Terms: Full-Time, 18 Month Contract 

Start date: Oct 2026

End date: Mar 2028

We are currently seeking an Associate Director, Advancement Communications who will be responsible for developing and implementing marketing and communication strategies that support UCC’s fundraising objectives and strengthen its culture of philanthropy.

With oversight across all channels and platforms, this role ensures Advancement communications are on-brand, compelling, and aligned with the College’s priorities. This is an exciting opportunity for a resultsoriented and strategic communications leader who thrives in a fast-paced and creative environment.

Working closely with the Director of Content and Creative, Advancement leadership, fundraisers, campus colleagues, and creative agency partners, the Associate Director delivers high-impact campaigns and engagement strategies that inspire giving, deepen community connections, and strengthen donor relationships with the College.

The Associate Director will serve as project manager for each assignment, from initial strategy through to final design and production. They will develop compelling campaign cases for support, transformational major gift proposals and impact reports, and high-quality donor- and alumni-friendly communications that inspire a spirit of pride and engagement with UCC.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

Strategic Campaign Leadership

• Partner with Advancement leadership, Director, Content and Creative, and UCC agency partners to design and deliver milestone campaign branding that communicates UCC’s case for support and inspires giving.

• Lead multi-channel marketing and communications campaigns that advance annual fund goals, donor engagement, and stewardship.

• Manage production of campaign materials, including cases for support, proposals, reports, event collateral, and presentations.

• Oversee timelines and workflows for campaign-related projects, ensuring high-quality, on-brand execution.

• Develop and implement communications strategies, including microsites, newsletters, and digital updates that will share the campaign journey with the UCC community and beyond.

Advancement Marketing and Communications

• Develop marketing and communications plans that build the case for support and promote a culture of philanthropy.

• Lead the Annual Fund brand, including creation of style guides, templates, and campaign assets — including annual yearly creative campaigns.

• Write, edit, and oversee development of donor-facing materials across print, digital, and video platforms.

• Produce materials for Advancement programs such as legacy giving, reunion campaigns, donor societies, and stewardship events.

• Manage donor- and giving-related content across UCC’s digital and social channels.

• Collaborate with fundraisers to deliver acquisition, engagement, and stewardship campaigns.

• Partner with Advancement and Marketing and Communications leaders to align donor communications with institutional priorities.

Operational

• Analyze audience and donor data to refine strategies and strengthen campaign positioning.

• Review Advancement communications to ensure consistency in brand, tone, and messaging.

• Collaborate with the Executive Director, Marketing and Communications and Director, Content and Creative to direct agency and freelance partners on media, creative, and PR deliverables.

• Manage campaign budgets and track performance.

Knowledge Sharing

• Develop relationships that enhance the College’s brand and effectiveness of its communications and marketing.

• Leadership role in supporting communications and marketing team operations and processes; mentor to develop team members.

• Develop and maintain “knowledge sharing” relationships with fellow Advancement team members and across the College.

Other

• Participate in a variety of events and initiatives that enhance UCC’s community relationships (students, donors, prospective families, strategic partners, prospective families, alumni, parents, volunteers).

• Participate in various Advancement cross-functional teams and projects.

• Support marketing and communication needs of VP Advancement, Executive Director as required.

• Other duties as required.

Job Requirements

Experience, Knowledge and Competencies: 

• Experience in an advancement, fundraising, or development context, with an understanding of donor communications, stewardship, and the role of philanthropy.
• Progressively responsible experience in marketing and communications; agency and brand management experience are assets.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-channel campaigns from concept through execution, with a strong track record of meeting deadlines and quality standards in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated experience working with cross-functional teams on communications and marketing strategies, tactics and plans that leverage core strengths of a brand and position it for future growth
• Experience managing and energizing a range of partners/agencies/freelancers.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to oversee multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and brand consistency.
• Highly developed writing, editing and proofreading skills, with a keen eye for detail.
• Proven ability to translate complex organizational priorities into clear, compelling, donor-friendly narratives across print, digital, and video platforms.
• Experience supporting or leading donor-facing events and alumni engagement initiatives.
• Ability to develop people and teams, with proven track record of strong collaboration with external and internal partners.
• Experience invigorating brands and teams with fresh perspective, ideas and processes.
• University degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A passion for education.

What We Offer

• Unparalleled opportunities for professional development including workshops, networking sessions, a leadership program, and visiting experts and scholars;

• Flexibility to substitute statutory holidays in recognition of diverse religious and cultural practices;

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans, including health care and lifestyle spending accounts;

• Pension plan, generous vacation time, self-funded sabbaticals, parental leave top-up; 

• Significant support for personal and family wellbeing and mental health, including the Employee and Family Assistance Program;

• Paid volunteer time off for involvement in the communities that matter to you; 

• Social events for colleagues and their families;

• Collaborative and supportive team members and colleagues;

• Free on-campus parking.

About UCC 

Upper Canada College (UCC) is focused on making the world a more just and inclusive place through dialogue and teamwork. With a commitment to equity and fairness, students learn that what makes us different as individuals makes us stronger as a community. A rigorous academic program is supported by accomplished faculty, exceptional co-curricular programming, and state-of-the-art facilities.

The UCC experience is underpinned by five core values: learning, pluralism, service, community, and well-being.  Among its strategic goals is UCC’s ambition to become more diverse and inclusive. This is supported by a recognition that no learning community is whole without the inclusion and amplification of multiple voices; UCC is committed to fostering belonging, striving for jus­­tice and peace among all people, and addressing systemic and structural forms of oppression.

UCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity, encouraging applications from all qualified individuals including women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ and historically marginalized persons.  UCC embraces pluralism – celebrating differences, cherishing similarities, and giving voice to multiple perspectives.

This job is for an existing vacancy. Compensation is based on qualifications and  experience. The range for the position is  $99,345 to $124,181

KCI Search + Talent has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of Upper Canada College. For more information about this opportunity, please contact Jody Jacobson, Senior Consultant, KCI Search + Talent via email at [email protected]

All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence. Interested candidates should send resume and letter of interest to the email address listed above by August 9, 2026. 

Artificial intelligence will not be used to screen resumes nor assess candidates in this search. To learn more about UCC, please visit ucc.on.ca and https://careers.ucc.on.ca/