Description
The Office of Development and Alumni is currently seeking a Full-time Staff Limited Term Senior Development Writer for approximately 1 year.
The Office of Development and Alumni is dedicated to amplifying the impact of the University of Calgary in our communities. We work in partnership with our academic and administrative colleagues across campus and with a wide variety of community members to expand our collective ability to advance the university's mission to make a transformative contribution to the city, the region, the country and the world.
Reporting to the Associate Director, Development Communications, the Senior Development Writer is a fast-paced, creative position within the Principal Gifts and Strategic Donor Engagement portfolio, which is dedicated to developing and implementing integrated fundraising and stewardship strategies that drive donor engagement and advance philanthropic investment opportunities in support of the university's strategic vision, plan and priorities.
The Senior Development Writer works with leadership, academics, vendors and colleagues across the university to uncover the stories that highlight the impact of education, research and community engagement at UCalgary and connect these stories to our emerging priorities, strengths and vision.
The ideal candidate will be self-motivated and highly flexible with a commitment to producing high-quality work and the ability to prioritize workflow in response to changing workloads and shifting priorities. They must have the ability to work courteously and professionally under stressful conditions and tight deadlines, using tact and diplomacy while respecting appropriate confidentialities. At times this position may deal with highly confidential materials that call for discretion and sound judgment.
The Senior Development Writer is responsible for developing high-impact donor-focused communications, including impact reports, cases for support, proposals, feature and news stories, speaking remarks, video scripts and key messages, that bring our fundraising priorities and UCalgary impact to life. These materials support donor acquisition, retention and growth, and reflect the diversity of people, interests and activities that make up our campus and the community.
The role requires a strong writer with strategic communications experience - someone with a passion for storytelling, an understanding of what motivates donors, and the ability to strategically adapt and refine messaging for different audiences, creating compelling content reinforces connection and inspires action.
The position will also contribute to the development of strategic plans that support fundraising and stewardship initiatives, and provide editorial support on internal materials, such as communications plans, event briefs and project plans, to ensure clarity and consistency, reflecting the high standard of writing in our donor-facing communications.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
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Research, write, curate, edit and produce high-quality fundraising and stewardship materials, including impact reports, cases for support, proposals, feature and news stories, appeals, speaking remarks/scripts and key messages, that highlight the impact of giving, strengthen the UCalgary brand and reputation, and inspire donors.
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Tailor messaging to specific audiences and donor segments to maximize engagement.
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Collaborate with creative colleagues and vendors to shape video and visual content, providing editorial direction to ensure clarity, engagement and impact.
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Develop and execute strategies that amplify content across the campus community and advance an internal culture of philanthropy.
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Work closely with the Associate Director, Development Communications, in expanding the established philanthropic narrative and with fundraising colleagues to ensure it's reflected in all donor-facing communications.
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Collaborate with research experts, fundraisers and communicators across campus to identify relevant information and data to create compelling stories of impact related to fundraising project, and with subject matter experts to develop key messaging.
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Review and edit materials for accuracy, consistent messaging, formatting, grammar and compliance with UCalgary standards and style.
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Contribute to overall development communications strategic planning and execution.
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Participate in working groups, providing a strong voice for content development.
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Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications / Requirements:
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University degree with seven-plus years of relevant experience in professional writing and communications, with preference given to candidates with a background in fundraising communications, non-profit marketing or donor-centered writing.
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A demonstrated portfolio of excellence in writing, editing and producing a variety of different types of content that speak to depth and breadth of ability; examples of writing for all media including print, web, video, social and digital, with understanding of how to write for different platforms and audiences.
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Experience developing and delivering persuasive communications and marketing campaigns, ideally aimed at donor audiences.
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Outstanding written and verbal communication, interviewing and research skills.
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Strong attention to detail in writing and creative.
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Ability to synthesize a broad range of academic and non-academic information into a concise, persuasive narrative for non-academic audiences.
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Ability to work both collaboratively and independently, take initiative, work under pressure and with frequent deadlines, and handle numerous priorities at once
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High level of professionalism, discretion, tact and ability to handle confidential material.
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Knowledge of current best practices in fundraising and stewardship communications is an asset.
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Knowledge of video and visual design principles is an asset.
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Experience working for or within post-secondary environment is an asset.
Application Deadline: June 30, 2026.
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist / Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.
For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).
Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
