Director of Strategy & Advancement @ OrKidstra

Summary of the Role

This new position is integral to the succession plan of the Co-Founder, Executive & Artistic Director, as she begins her transition period to retirement. Reporting to the Executive & Artistic Director, and collaborating closely with the entire OrKidstra team, the Director of Strategy & Advancement’s primary responsibility is to build resource and organizational capacity to take OrKidstra to the next level of its development, in line with its Strategic Plan Crescendo: Strategy 2032.

With a balance of heart and head, you will take on a collaborative, respectful and patient approach in order to support and guide the team. The responsibilities of this role are exceptionally diverse and will call on your ability to balance your time effectively with both internal and external mandates on a day-to-day basis. Your role will be remote at the outset, with the potential in the future of returning to an in-office setting in a hybrid model. With the support and guidance from the Executive & Artistic Director, you will be given the opportunity to pivot between a multitude of different areas, including donor and stakeholder relations, fundraising, operational oversight, marketing and communications, financial management, and finally, human resources and strategic planning.

Upon entering your new position, your early focus will be on integrating into the established team and beginning to build your familiarity around the current fundraising strategies as well as the operational processes and procedures currently in place. You will work closely with your two senior staff, the Finance & Logistics Manager and the Senior Development & Communications Officer, to ensure that all procedures and practices are being followed. In doing so, you will have the opportunity to coach and guide staff where appropriate in order to improve overall performance across departments.

Working in tandem with your leadership team, you will be fundamental in the development and operationalization of a robust strategic plan as an extension from the ‘Crescendo: Strategy 2032’. This will be a framework outlining OrKidstra’s goal to establish three more program hubs in the next 11 years. One of your key priorities will be to protect what has been built and ensure that in the years to come, more and more children can be afforded the opportunity to take part in the organization’s rewarding programs. You will achieve this through a combination of fundraising, financial efficiencies, effective partnerships, creative risk taking and most importantly, maintaining a strong connection with the children you serve.

In accordance with OrKidstra’s growth, there is a need to increase resources. You will contribute to the development of a diversified fundraising strategy in concert with the executive team in order to meet the objectives of the strategic plan. You will use your fundraising experience and relationship building skills to lead the development of major gift acquisitions, corporate partnerships and the corresponding retention of major donors and stakeholders. Fundraising is critical to the success of the organization, and your efforts will be heavily focused on maintaining strong connections with donors and key stakeholders within the community. Not only will you practice good stewardship amongst a very passionate group of donors and supporters, but you will also be able to envision and create both strategies and methodologies to retain and grow OrKidstra’s donor base.