Director, Advancement

Modern People Solutions (MPS) is a Fractional HR and Recruitment Advisory firm. We specialized in working with companies in the heavy equipment industry, not for profit and professional services. Our goal is to connect amazing employees and candidates together for long term success.

We are proud to support a mission-driven international not-for-profit organization, Operation Eyesight, in the search for a strategic and results-oriented Director, Advancement. This senior leadership role is responsible for driving fundraising, donor engagement, marketing, communications, and brand strategy to support long-term revenue growth and mission impact. The Director, Advancement will work closely with the CEO, senior leadership, and Board to strengthen donor relationships, diversify income streams, and enhance organizational visibility, while ensuring advancement strategies are aligned, data-informed, and deliver measurable results.

The Opportunity

Operation Eyesight is a global, Canada-based nonprofit working to eliminate avoidable blindness by bringing sustainable eye care to underserved communities across Africa and South Asia. For over 60 years, the organization has partnered with local hospitals, governments, and communities to deliver long-term solutions — not just short-term aid — through vision centers, surgeries, training, and community health programs. With a strong focus on prevention, capacity building, and system-level impact, Operation Eyesight is committed to creating lasting change and improving quality of life for millions of people around the world.

What Does the Opportunity Look Like?

The Director, Advancement is a senior leadership role responsible for driving the organization’s fundraising, donor engagement, marketing, communications, and brand efforts to ensure sustainable revenue and long-term mission impact.

Reporting to the CEO, this role provides strategic leadership across all advancement activities and plays a critical role in strengthening donor relationships, growing diversified income streams, and enhancing organizational visibility and credibility.

This position works closely with senior leadership, staff, and the Board to ensure advancement strategies align with organizational priorities and deliver measurable results.

Key responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Revenue Growth
   1. Develop and execute a multi-year advancement strategy aligned with organizational priorities.
   2. Drive growth across revenue streams including major gifts, annual giving, institutional funding, digital, and legacy giving.
   3. Translate strategy into annual plans, targets, and campaign priorities.
   4. Monitor performance and trends, providing insights to leadership.
2. Fundraising & Donor Engagement
   1. Manage and steward key major donors and strategic partners.
   2. Build long-term, trust-based donor relationships.
   3. Support the CEO and Board in donor cultivation and stewardship.
   4. Ensure a professional, transparent, and ethical donor experience.
3. Marketing, Communications & Brand
   1. Lead marketing, communications, and brand strategy.
   2. Ensure clear, consistent, and donor-focused messaging.
   3. Strengthen digital engagement and campaign performance.
   4. Protect and enhance organizational reputation.
4. Performance & Accountability
   1. Set KPIs and track revenue, retention, and campaign performance.
   2. Use data to guide decisions and continuous improvement.
   3. Partner with leadership to address gaps and refine strategies.
5. Team Leadership & Development
   1. Lead and develop a multidisciplinary advancement team.
   2. Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture.
   3. Provide coaching, clarity, and effective workload management.
6. Governance & Compliance
   1. Ensure compliance with regulations, donor requirements, and policies.
   2. Support audit readiness and transparent reporting.
   3. Contribute to Board and leadership reporting.

What’s In It For You?

• Opportunity to lead and shape the organization’s advancement strategy and long-term impact.
• A senior leadership role with influence across fundraising, brand, and communications.
• The ability to build and diversify revenue streams that directly support global impact.
• Collaboration with executive leadership and Board members.
• A dynamic, strategic role where your leadership drives measurable growth and mission success.

What Are We Looking For?

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, nonprofit management, or related field.
• 10+ years of fundraising experience, including 3–5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven success leading comprehensive fundraising programs and managing teams.
• Strong experience managing major donor relationships and securing significant gifts.
• Financial acumen with experience managing budgets, targets, and performance metrics.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills

Nice-to-have qualifications include a CFRE designation (or equivalent), experience with digital fundraising, CRM systems and data analytics, exposure to governance-heavy nonprofit environments, and a track record of fundraising for complex social impact or humanitarian causes.

Location: Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto
Apply Here: https://mpeoplesolutions.com/jobs/director-of-advancement/

Operation Eyesight Canada is currently seeking applications for volunteer Board Director positions. Operation Eyesight is a Calgary-based international development organization dedicated to eliminating avoidable vision loss in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Volunteer members of the Board of Directors provide strategic leadership and governance oversight for the organization. Board members also help cultivate and maintain key relationships with stakeholders that support Operation Eyesight’s mission and vision.

We invite applications from individuals with expertise and experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Accounting / Finance
• People, Culture & Change Management
• Governance

Ideal candidates will:

• have experience in the not-for-profit sector or have served as senior executives in the private sector; and
• share Operation Eyesight’s core values of equity, innovation, global citizenship, compassion, and excellence.

Board Directors are elected to two-year terms. The Board meets virtually eight times per year for approximately two hours per meeting, and one or two times annually in person. Directors are also expected to participate in standing committees and/or working groups.

Operation Eyesight is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, and gender equity, both within the Board and throughout the organization.

We are recruiting FOUR new directors. Priority consideration will be given to those who have one or more of the following:

• CPA Designation.
• Two (2) positions to join the Board and the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee. Priority will be given to candidates holding a CPA designation.
• One (1) position to join the Board and provide professional expertise in People, Culture & Change Management.
• One (1) position to join the Board and the Governance & Nominations Committee. This role is intended for someone with prior experience serving on not-for-profit boards and a strong interest in governance and oversight rather than operational management.

To learn more about Operation Eyesight’s mission to prevent blindness and restore sight, visit operationeyesight.com.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants are invited to submit their application by contacting: hr@operationeyesight.com

Applications will be forwarded to the Chair of the Governance & Nominations Committee.

Please include:

• Your contact information
• A cover letter outlining your interest in the position and the skills and experience you would bring to the Board

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.