Type: Temporary fixed-term contract

Expected Start Date: August 1, 2025

Expected Duration: 1-Year maternity leave coverage, with potential extension up to 18 months

Reports to: Senior Director of Communications and Development

Location: Toronto, ON (hybrid) or Vancouver, BC (remote)

Pay Range: $95,000-$110,000 annually

Summary

Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana Canada has successfully campaigned to ban plastic pollution, end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat.

Canada has the longest coastline in the world, with an ocean surface area of 7.1 million square kilometres, or 70 per cent of its landmass. Oceana Canada believes that Canada has a national and global obligation to manage our natural resources responsibly and help ensure a sustainable source of protein for the world’s growing population.

Oceana Canada works with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canada’s formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canada’s oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits, and protect our future.

Oceana Canada is seeking a strategic, proactive, and collaborative fundraising professional to cover a maternity leave for our Senior Manager of Development & Partnerships. This integral role will lead the execution of our 2025-2026 major gifts strategy to meet revenue targets, steward donor relationships, and drive impact through strong moves management and excellent proposal development. 

Reporting to the Senior Director of Communications & Development, the successful candidate will work closely with Oceana Canada’s Executive Director, senior staff, and global fundraising teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors to support personalized cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Lead donor proposal development and stewardship communications in collaboration with the communications and campaign teams, tailoring materials to donor interests based on Oceana’s campaigns: stopping plastic pollution, protecting marine habitat, rebuilding wild fish populations, and saving North Atlantic right whales from extinction.
• Deliver on quarterly engagement goals: qualify 4–5 new prospects, submit 2–3 personalized proposals, and ensure multiple stewardship touchpoints.
• Participate in and lead donor meetings with the Executive Director and senior staff; ensure timely follow-up and accurate tracking in Salesforce.
• Support donor cultivation events, virtual briefings, and storytelling efforts, when needed.
• Contribute to cross-functional strategy and planning, ensuring alignment with grassroots and digital fundraising efforts.
• Work closely with colleagues internationally to implement and follow systems for pipeline tracking, stewardship calendars, donor reporting, and cultivation activity planning.

Requirements

• Minimum 7+ years’ experience in major gifts or campaign-based fundraising with a track record of success.
• Strong proposal writing and communication skills, with a keen eye for detail and the ability to tailor messaging to diverse donor audiences.
• Track record of soliciting gifts at the $100,000 to $1M+ level.
• Familiarity with CRA guidelines and other regulatory requirements regarding charitable donations and sponsorships.
• Strong organizational and project management skills; experience using Salesforce or similar CRM platforms.
• Passionate about ocean conservation, Indigenous reconciliation, and evidence-based policy change.
• Demonstrated experience in cultivation and stewardship, with the ability to build and sustain meaningful donor relationships
• Experience in the environmental or policy advocacy sector is an asset;
• French bilingualism is also a plus.
• A self-starter who thrives in a collaborative environment and can manage multiple workstreams independently.

Temporary fixed-term contract with an expected start date of August 1, 2025. The expected duration for this maternity leave coverage is 1-Year with a potential extension up to 18 months.  This position can be based on our Toronto office (Hybrid, three days a week) or remote in Vancouver, B.C.

Oceana Canada is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, support will be provided in the recruitment process and accommodations for disabilities will be provided on request wherever appropriate.  All offers of employment are conditional upon the successful completion of reference checks and a criminal background check.

While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.