Director of Development

ORGANIZATION:
Royal BC Museum Foundation

DEADLINE:
Nov. 24, 2025

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:
The Royal BC Museum Foundation is the fundraising and revenue generation partner of the Royal BC Museum, a treasured and essential cultural institution in BC. The Foundation is an independent entity that, over its 50-year history, has raised and managed investments that today total $17 million.

The Foundation is now entering a new strategic phase and is ready to re-launch and rebuild its fundraising program in tandem with a renewed and revitalized museum relationship.

The Foundation, therefore, now seeks a Director of Development to establish and execute its fundraising plan and programs. The Director will work closely with the Foundation Executive Director and Board, and museum leadership to build a thoughtful and effective fundraising program and culture to widen and invite more supporters to this crucial institution.

The Royal BC Museum preserves, interprets, and celebrates BC’s heritage. Its natural history and social history artifacts and records – from mammoths to masks to moving images – enable it to tell the widest possible range of stories: of land and people, of place and movement. Throughout its history, it has remained focused on an important purpose: to be a museum that is accessible to every British Columbian, regardless of age, ethnicity, or geography, in a province where all people respect each other and the environment in which they live.

WEBSITE:
https://rbcmfoundation.ca/

JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Director will be an experienced fundraising generalist inspired to put foundational elements in place, develop a culture of philanthropy within the organization, and further establish the Foundation’s presence with philanthropists and supporters.

This is an exciting opportunity to:
• Direct fundraising at one of BC’s most prominent and longstanding cultural institutions
• Establish a robust and professional fundraising program for long-term success and growth
• Build effective and collaborative relationships across the Foundation and museum
• Partner with museum leadership in the development and support of museum priorities
• Serve as an in-house authority and subject matter expert

The Director plays an essential role in shaping the Foundation’s philanthropic vision and strategic fundraising objectives. This requires a forward-thinking leader who will oversee all aspects of development, including operational management and donor engagement, to strengthen the Foundation’s reputation and reach, engaging donors, enhancing community relations, and supporting relationships with the museum community.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Development will collaborate closely with the Foundation Board, staff, and museum leadership to implement fundraising initiatives aligned with the Museum’s objectives, with jointly agreed-upon priorities.

• A builder, energized by the opportunity to develop a program in a high-profile institution; thrives in change and handles ambiguity and the unexpected with persistence and proactivity
• Strategic, efficient, organized, creative, and entrepreneurial in shaping and directing the Foundation’s fundraising program
• Flexible and adaptable, comfortable with both day-to-day tasks and building rapport with high-net-worth donors
• A credible fundraiser and excellent communicator, able to enhance the museum’s culture of philanthropy and act as a compelling storyteller, negotiator, and diplomat
• Assertive and confident, able to work effectively with a wide range of partners, solve problems, and integrate diverse views into cohesive plans
• Collaborative, transparent, and team-oriented, fostering authenticity, emotional intelligence, accountability, and respect
• Mission-aligned, passionate, and committed to equity, inclusion, social justice, anti-racism, and anti-Indigenous racism
• A teacher and mentor who shares knowledge, rewards curiosity, and identifies key internal needs

QUALIFICATIONS:
Read the full Candidate Brief here: https://thediscoverygroup.ca/portfolio/the-discovery-group-2/

HOW TO APPLY:
This search is being led by the Royal BC Museum Foundation’s search partner, The Discovery Group. If you or someone you know is interested or curious, please contact christoph@thediscoverygroup.ca.

REMUNERATION:
$110,000 – $140,000 annually, depending on experience and ability. A comprehensive benefits package includes extended health and dental coverage, RRSP matching program (10% of salary), and four weeks of vacation.