Job Posting – Vice President, Development (BC Cancer Foundation)

About BC Cancer and the BC Cancer Foundation

BC Cancer

BC Cancer is a world-leading cancer control organization serving all of British Columbia. It provides comprehensive cancer care—from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and research—through a network of provincial and regional centres. Focused on innovation and patient outcomes, BC Cancer advances cutting-edge research, develops new therapies, and delivers care that improves the lives of thousands of patients and families across the province.

BC Cancer Foundation (BCCF)

The BC Cancer Foundation is the philanthropic partner of BC Cancer, raising vital funds to support research, care, and innovation in cancer treatment across the province. As the fundraising partner of BC Cancer, BCCF drives bold initiatives that inspire hope and save lives, mobilizing communities, partners, and collaborators across British Columbia to accelerate high-impact solutions to one of the world’s largest health challenges: cancer.

Over the past decade, BCCF has grown into one of British Columbia’s largest non-profits, completing a $500 million campaign and now raising over $110 million annually, with a donor base of more than 80,000 and a team of 90 staff across five sites. The Foundation funds state-of-the-art regional cancer centres, breakthrough research programs, and initiatives that directly enhance patient outcomes. With a purpose-driven, high-performing culture fuelled by talent, data, and technology, BCCF offers donors meaningful ways to make a tangible impact and provides an extraordinary opportunity for senior fundraising leaders to shape transformational giving, advance cancer care and research, and inspire a professional, passionate team.

The Role

The Vice President, Development (VP) is a key leadership role responsible for driving philanthropic growth and leading a significant portion of BCCF’s revenue-generating activity. Reporting to the Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer, the VP will lead a team overseeing major gifts in the Lower Mainland (Vancouver and Fraser Region), corporate relations across the province, and mid-level giving (Discovery Circle program). This portfolio is responsible for raising $40M in annual revenue.

This is a pivotal moment for the Foundation. Having achieved extraordinary campaign success, BCCF is now focused on its next phase—growing transformational gifts, expanding its donor base, and bringing greater discipline, integration, and consistency to its fundraising efforts. The VP will play a central role in shaping and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with BCCF’s long-term goals, including identifying opportunities for growth within the portfolio.

The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on fundraising. The VP will personally manage a portfolio of major donors and is expected to $5M+ annually, while also enabling their teams to achieve ambitious targets. Beyond revenue generation, there is a strong emphasis on supporting a coordinated, donor-centred approach across all touchpoints.

This is an opportunity for a leader who thrives in a fast-paced, high-performing environment and is motivated by both impact and scale.

Reports To:
Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer
Direct Reports:
Senior Director, Corporate Relations (3 additional staff);
Director, Major Gifts Vancouver (3 additional staff)
Director, Discovery Circle & Major Gifts Fraser Region (10 additional staff)

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Contribute to and help execute BCCF’s overall fundraising strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and BC Cancer’s clinical and research vision.
• Provide leadership across major gifts (Vancouver & Fraser Region), corporate relations (provincial), and Discovery Circle programs.
• Optimize clarity, focus, and discipline to fundraising planning and execution.

Fundraising & Donor Development

• Personally manage and grow a portfolio of major gift donors, securing $5M+ annually, with a focus on transformational giving.
• Partner with clinicians, researchers, and senior leadership to translate complex funding priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
• Work closely with marketing and communications to support integrated campaigns.
• Strengthen the full donor pipeline, including discovery and mid-level giving, to support long-term growth.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team of fundraising professionals across multiple functions.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Provide clear direction and context, ensuring alignment with senior leadership priorities and organizational goals.
• Support recruitment, performance management, and succession planning.
• Implement succession planning strategies to ensure long-term sustainability and growth.

Governance & Volunteer Engagement

• Partner with the SVP, CDO to engage the Board, regional councils, and key volunteers in fundraising efforts.
• Support and lead donor strategy discussions involving senior volunteers and stakeholders.
• Leverage volunteer networks to advance major gift opportunities.

External Relations & Profile

• Represent BCCF externally with credibility and passion, including at events and with key stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships with donors, community leaders, and partners to expand the Foundation’s reach and impact.
• Champion equity, diversity, and inclusion in donor engagement and fundraising practices.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a senior fundraising leader with proven expertise in major gifts and transformational philanthropy, responsible for leading a high-performing team that collectively raises $40M annually. They combine strategic vision with hands-on execution, using data, insight, and creativity to translate complex clinical and research priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities. With experience managing multi-channel, multi-region portfolios, they excel at building alignment across major gifts, corporate relations, and mid-level programs, while inspiring, developing, and motivating teams to achieve ambitious results.

Experience & Expertise

• 15+ years of progressive fundraising experience, including at least five years leading senior or director-level teams with both direct and indirect reports.
• Experience in complex major gift environments, ideally within hospital foundations.
• Proven track record of leading teams that collectively raise $40–50M annually.
• Demonstrated success securing and closing seven- and eight-figure transformational gifts.
• Experience managing integrated fundraising portfolios with clear revenue targets and competing priorities.
• Strong business acumen, using data, insight, and strategy to drive team performance and organizational growth.
• Passion for donor engagement and cultivating long-term, meaningful relationships.
• Skilled at coaching and inspiring high-performing teams, setting expectations, and fostering accountability.
• Able to translate complex organizational or technical priorities into actionable donor strategies.
• Comfortable balancing big-picture strategic thinking with hands-on execution and operational detail.
• Resilient, adaptable, curious, and capable of navigating uncertainty while problem-solving creatively.
• Authentic, confident, and inspiring, able to influence stakeholders, motivate teams, and represent the organization externally with credibility.

Location and Office Hours
The Vice President of Development will be located in the Vancouver office at
150-686 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC. Candidates are expected to work in accordance with the BCCF hybrid policy.

Compensation Information
The role offers a salary range of $180K–$212K plus and a generous benefits package that provides substantial additional value, including health, wellness, and retirement support. BC Cancer Foundation is committed to attracting exceptional leadership talent and welcomes conversations with candidates whose experience exceeds the stated range.

To view the full Candidate Brief click here.

We thank all candidates in advance. We will, however, contact only those selected for an interview. To apply, please submit, in confidence, a resume along with a cover letter that sets out your interest and experience for the role. Please include your salary expectations for the role in your cover letter. Please send your resume along with a cover letter to vesna@searchsmart.ca.