Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (MTC) is seeking an ambitious, strategic and deeply relationship-driven leader to serve as its Senior Director of Advancement at a pivotal moment in the organization’s evolution. This is a senior organizational leadership role and the successful candidate will be one of the key leaders shaping MTC’s future. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Senior Director of Advancement is someone who can lead and build a team, cultivate and steward relationships and have the confidence required to move the organization from aspiration to action. This is not simply a role about raising money. It is about helping more people see themselves as part of the future of the theatre, understand why MTC matters now and choose to invest in what it can become.
Key Accountabilities
As a member of MTC's senior leadership team, the Senior Director of Advancement provides strategic leadership for the organization's advancement program, strengthening the relationships, resources, and organizational capacity that will sustain MTC's long-term success.
Working closely with the Executive Director, Artistic Director, Board of Trustees, donors, government partners, volunteers, staff, and community leaders, the Senior Director will lead MTC's advancement strategy while preparing the organization for significant philanthropic growth and future campaign success.
Relationship Building & Institutional Advancement
- Lead MTC's advancement strategy by building and stewarding meaningful relationships with donors, sponsors, foundations, government partners, volunteers, and community leaders.
- Expand and strengthen MTC's network of supporters through strategic partnerships, collaborations, stewardship, and advocacy.
- Inspire individuals and organizations to invest in MTC's artistic vision, community impact, and long-term sustainability.
Advancement Strategy & Revenue Growth
- Develop and execute an integrated advancement strategy that grows annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, sponsorships, foundation support, government investment, and other contributed revenue.
- Establish measurable goals, budgets, and performance metrics while using data and market insights to drive continuous improvement.
- Strengthen donor pipelines and stewardship practices to support sustained philanthropic growth.
- Stay informed of philanthropic, economic, government, and cultural trends that influence fundraising strategy and organizational growth.
Campaign Readiness
- Partner with senior leadership and the Board to prepare MTC for a future comprehensive and capital campaign by strengthening campaign readiness, major gift strategies, volunteer leadership and organizational capacity.
- Cultivate transformational donor relationships that position MTC for long-term philanthropic growth beyond the annual fundraising cycle.
Board, Volunteer & Government Relations
- Support and engage the Board, Resource Development Committee and volunteers as confident ambassadors and partners in advancing MTC's mission.
- Build productive relationships with government, funding agencies, donors and community leaders while representing MTC with credibility and impact.
- Clearly articulate MTC's mission, artistic vision, strategic priorities, programs and community impact to inspire investment and long-term support.
Leadership & Organizational Culture
- Lead and develop a high-performing Advancement team by establishing clear priorities, building accountability, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Embed a culture of philanthropy across MTC by helping staff, artists, volunteers, trustees and senior leaders understand their role in strengthening relationships with the theatre.
- Model integrity, collaboration, respect and sound judgment while contributing positively to MTC's broader organizational culture.
Advancement Operations
- Provide strategic oversight of advancement operations, including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, donor systems, data integrity and performance analytics.
- Ensure effective policies, technology, and processes support organizational growth while maintaining compliance with all legal, regulatory and ethical fundraising standards.
- Continuously improve advancement practices, systems and reporting to support informed decision-making and long-term organizational success.
- Embrace additional leadership responsibilities & duties that contribute to the overall success and strategic objectives of MTC.
Traits & Characteristics
You will be successful in this role if you combine ambition with warmth, strategy with action, and relationship-building with discipline.
You are a proactive, resilient, and entrepreneurial leader who enjoys bringing people together around a shared vision. Whether working with donors, government partners, Board, volunteers, artists, staff, or community leaders, you build trust through authenticity, curiosity, sound judgement, and genuine respect for others.
You are equally comfortable thinking strategically and executing operationally. You know how to move ambitious work forward while bringing people with you, balancing urgency with patience, accountability with kindness, and confidence with humility.
As a member of MTC's senior leadership team, you are a trusted thought partner to the Executive Director and Artistic Director. Board members value your guidance; your team looks to you for clarity and support and external partners trust your judgement and professionalism.
You develop people as intentionally as you develop relationships. You establish clear expectations, create opportunities for growth and foster an environment where people can do the best work of their careers.
Above all, you believe that relationships are the foundation of advancement. You understand that every meaningful interaction has the potential to strengthen someone's connection to MTC and, ultimately, its future.
Leadership Compentencies
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Strategic Leadership - Inspires others around a compelling vision while translating strategy into practical action.
- Relationship Building - Develops authentic, lasting relationships built on trust, empathy and shared purpose.
- Collaboration & Teamwork - Brings people together across departments and stakeholder groups to achieve common goals.
- Negotiation & Influence - Builds consensus, navigates complexity and facilitates mutually beneficial outcomes.
- Diplomacy & Emotional Intelligence - Approaches sensitive conversations with confidence, tact and sound judgement.
- Problem Solving - Analyzes complex issues, identifies opportunities and develops thoughtful, practical solutions.
- Planning & Execution - Organizes priorities, resources and people to deliver ambitious objectives effectively.
- Innovation & Future Thinking - Anticipates emerging opportunities and helps position MTC for long-term success.
- Adaptability & Resilience - Responds positively to changing circumstances while maintaining focus and momentum.
- Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility & Reconciliation - Champions practices that foster belonging, reflect the communities MTC serves, and strengthen the organization's advancement work.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will typically bring:
- A bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education with professional, leadership and lived experience.
- At least seven years of progressively senior leadership experience in advancement, philanthropy, external relations, or a closely related field.
- Demonstrated success securing major gifts and developing strategies across annual giving, major gifts, sponsorship, foundations, government funding and planned giving.
- Experience preparing for, participating in, or leading a comprehensive or capital campaign is considered a significant asset.
- Experience building productive relationships with Boards of Trustees, senior volunteers, donors, government partners, foundations and corporate leaders.
- Strong financial, strategic planning and organizational management skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to articulate organizational vision and inspire philanthropic investment.
- A commitment to mentoring and developing staff while fostering a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
- A demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and reconciliation, and the ability to embed those values into advancement practice and organizational relationships.
- A CFRE designation and active involvement with the Association of Fundraising Professionals or other relevant professional associations are considered assets.
Equivalent combinations of education, professional experience and lived experience will be considered.
Additional Requirements
The work environment is primarily in person at MTC’s administrative offices in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba. The successful candidate must be able to work beyond office hours including attendance at performances and events. A clear Police Information Check is required. Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
Compensation
MTC offers a competitive compensation package including salary, group benefits, retirement savings participation, vacation, professional development support and complimentary ticket privileges.
Salary range: $110,000 to $145,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
A relocation allowance is available for this opportunity.
Application Instructions
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre Senior Director of Advancement Search is led by Martin Bragg and Nicola Dawes of Martin Bragg & Associates. To apply in confidence, please email your letter of interest and resume in Word or PDF format to Martin Bragg & Associates at [email protected] All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and will receive an acknowledgement of their application. No phone calls, please.
Applications will be reviewed immediately, and the deadline is 5:00 p.m. Central Time on Monday, October 5, 2026.
