Senior Research Officer - Foundation - Regular full-time - 2026-16390

Title: Senior Research Officer

Department: Knowledge & Systems

Reports to: Manager, Research

Existing Vacancy: No

Location: 2075 Bayview Ave, North York, ON M4N 3M5

Who We Are

Sunnybrook Foundation inspires lasting support for Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, one of Canada’s largest and most dynamic health science centres impacting the lives of the more than 1.1 million patients it sees each year. Sunnybrook is ranked #2 in Canada and #24 worldwide in Newsweek Magazine’s World’s Best Hospitals 2025 list. This is the seventh consecutive year Sunnybrook has received this recognition.

Together with our donor community, Sunnybrook Foundation raises critical funds for Sunnybrook’s world class academic health sciences centre to achieve our shared vision to invent the future of health care. With ambitious goals ahead, the Foundation is committed to continuing to grow our results and impact as we help Sunnybrook to raise sights, uncover new possibilities, develop talent, and deliver exceptional care.

We are one team in pursuit of a common purpose – to inspire lasting support for Sunnybrook – and we are guided by our values: Build Connectedness, Act with Integrity, Meaningful Collaboration and Strive for Excellence.

Why Join Us

At Sunnybrook Foundation, purpose and passion drive us. We lead with our values and know that our diversity makes us stronger. Here, your work will help raise funds to shape the future of one of the world’s best hospitals, contributing to innovation and a profound impact on the communities we serve. You will collaborate, learn, and grow with a team united in our ambition.

Position Overview

The Senior Research Officer is a key critical role within the research team, providing high-level strategic insight and technical expertise to advance the Foundation’s fundraising priorities. Working closely with the Manager, Research, the incumbent provides strategic insight, thought leadership, and expert guidance to inform portfolio development, prospect strategy, and pipeline growth. The Senior Research Officer operates with a higher degree of autonomy, leading complex specialized projects while serving as a technical mentor to junior staff.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Prospect Identification and Qualification

• Advanced Pipeline Development: Lead complex prospect identification and qualification activities surfacing harder-to-identify prospects in support of major gifts, campaigns, and priority initiatives
• Complex Mapping: Create intricate relationship mapping and comprehensive prospect review lists for Volunteers and Senior Leadership.
• Methodology Innovation: Leverage advanced tools and methodologies, including data analytics and predictive modeling, to identify high-potential prospects.

Advanced Research and Analysis

• High-Level Profiles: Lead the creation of comprehensive, high-quality research briefs and extended family donor profiles on generations of donation patterns, integrating financial, philanthropic, and social data to inform solicitation strategies.
• Wealth Frameworks: Formulate advanced wealth calculation frameworks for capacity ratings, integrating multiple indicators to inform Philanthropy Team gift strategies.
• Strategic Partnership: Act as a primary strategic partner to fundraisers, providing actionable insights for prospect strategy development and engagement opportunities.
• Project Execution: Lead specialized research projects, including market scans, trend research, and competitive analysis on other fundraising campaigns.

Data Management & Stewardship

• Rating Systems: Develop and maintain robust rating systems for Gift Capacity, Inclination, and Target Gift Range with a strong focus on accuracy, consistency, and data integrity.
• Data Integrity Lead: Act as a "Champion" for data integrity, providing guidance and training to the broader team to ensure major giving data is consistent and accurate.
• Workflow Optimization: Identify and implement process improvements to enhance the efficiency of prospect research and donor management

Strategic Leadership & Technical Mentorship

• Process Improvement: Lead the implementation and continuous auditing of research workflows, tools, and documentation to increase efficiency and impact.
• Quality Assurance: Review research briefs and profiles generated by the Research Officer to ensure consistency, accuracy, and strategic alignment before they are delivered to senior leadership.
• Coaching: Provide ongoing technical guidance and coaching to Research Officers; act as the primary resource for complex research challenges and tool-specific expertise.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Professional Experience: Three to five years of experience in prospect research in a complex not-for-profit organization
• Advanced Financial Analysis: Proven ability to interpret complex financial and trade documents for wealth assessment, including SEDAR, SEDI, and annual reports.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to synthesize complex data from diverse sources into actionable recommendations for gift strategies.
• Technical Proficiency: Extensive skills in Microsoft Office, Raiser's Edge, Blackbaud CRM, and Power BI.
• Leadership Competency: Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as a collaborative mentor within a team.
• Education: Undergraduate degree in Library or Information Sciences, Social Sciences or related field is considered a strong asset.

Total Rewards Package

This role has been evaluated with an annual salary range of $82,000 to $102,000. The hiring range is $82,000 to $90,000. The salary will be determined based on the successful candidate’s years of experience, qualifications and competencies that are relevant to this position.

In addition to salary, our competitive compensation package also includes, HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan), hybrid work environment with a minimum of two (2) days in office and additional Sunny Days (long weekend closures in advance of summer long weekends and Christmas Eve).

We thank all applicants in advance. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Sunnybrook Foundation does not use AI to screen job applications.

​​​We know that everyone’s career journey looks a bit different and experience comes in many forms. If you’re unsure whether your experience matches all of the requirements but still think this would be a great fit, we encourage you to apply.

Sunnybrook Foundation values equity, diversity and inclusion within the workplace and is committed to fostering a work environment where employees can bring their whole selves to work, are valued for their diversity, and feel a sense of belonging.

Sunnybrook Foundation is committed to providing accessible employment practices. If you require accommodations during any stage of the recruitment process, please advise us when submitting your application and email FoundationHR@sunnybrook.ca.