About you
You are passionate about the health and well-being of people and communities. The talents and skills you bring to your work are valued by your colleagues and you’re always interested in learning something new. You are curious about people and systems, enjoy connecting dots, and like asking thoughtful questions that lead to insight and opportunity. You enjoy working remotely and online, using digital platforms to think creatively and work collaboratively, and you believe in the importance of work/life balance.
About the role
Position: Manager, Prospect Strategy and Research
Position Type: Full-time
Team: Philanthropy
Reports to: Director, Development (Campaign & Major Gifts)
Start Date: March 2026
Location: Remote from home, resident in Canada
The Manager, Prospect Strategy and Research is a vital member of the Philanthropy team, responsible for leading prospect development, pipeline management, and research in support of major gift, corporate, foundation, and Campaign fundraising goals. In addition to delivering high-quality prospect research, this role plays a key strategic function in building and strengthening the fundraising pipeline by proactively identifying, qualifying, and helping to prioritize net new prospects, in support of established fundraising and Campaign priorities
This position is open only to residents of Canada, who are eligible to work in Canada.
Key responsibilities
Prospect Development & Pipeline Management
- Provide strategic leadership for the overall Campaign prospect pipeline, proactively maintaining a holistic view across Relationship Manager portfolios to ensure alignment with Campaign fundraising targets and the approved gift chart.
- Analyze prospect and donor engagement data to identify gaps, risks, and opportunities in the pipeline and inform prospecting approaches and campaign planning discussions.
- Identify, qualify, and help prioritize net new prospects required to fill gaps in the gift chart and sustain Campaign momentum.
- Provide ongoing, proactive pipeline-level insight to support prospect movement and pipeline discipline across the Campaign, including identification of activity trends, next-step opportunities, and delivery of strategic guidance to Relationship Managers.
- Coordinate research, qualification, integration, follow-up, and tracking for Board-, Cabinet-, and leadership-referred prospects to ensure timely action, clarity of next steps, and accountability within the Campaign pipeline.
- Contribute to Campaign forecasting and reporting by analyzing pipeline data, prospect movement, and projected activity to inform leadership decision-making.
- This role contributes analysis, insight, and coordination to support Campaign planning and forecasting, but does not own campaign strategy, execution, or fundraising revenue targets.
Donor & Prospect Meetings
- Support relationship managers in prospect meeting preparation, including research, briefing materials, agenda development, and follow-up tracking.
- Support internal prospect and pipeline review meetings by setting forward-looking agendas, facilitating discussion, surfacing trends and risks, and documenting insights and agreed next steps to support effective pipeline management.
Functional Leadership & Best Practices
- Serve as the functional lead for prospect research and pipeline management, across different fundraising areas, establishing standards, tools, and processes that support Campaign, major gift and corporate fundraising.
- Promote best practices in prospect identification, research, data integrity, and pipeline discipline across the Philanthropy team.
Desired experience, knowledge, skills and qualifications
- Minimum of 5–7 years of experience in prospect research, prospect management, or major gift fundraising, ideally within a Campaign environment.
- Proficiency in managing and analyzing data in a CRM environment (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, or comparable systems) to support pipeline oversight, reporting, and forecasting.
- Advanced proficiency with prospect research methodologies, including data mining, capacity and affinity analysis, relationship mapping, and conducting complex online research using a range of sources and tools.
- Excellent written communication skills and the ability to produce concise, accurate, and actionable research profiles and reports.
- Meticulous attention to data accuracy and quality, with a commitment to maintaining confidentiality and ethical research practices.
- Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, and comfort working with data for analysis and reporting.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team-oriented, remote environment.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Highly self-directed, with demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage work proactively in a complex, campaign-driven environment.
- Strong intellectual curiosity and demonstrated ability to surface opportunities, identify trends, and connect insights across research and pipeline data.
Compensation package
We offer a compensation package that includes:
- Hiring salary of $70,000-80,000 per year
- Contributions to group RRSP
- Insurance: health, dental, long-term disability and life insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Flexible work location (within Canada) and hours of work
- Generous paid vacation, holidays and sick leave
Working environment
- Fully remote team with flexible working hours and a collaborative, mission-driven culture.
- Candidates must have a reliable internet connection and a dedicated workspace.
Commitment to inclusion and employment equity
Trans Canada Trail is a proud equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to creating a respectful, inclusive and barrier-free workplace that allows everyone to reach their full potential. A diverse workforce is key to our success, and we understand that different experiences, expertise and diversity of thought create better opportunities to understand the world we share.
To apply
We value a staff team made up of people with diverse voices and experiences and welcome your application if this role calls out to you. If you already have the skills and experience that we’ve asked for, great. But we also consider potential – so if you don’t have those exact skills yet, but you have the know-how and desire to develop them, know that we support professional growth, and this role may still be a great match for you – so don’t be shy about applying.
Applications will only be accepted from residents of Canada, who are eligible to work in Canada.
- Please send resume and cover letter to humanresources@tctrail.ca.
- The deadline for submitting your application is March 3, 2026.
Please note that applications should be submitted in pdf format, with no external links. You may submit separate documents for your cover letter and CV, although it is preferred that they are submitted in one document. Naming format should be as follows:
Combined document: Last name, first name
Separate documents: Last name, first name_Cover letter AND Last name, first name_CV
Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. We thank all applicants for their interest in working at Trans Canada Trail.
Trans Canada Trail is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Trans Canada Trail will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact humanresources@tctrail.ca.
