Description

VP Development and Alumni is currently seeking a Full-time Limited Term Data Scientist - Applied AI for approximately 24 months with a strong possibility of extension, based on organizational needs and mutual fit. This position is currently hybrid with three days per week in the office.

The Office of Development and Alumni (D&A;) exists for the mutual benefit of the University of Calgary and its stakeholders, and coordinates donations of gifts to the University, as well as communication and engagement with UCalgary Alumni and the broader community. The Data Scientist - Applied AI is a Data Science professional reporting to the Manager, Data Systems, and provides expertise and strategic support to measurably improve and expand D&A;'s approach to fundraising and outreach. Specifically, the position studies internal and external data, and employs data mining, machine learning, applied artificial intelligence, predictive modelling, forecasting, and statistical analysis techniques to help identify, classify, understand, and cultivate connection, engagement, and philanthropic contributions.

The Data Scientist - Applied AI must accommodate the needs of numerous faculties and central and support units (e.g., Annual and Leadership Giving, Alumni Engagement). They must coordinate analytics activities with Prospect Research & Pipeline staff who specialize in prospect and portfolio management.

There is a high volume of work requiring sound judgment, diplomacy, tact, project management, decision-making, and the ability to manage fluid expectations, projects, and deadlines.

This position is suited to a data science professional who can apply academic knowledge and practical experience to real-world problems, including emerging applied AI opportunities.





The maximum salary for this position is $85,910.00 annual.

This position is classified in the Skilled Career Band, Level 3 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

Summary of Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Analytics Program Leadership (20%)

- Work with the Manager, Data Systems to set a vision for advanced analytics and applied AI within D&A;, and develop and implement a comprehensive program that provides data-driven intelligence to aid University-wide and faculty/unit fundraising, communications, and engagement.
- Work with D&A; teams across campus to identify specific issues for review and analysis, and develop/create solutions. Generate new knowledge and previously unknown insights from D&A; and external data.
- Grow analytics capacity and standards within the organization through training, workshops, and supporting skill development.
- Mentor and coach Reporting Analysts in analytics and data science best practices, and contribute to enhancing the team's knowledge and abilities.

Modeling, Statistical Analysis, and Fundraising Strategies (70%)

- Provide strategic leadership and employ project management best practices on all fundraising, communications, and engagement analytics projects.



Establish and communicate vision for projects, including alignment to organizational vision and strategy.
- Design, prototype, implement, and evaluate generative AI solutions, including large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, semantic search, and agentic workflow. Evaluate internally developed, vendor-provided, and hybrid approaches based on business value, cost, technical fit, maintainability, privacy, security, and integration requirements.
- Employ machine learning and applied AI techniques and build predictive, behavioral, and AI-assisted solutions that are used to increase revenue, deliver time savings, and improve ROI throughout the department. Develop strategies to ensure that what is built actually makes a difference.
- Act as the senior expert on data science. Identify, prioritize, and execute applied analytics that deliver insights across goals including, but not limited to: contact acquisition, donation conversions, increasing value of average donations, engagement with the University, and segmenting Constituents.
- Develop product offerings including visual intelligence tools and applications for enhancing business performance. Determine the best way to deliver data science initiatives into the hands of end users.
- Gather, filter and segment large and unstructured data sets for the purposes of identifying, classifying and refining constituent pools. Identify overall trends and patterns in giving, interests, volunteerism, event participation, etc. and search for explanations and underlying causes.
- Leverage available data sources and identify new sources of data. Mine, retrieve, query, and append data from internal databases, and external data sources

📌 Data Scientist (Calgary)
🏢 University of Calgary
📍 Calgary