Lead, Events of Distinction

Lead, Events of Distinction
Remote / Ontario and/or Nova Scotia

Join our Team!

Do you want your next career adventure to be part of a great cause? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of those facing an ovarian cancer diagnosis now and in the future? Are you inspired by and ready to play a key role in transformational change and growth? Ovarian Cancer Canada is looking for a Permanent, full-time Lead, Events of Distinction, to join our team. This is an existing vacancy.

Who we are:
At Ovarian Cancer Canada (OCC) we reject the notion that ovarian cancer can’t be eradicated. We are here to demand action, deliver change and transform lives. We stand hand-in-hand with the people experiencing, affected by or at risk of the disease. We will not rest until women can live their lives freely, fully, and uninhibited by ovarian cancer.

With our mission to boldly and unapologetically take action against ovarian cancer until the number of deaths from this disease is zero, we are working tirelessly towards a future where ovarian cancer is preventable, treatable and ultimately eradicated.

What OCC can offer you!

• The opportunity to join a team of forward-thinking individuals who seek to challenge the status-quo to make a difference in the lives of those affected by ovarian cancer.
• Committed to continuing to build a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• Opportunity to lead programs to success, try new things and achieve individual professional goals.
• We value work-life balance and maintain a friendly work environment.
• Flexible work schedules based on individual and organizational needs.
• We believe time off is integral to the personal health and wellness of our employees and offer a generous paid time off package including vacation days, personal days, wellness days, thirteen paid Statutory holidays recognized in all provinces, and a paid company-wide closure over the winter holiday break.
• We provide competitive health, medical, dental and vision benefits, and an RRSP matching program after one year of service.
• Employee and Family Assistance Program.
• Monthly cell phone allowance.
• We offer competitive salaries within the non-profit sector.

Position Overview:
The Lead, Events of Distinction, is a highly collaborative fundraising and relationship management role responsible for driving the continued growth and success of Ovarian Cancer Canada’s signature gala and high-value fundraising event portfolio, with a primary focus on the LadyBall Gala series across Canada. Reporting to the Director, Corporate and Community Engagement, this role leads the planning, execution, and growth strategy for premium fundraising experiences that deepen donor engagement, cultivate major and corporate giving, elevate OCC’s brand presence, and generate philanthropic revenue.

The Lead, Events of Distinction, will cultivate and steward relationships with donors, sponsors, corporate partners, volunteers, committees, and community leaders to advance fundraising goals and deliver exceptional event experiences. This role works cross-functionally with internal teams and external stakeholders to identify innovative opportunities for revenue growth, sponsorship activation, donor stewardship, and community engagement.

This position requires a strategic and entrepreneurial fundraiser with strong event leadership experience, exceptional relationship-building skills, and the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Events of Distinction Strategy & Leadership

• Lead the strategy, planning, execution, and growth of OCC’s Events of Distinction portfolio, including the LadyBall Gala series and other premium fundraising events that drive major gift and corporate giving pipelines.
• Develop and manage event plans, budgets, logistics, timelines, sponsor activations, run-of-shows, and post-event evaluations to ensure exceptional attendee experiences and alignment with OCC’s mission, brand, and strategic priorities.
• Identify opportunities to increase revenue, sponsorship, attendance, donor acquisition, engagement, and overall event impact through continuous evaluation and innovation.
• Collaborate with internal teams, vendors, and partners to deliver high-quality events in accordance with organizational policies, fundraising best practices, and budget expectations.

Fundraising, Sponsorship & Donor Stewardship

• Build and strengthen relationships with sponsors, donors, community leaders, volunteers, and supporters through compelling representation of OCC’s mission and impact.
• Prospect, cultivate, solicit, steward, and retain sponsors and donors, developing long-term partnerships and multi-year philanthropic support.
• Lead sponsorship engagement and fulfillment strategies, including proposals, stewardship reports, presentations, donor communications, and fundraising materials.
• Identify and pursue new revenue-generating opportunities, partnerships, and event concepts, while supporting broader fundraising initiatives and campaigns.

Volunteer, Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Recruit, engage, lead, and support volunteer committees, ambassadors, and community leaders to advance fundraising and engagement goals.
• Provide coaching, guidance, tools, and best practices to volunteers and committees to support event success and strengthen community relationships.
• Foster meaningful relationships and exceptional stakeholder experiences through effective communication, collaboration, and customer service.
• Represent OCC at community events, networking opportunities, meetings, and speaking engagements, working closely with Marketing & Communications to support event promotion, storytelling, and audience engagement.

Administrative & Operational Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate donor, sponsor, and event records in Raiser’s Edge, Luminate Online, and related systems.
• Manage event operations, including budgets, forecasting, invoices, reporting, vendor and contract coordination, and reconciliation activities.
• Monitor timelines, deliverables, KPIs, and reporting dashboards to ensure effective execution and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to departmental planning, organizational initiatives, and other duties as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills, Competencies and Qualifications:

• University/college degree in Fundraising, Business, Event Management, Marketing, Communications, or related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of four (4) to six (6) years’ experience in fundraising, sponsorship, gala or event management, preferably within the non-profit sector.
• Demonstrated success managing large-scale fundraising events and cultivating corporate sponsorships and donor relationships.
• Experience leading volunteer committees and engaging high-level stakeholders, sponsors, and community leaders.
• Strong strategic planning, project management, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex priorities simultaneously.
• Proven ability to identify growth opportunities and drive revenue generation.
• Exceptional relationship-building, interpersonal, networking, and influencing skills.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills with a customer service mindset.
• Demonstrated self-starter, capable of identifying the need for independent action, while valuing and developing cooperative working relationships with staff, volunteers, and stakeholders.
• Experience working with Raiser’s Edge, Luminate Online, and Microsoft Office Suite considered an asset.
• Strong attention to detail, professionalism, discretion, and ability to handle confidential information.
• Comfortable working independently in a predominantly remote environment while collaborating effectively within a national team.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings, weekends, and travel as event schedules require.
• Committed to working in an inclusive environment responding with sensitivity and awareness to the diverse needs of staff, volunteers, donors, and members of the community.
• Drivers’ license and regular access to a vehicle are required.
• The successful candidate will be required to comply with a police background check as a contingency of hiring.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter to Samantha Smockum, Director, People & Culture at: ssmockum@ovariancanada.org by 5pm EST on Thursday, June 11, 2026.

At OCC, we are committed to supporting inclusion and diversity; we celebrate and are inspired by our differences. OCC is committed to fostering an inclusive, barrier-free, and accessible environment that encourages applications from all qualified candidates. If you require an accommodation to participate in the recruitment and selection process, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

We thank all applicants for their interest however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Our hiring process does not include the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or automated decision-making tools. Applications are reviewed and evaluated by our hiring team.