Executive Director, Philanthropy

Location: Vancouver, BC 

In 1994, with 25 years of experience as a well-respected voice in the industry, John Nicola formed Nicola Wealth, a firm dedicated to serving the complex needs of high-net-worth families, entrepreneurs, and professionals. Not satisfied with the existing approach and believing a more sophisticated level of planning was necessary, Nicola Wealth has made innovation a foundational cornerstone and continues to find ways to improve client returns and their experience. Nicola Wealth’s success is due to its deep sense of values staff model every day: they are collectively driven to deliver innovative and exceptional services, and care about the wellbeing of their people, clients and communities.

Today, Nicola Wealth is a full-service wealth management firm with five offices across Canada, managing over $13 Billion AUM. More than a financial planning firm, Nicola Wealth offers sophisticated wealth management strategies and a proprietary series of investment pools that help business owners, professionals and other high-net-worth individuals reach their financial goals. With a keen understanding of the financial industry, its many vehicles, and the elaborate rules and regulations involved, the firm now challenges conventional wisdom, implementing a specialized planning approach. A strong commitment to philanthropy has been woven into the fabric of Nicola Wealth – it is deeply embedded in their business strategy, direction, and values. With the success and growth of the business, nationally, this will allow for an even greater philanthropic impact, creating a need for this pivotal new role. 

The inaugural Executive Director (ED), Philanthropy will provide strategic and operational leadership to Nicola Wealth’s philanthropic vision and then develop the go-forward strategy in concert with the Chief Operating Officer and Philanthropy Advisory Board.  Specifically, the ED will integrate the activities of the Private Giving Foundation (which holds donor advised funds and is one of the largest in Canada), the Nicola Gives Back Charitable Giving Committee, and marketing sponsorships with Nicola Wealth’s philanthropy mandate with an objective of maximizing strategic charitable giving and social impact. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and managing a small team, the ED will be responsible for building a sustainable and accountable program that supports community, and then integrating it into Nicola Wealth’s overall business, culture, and operations.

The ideal candidate brings senior leadership experience in philanthropy in a financial services organization, private foundation, or related-not-for-profit. Experience working directly with Donor Advised Funds and/or planned giving is highly preferred. Highly strategic, yet able to personally deliver, the ideal candidate will thrive working in an entrepreneurial and fast paced corporate culture focused on data and metrics. The desired candidate has impeccable relationship building skills that allow them to build trusted relations both internally and externally.

Nicola Wealth has offices across Canada and offers a hybrid work environment. This role may be based in Vancouver, BC or Toronto, ON.

To explore this opportunity further, please click Apply.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. Please note that we will only be in contact with those individuals moving forward with our client.