Human Resources at McMaster is led by the Assistant Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, who oversees a team of HR professionals who provide a wide range of HR Services in support of the HR mission to:
Associate Director Advancement Services, University Advancement
Joined McMaster in 2005
Jeff Chuchman is the Associate Director, Advancement Services within University Advancement (UA) at McMaster. He is responsible for leading a team of five people who maintain our vast Alumni Database and process donations. Another important aspect of his job is to ensure the University maintains its’ charitable status. In addition to these day to day responsibilities, he provides input into UA’s strategic direction and contributes to the vision of the overall department.Jeff’s history at McMaster dates back to his days as a student and teaching assistant within the Faculty of Humanities. After graduation, Jeff worked in pension administration for the Government of Ontario. After five years there, he began eyeing job postings at McMaster and hoping to one-day return.He started working as a Pension Administrator within Human Resources Services, and during this time had two opportunities to have the role of Acting Manager, Retirement Support Services. Working in HR for 12 years, Jeff had six different roles – each came with added responsibilities, skill development and experiences.After some time in HR, he began to think about other opportunities within the University where he could use his skills in a different capacity. He met with a career coach in Employee Career Services (ECS) to talk more about making a career move. Meeting and working with ECS helped Jeff revamp his resume and confidence. He learned how to leverage the skills he had in an area he had little or no experience in. Jeff credits ECS for the role he’s in today with University Advancement.Advice he’d share with those looking for a change or considering a new career plan is to take control of your own development. Even if you aren’t sure where you want to go next, think about what you’d like to get better at, and come up with a plan to do it. “Get help from your leaders, but understand you are ultimately accountable for your own success,” says Jeff.
If you’re interested in learning more about University Advancement or Jeff’s experiences, contact him at chuchj@mcmaster.ca.
