Cornell University welcomes candidates for the position of Director of Development, Student & Campus Life and Athletics in our Alumni Affairs and Development division, based in Ithaca, NY. This role presents an exceptional opportunity to contribute to the university's development efforts.

Position Summary

The Director of Development serves as a fundraising leader for Cornell's Student & Campus Life and Athletics division, helping to guide a comprehensive development program that advances key philanthropic priorities. Reporting to the Executive Director, this position serves as a key member of the division’s fundraising leadership team and a trusted partner in advancing fundraising strategy and organizational goals. This individual provides leadership for fundraising operations, staff management, and major gift strategy while helping shape the direction, priorities, and future growth of the development program. As a close collaborator to the Executive Director, the Director plays a critical role in translating vision into fundraising success.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Thought Partner

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Executive Director, helping shape fundraising strategy, organizational goals, and long-term growth opportunities across Student & Campus Life and Athletics
• Partner with divisional leadership to identify opportunities, address challenges, and advance key initiatives
• Contribute to strategic planning, goal setting, forecasting, and decision-making

Operational Leadership

• Provide leadership for the development program, ensuring alignment with divisional and university fundraising priorities
• Supervise, coach, and develop a team of fundraising professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and high performance
• Oversee fundraising operations, performance metrics, and key processes to ensure effective execution and achievement of fundraising goals

Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, developing and executing strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward philanthropic support while authentically engaging donors around the impact of athletics and student life programs
• Partner with divisional leaders, coaches, alumni, volunteers, and donors to build meaningful relationships and advance fundraising priorities

About Alumni Affairs and Development

At Cornell Alumni Affairs and Development, we connect alumni, parents, and friends with opportunities to make a meaningful difference at Cornell and beyond. Our success is built on the strength of relationships, a commitment to excellence, and a culture of collaboration, innovation, inclusion, and continuous learning. As one of higher education's leading fundraising and engagement organizations, we recently completed a record-setting campaign that engaged more than 221K alumni and raised $6.7 billion. Joining our team means growing your career alongside supportive, mission-driven, and high-performing colleagues while helping shape Cornell's future.

About Student & Campus Life and Athletics

Student & Campus Life (SCL) inspires transformation in all Cornell students on their journey of individual, academic and personal evolution. Our division is comprised of leading student affairs experts who support our campus on pressing student life matters including public service, health, wellbeing, connection and belonging, residential living, food services, sports, recreation, career services, and student activities and organizations including sorority and fraternity life. We provide support and services to roughly 25,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on multiple campuses in the U.S. and abroad.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 7-10 years of experience in development, alumni affairs, public affairs, marketing, business development, public relations, or related fields, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of fundraising principles and experience managing major gift programs and donor portfolios.
• Proven ability to provide strategic leadership, collaborate with senior leaders, and contribute to organizational planning and goal achievement.
• Strong people leadership skills with experience supervising, coaching, and developing professional staff.
• Exceptional written, verbal, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to effectively engage internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability and willingness to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.

Preferred Qualification

• Demonstrated understanding of or enthusiasm for collegiate athletics and its role in fostering alumni engagement, philanthropy, and institutional pride.

Work Location

This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely one day per week and on-campus four days per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.

Rewards and Benefits

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

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Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

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The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

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