Cornell University welcomes candidates for the position of Assistant Dean for Alumni Affairs & Development in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. This is a unique opportunity for an accomplished fundraiser to be part of a team at the world's leading institution focused on work, employment, and labor while playing a key role in an innovative development support model designed to maximize collaboration, efficiency, and fundraising success.

As the school's chief development officer, you will partner closely with the Dean to advance strategic priorities through philanthropy, alumni engagement, and donor stewardship. Working with faculty, alumni, donors, volunteers and university partners, you will develop and execute strategies that inspire philanthropic investment in the school's mission and future growth.

The successful candidate will join a newly established collaborative development and engagement support model that brings together three chief development officers and a dedicated team of professionals specializing in alumni engagement, major gifts, and administrative support. Designed to maximize fundraising impact through shared expertise and resources, this collaborative structure provides the Assistant Dean the opportunity to help shape a new approach to development while focusing on relationship building, fundraising strategy, and philanthropic results.

While this position does not have direct reports, it offers significant opportunities to lead through influence, partnership, and strategic vision. The Assistant Dean will serve as a trusted advisor to the Dean and member of their leadership team a key contributor to the continued growth and success of The ILR School.

Key Responsibilities

Lead a Development Program

• Serves as the chief development officer for the ILR School, leading fundraising and alumni engagement strategy aligned with school priorities
• Cultivates and manages relationships with major donors, alumni, and key stakeholders to secure philanthropic support.
• Partners with the Dean, faculty, alumni, volunteers, and donors to secure philanthropic support and advance strategic initiatives.
• Build strong relationships with fundraisers situated in the central AAD operation to advance ILR's fundraising aims.

Inspire Transformational Philanthropy

• Manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects capable of making significant investments in the future of The ILR School.
• Develop and execute donor strategies that result in meaningful philanthropic support and long-term engagement.
• Build and strengthen relationships with alumni, donors, volunteers, and university partners.

Collaboration for Impact

• Work closely with a dedicated team of engagement and development professionals specializing in alumni engagement, major gifts, operations, and administrative support.
• Partner with peer chief development officers from the Atkinson Center for Sustainability and the Cornell University Libraries as well as colleagues across Cornell to maximize fundraising outcomes and organizational effectiveness.
• Contribute to the continued evolution of a collaborative development support model designed for long-term success.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 7-10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience.
• Proven success in developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies that achieve ambitious goals.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build collaborative relationships across a complex, matrixed organization.
• Strong ability to work as a collaborative partner within a shared service model, contributing to team success and providing constructive input to support continuous improvement.
• Proficiency with fundraising databases, CRM systems, and standard office software.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; ability to work effectively across cultural differences.
• Ability to travel regularly within the United States and internationally.

Work Location

This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely three days per week and on campus two 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.

This is a contract college position.

University Job Title:
AAD Program Director I

Job Family:
Alumni Affairs Development

Level:
H

Pay Rate Type:
Salary

Pay Range:
$157,418.00 - $192,400.00

Remote Option Availability:
Hybrid

Company:
Contract College

Contact Name:
Rachel Colunio

Contact Email:


Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

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.

Union Positions

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.

Current Employees:

If you currently work at Cornell University, please exit this website and log in to Workday using your Net ID and password. Select the Career icon on your Home dashboard to view jobs at Cornell.

Online Submission Guidelines:

Most positions at Cornell will require you to apply online and submit both a resume/CV and cover letter. You can upload documents either by "dragging and dropping" them into the dropbox or by using the "upload" icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions on how to apply to a job at Cornell, visit How We Hire on the HR website.

Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email [email protected].

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at [email protected].

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing [email protected].

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.