Administrative Assistant, Principal Gifts

About Cornell Alumni Affairs and Development

The Cornell Alumni Affairs and Development team is at the forefront of higher education advancement. It is our aim to foster Cornell’s mission through lifelong engagement and philanthropy by providing opportunities to friends and families to give, lead and serve.

By joining the Alumni Affairs and Development team, you'll have the chance to be part of something big. You will become an integral part of a dynamic team that is committed to excellence and doing the greatest good. Discover a career at Cornell University, where your skills and passion converge to create a lasting legacy, shaping the future of education and leaving an indelible mark on the world.

The Opportunity

Are you an organized, detail-oriented individual with a passion for providing top-tier administrative support? Cornell University’s Principal Gifts Office in Alumni Affairs and Development is seeking an Administrative Assistant to support our senior development professionals. If you thrive in a dynamic environment and excel at maintaining organization and confidentiality while supporting multiple stakeholders, this role may be perfect for you!

As an Administrative Assistant with Principal Gifts, you will serve as a liaison between our Principal Gifts Officers (PGOs) and Principal Gifts Associates (PGAs) and the wider Cornell community, including alumni, donors, faculty, and university leadership. You will play a crucial role in supporting our fundraising efforts by ensuring seamless communication, meeting coordination, and event planning. Your attention to detail, discretion, and ability to manage multiple tasks will help advance the university’s ambitious development goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Administrative Support- Manage complex calendars, arrange meetings, and prepare confidential materials for Principal Gifts Officers. Draft correspondence, and reports. Complete any other administrative tasks that are needed by the PGOs to support their fundraising engagement with their donors and their collaboration with colleagues in AAD and across Cornell. 
• Data Management- Maintain and update donor information in PeopleSoft and other systems. Assist with the preparation of reports and manage internal solicitation review processes.
• Travel Planning & Budget Management- Arrange cost-effective and efficient travel for the PGOs you support. Prepare itineraries, track expenses, and process reimbursements.
• Customer Service & Event Support- Provide top-notch customer service to donors and high-level volunteers. Assist in planning and implementing donor events such as receptions, lectures, and dinners. Collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure seamless event logistics.
• Professional Development- Stay current on new technologies, processes, and university policies relevant to your role. Participate in team meetings and offer suggestions to further department goals.

If you are excited to play an integral role in Cornell’s development efforts and believe in the power of education and community, we encourage you to apply with your resume and cover letter. Join us and help shape the future of Cornell University!

What We Need

• Associates Degree and 2 to 4 years relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Must be able to exercise sound judgment, timely and appropriate follow-thorough, and independent proactive thinking in supporting the most senior development officers, who travel frequently.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Must be detail oriented and have the demonstrated ability and organizational skills to establish priorities, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, are required.
• Must be discreet and have a proven track-record of handling highly sensitive and confidential information. Must be able to work effectively with both internal and external constituencies, including the university’s highest level donors; the university’s senior administrative offices, including the President’s, Provost’s, and deans’ offices; faculty and staff from across the campus; and colleagues throughout the division.
• Experience in preparing written materials requiring research is desired. Strong computer skills and experience working with word processing, spreadsheets and databases is required, and experience working with Peoplesoft, Perceptive Content, Tableau, OBIEE and Microsoft Office Suite.
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