Associate Dean of Alumni Affairs and Development, SC Johnson College of Business

Are you a strategic thinker, metric-driven leader, and passionate about making a profound impact? The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business seeks a dynamic individual to serve as our Associate Dean of Alumni Affairs and Development (AAD). This pivotal role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of one of the world's leading business education institutions.

About the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business comprises three distinguished schools with a long history of excellence: the Nolan School of Hotel Administration (SHA), the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management (Dyson), and the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management (Johnson). With a community of over 4,000 students, 251 faculty, and 47,000 alumni, our college fosters collaborative business practices and innovative thinking. Join us as we celebrate milestones and embark on new ventures, including the upcoming 10th anniversary of the college in 2026.

Position Overview

As the Associate Dean of Alumni Affairs and Development, you will spearhead the development and execution of our overall fundraising and alumni engagement strategy. With the ambitious goals of raising $500 million for the To Do the Greatest Good Campaign and $75-$100 million annually, you will lead a team of 24 development and alumni affairs professionals.

The Associate Dean works with the Dean of the college to establish fundraising priorities; partners with academic leaders and other stakeholders to get priorities ready for market and is the liaison from the college with the university’s principal gifts team and senior leadership in Alumni Affairs and Development.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership: Set the strategic direction and inspire our AAD team to achieve our common goals.

• Collaborate with the college dean and Alumni Affairs and Development associate vice president for Colleges & Units to establish fundraising goals and priorities.

• Develop compelling narratives and market-ready ideas for fundraising initiatives.

• Serve as the primary liaison between the college and AAD leadership and principal gifts.

• Foster a culture of professional development and excellence within the AAD team, upholding the SURE values that define our division culture and the Any Person, Any Study ethos of the university.

• Play an active role as a vital member of the college dean's leadership team.

Operational Management: Lead and mentor a team of four direct reports and oversee the performance of our entire AAD team.

• Maximize the efficacy of the College Leadership Council, our primary advisory board.

• Strategically prioritize alumni engagement activities for college and school deans.

• Maintain oversight of the annual budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and resource allocation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 10 years of experience in development with increasingly advanced responsibility, or equivalent.

• Demonstrated success as a strong people leader and manager, and as an architect and solicitor of transformational gifts

• Ability to develop long-term fundraising strategies, set measurable goals, and adapt approaches based on changing circumstances.

• Demonstrated ability to build an inclusive environment. 

• Integrity, strong verbal and written communication, and sound judgment are a must. 

• Strong ability to build and maintain internal and external relationships, a high degree of confidence in guiding academic leaders and managing stakeholders.

Rewards and Benefits

Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives. Benefits include:

• Comprehensive health care options

• Access to wellness programs

• Employee discounts with local and national retail brands

• Generous retirement contributions

• Leave provisions including three weeks of vacation and 12 holidays

• Impressive educational benefits including tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, Tuition Aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance program

• Learn more about benefit opportunities

This position is based in Ithaca, NY with hybrid work arrangements, which is 2 or 3 days in the office and the remainder can be remote from a commutable distance. 

No Visa Sponsorship is available for this position.

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