Senior Director of Development, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute

About the role

The Senior Director of Development leads the Zuckerman Institute’s fundraising program, focusing primarily on securing major and principal gifts from individual donors. They manage an exceptional team of three development professionals and collaborate with colleagues across Columbia's schools and central departments.

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward significant gifts of $500,000 or more from individual donors.
• Engage and effectively leverage senior leaders, faculty, trustees, and volunteer leaders in support of fundraising objectives.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Columbia's schools and central departments.
• Support more than two dozen strategic initiatives across the University.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of seven to nine years of progressively responsible development experience, primarily in major and principal gifts fundraising, or comparable senior-level experience in a philanthropic environment.
• Demonstrated success in all phases of identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding significant gifts of $500,000 or more from individuals.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and effectively leverage senior leaders, faculty, trustees, and volunteer leaders in support of fundraising objectives.
• Experience fundraising within higher education, academic medicine, scientific research, or another complex, mission-driven institution is preferred.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of successful fundraising, particularly for major and principal gifts.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to build relationships with senior leaders and volunteers.
• Ability to manage a team and delegate responsibilities effectively.
• Knowledge of fundraising strategies and techniques relevant to academic and scientific institutions.

Skills

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Understanding of fundraising strategies and techniques relevant to academic and scientific institutions.

Benefits

The Office of Alumni Relations and Development and the Zuckerman Institute support a hybrid work arrangement for this position, with a certain number of days each week in the office and the remainder working from home. Options will be discussed during the interview process.

Pay

$190,000 - $210,000

Schedule

Hybrid work arrangement, with a certain number of days each week in the office and the remainder working from home. Options will be discussed during the interview process.