Assistant Dean for Alumni Affairs and Development, Brooks School of Public Policy

Assistant Dean for Alumni Affairs & Development

Cornell University welcomes candidates for the position of Assistant Dean for Alumni Affairs & Development in the Jeb

E. Brooks School of Public Policy. This is a unique opportunity for an accomplished fundraiser to build on the momentum of one of Cornell's newest schools 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 support model that brings together chief development officers and a dedicated team of professionals specializing in alumni engagement, major gifts, operations, and administrative support. Designed to maximize fundraising impact through shared expertise and resources, this collaborative structure provides 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 a key contributor to the continued growth and success of the Brooks School.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the development expert for the Brooks School, providing strategic leadership for fundraising and alumni engagement.
• Partner with the Dean to advance the school's priorities and strengthen philanthropic support.
• Help shape the future growth of a young and rapidly evolving school.

Inspire Transformational Philanthropy

• Manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects capable of making significant investments in the future of the Brooks 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 development professionals specializing in alumni engagement, major gifts, operations, and administrative support.
• Partner with peer chief development officers and 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.

About Cornell Jeb

E. Brooks School of Public Policy

The Cornell Jeb

E. Brooks School of Public Policy harnesses the University's broad disciplinary excellence in public policy, along with its innovative teaching, research, and engagement programs, to solve pressing global challenges. The school's prestigious faculty apply an interdisciplinary and problem-oriented focus to wide-ranging public policy issues as they explore how government choices intersect with people's lives. The school's initial areas of focus are in data science and technology policy;

environmental and sustainability policy; health policy; human security; inequality and social policy; the politics and economics of development; and race, racism, and public policy.

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.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 7–10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated success securing major and principal gifts and managing complex donor relationships.
• Proven ability to develop and execute fundraising strategies that achieve ambitious goals.
• Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across a complex organization.
• Experience serving as a strategic partner to senior leaders, executives, or academic leadership.
• Ability to thrive in a highly collaborative environment and contribute to a shared-services approach.
• Commitment to fostering inclusive environments and working effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Work…