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

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary:
  Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard
  
  Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $190,000 - $210,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

Columbia University s Mortimer

B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute is a world-class neuroscience institute, bringing together more than 850 researchers and staff to study the mind and brain in ways that lead to transformative discoveries. The Senior Director of Development leads the Zuckerman Institute’s fundraising program, focused primarily on securing major and principal gifts from individual donors, and manages an exceptional team of three development professionals.

The Senior Director of Development reports to the Assistant Vice President of Development for Strategic Initiatives in Columbia s central Office of Alumni Relations and Development (OAD), with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Director and CEO of the Zuckerman Institute. The Senior Director collaborates with colleagues across Columbia s schools and central departments and joins a vibrant community of fundraising professionals supporting more than two dozen strategic initiatives across the University.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy for the Zuckerman Institute in partnership with Institute and OAD leadership. Establish fundraising goals, align philanthropic priorities with institutional objectives, and build support among key Institute stakeholders.
• Build, cultivate, and personally manage a portfolio of approximately 50 principal and major gift prospects. Develop sophisticated engagement strategies that align donor interests with Institute priorities and partner with Institute leadership, senior University administrators, trustees, deans, faculty, volunteer leaders, and development colleagues to secure gifts of $100,000 and above.
• Serve as the lead strategic partner to Institute leadership in donor engagement efforts by developing cultivation and solicitation strategies, preparing leadership for prospect interactions, staffing high-level donor meetings, and ensuring thoughtful follow-up that advances long-term philanthropic relationships.
• Provide strategic leadership for the Institute s advisory board, called the Brain Trust, overseeing all aspects of board engagement, governance, fundraising, nominations, onboarding, and stewardship. In partnership with senior Institute leadership, shape board meeting agendas and year-round engagement strategies that strengthen board effectiveness and philanthropic support.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Deputy Director, Development Strategy and Major Gifts, providing strategic direction for frontline fundraising, campaign planning, prospect pipeline development, donor stewardship, and volunteer engagement initiatives.
• Oversee the Associate Director of Development Communications, ensuring the development of compelling proposals, stewardship reports, case materials, and other strategic communications that advance fundraising priorities and strengthen donor relationships.
• Supervise the Assistant Director, Development Programs, providing leadership for the administrative and operational functions of the development office while overseeing the planning and execution of cultivation events and other pipeline-building initiatives that increase awareness of the Institute and engage prospective supporters.
• Sustain a collaborative, high-performing team culture grounded in candor, humor, humility, excellence, accountability, and mutual support, while coaching and developing staff to achieve individual and team success.
• Serve as a member of the Institute s administrative leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, organizational decision-making, and cross-functional initiatives that advance the…