Associate Director, Development & Industry Partnerships

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: 95,000-100,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Development & Alumni Affairs at Columbia University School of Nursing, the Associate Director of Development and Industry Partnerships will manage and grow a portfolio of major and leadership gift prospects and donors, with a primary focus on corporations and foundations capable of making gifts of $100,000 or more. The Associate Director will develop and execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that align with the School’s philanthropic priorities.

The Associate Director will identify, research, and cultivate prospective corporate and foundation partners; design and develop compelling proposals and solicitation strategies; secure major and leadership gifts and grants; and steward donors through meaningful and sustained engagement. As a collaborative and strategic partner, the incumbent will work closely with the Dean, Associate Dean for Development & Alumni Affairs, the School’s Grants Management Office, and colleagues across Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) and the Office of Alumni Relations and Development (OAD) to identify funding opportunities and advance shared philanthropic objectives.

This cross-functional role requires a strategic, relationship-driven professional with a collaborative spirt, strong program management skills, and the ability to operate with a broad institutional perspective. As a frontline fundraiser and member of the School’s Development & Alumni Affairs team, the Associate Director will build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with development colleagues across Columbia University to coordinate engagement strategies, identify fundraising opportunities, and support the School and University’s overall advancement priorities.

Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include:

• Build and manage a portfolio of 50+ major and leadership gift donors and prospects, including corporations, foundations, and individuals, with a focus on gifts of $100,000 and above. Responsible for conducting approximately 80 donor meetings annually, including virtual and phone meetings, as well as developing and submitting 15 new major gift funding proposals annually aligned with School priorities. Directly solicit or support 5 new leadership annual gifts of $10K+ each year. Identify, cultivate, solicit, and close major and leadership annual gifts and grants, including proactive outreach and cold calls. Support the Associate Dean for Development & Alumni Relations on principal corporate and foundation prospects through stewardship activities, including reports, briefings, letters of inquiry, proposals, and budget development. (50%)
• Lead corporate and foundation prospect research efforts, including identification, assessment, and qualification of prospective funders. Prepare donor profiles, briefing materials, and other strategic background information for faculty, senior leadership and volunteers to support cultivation and solicitation activities. (20%)
• Design, develop, and execute strategic industry engagement events and convenings, including donor dinners, and partnership-focused gatherings that connect corporate and foundation funders with School of Nursing faculty and leadership to highlight institutional priorities and strengthen partnerships. (10%)
• In partnership with the Associate Dean for Development & Alumni Affairs, develop and implement a strategic work plan through active implementation of the major gifts tracking/reporting/moves management system aligned with the School of Nursing’s fundraising and strategic priorities for the academic year. May include responsibility for supporting volunteer committee of the board of advisors, including nominating new members. (5%)
• Serve as a liaison to the School’s Grants Management Office, the University’s Office of Sponsored Projects, and the School’s Finance Office to ensure compliance with corporate and foundation proposals and awards. Prepare budget projections and reports related to submitted and anticipated grants, including tracking revenue received and projected funding. (5%)
• Oversee scholarship stewardship and reporting processes in partnership with Stewardship and Development Operations Manager to ensure timely fulfillment of donor commitments. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in Salesforce, including tracking submitted proposals, donor engagement activities, and stewardship requirements. Monitor and analyze funding trends, proposal success rates, and fundraising outcomes to inform strategic planning and reporting. (5%)

Minimum Qualifications

Requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience, plus a minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in development, fundraising, corporate and foundation relations, or a related field, preferably within higher education, healthcare, or an academic medical center environment.

The Associate Director of Development and Industry Partnerships will be a disciplined, strategic, and relationship-driven professional who demonstrates initiative, professionalism, sound judgment, and the ability to work effectively across a complex academic and healthcare environment. The successful candidate will set ambitious goals, manage competing priorities, and build productive collaborative relationships within the School of Nursing, across Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), and throughout Columbia University.

Additional qualifications include:

• Demonstrated knowledge of corporations, foundations, and individual donors whose philanthropic interests align with the School of Nursing’s priorities, including access, leadership, health equity, digital health, global health, and workforce development.
• Proven success in achieving fundraising goals and securing six- and seven-figure gifts and grants, with the ability to cultivate productive relationships and earn the confidence of faculty, senior leadership, Board members, and other high-level stakeholders.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, along with a positive attitude, strong analytical abilities, sound judgment, tact, accountability, and resilience.
• Experience developing and negotiating foundation grants, preparing compelling proposals and grant reports, and conducting prospect and development research.
• Ability to proactively identify and cultivate opportunities through alumni, faculty, corporate, and foundation networks.
• Ability to work beyond regular business hours, including evenings and weekends, and travel as needed to support events, donor engagement, and strategic initiatives
• This position will be a hybrid position, including both on-site and remote days.
• Must be able to work with diverse constituencies and support an inclusive work environment.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with donor databases and fundraising systems such as Salesforce preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• An advanced degree is preferred for this position. Experience working within a research university, academic medical center, or other research-focused organization is also strongly preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.