• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $65,800-$75,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Associate Director, Prospect Development, the Assistant Director, Prospect Development is responsible for managing the prospect research and portfolio management efforts of the Development and Alumni Relations office within Columbia Business School to support the school’s fundraising priorities. They will partner with fundraisers by providing strategic information and fundraising intelligence that drives effective decision-making throughout the fundraising cycle. This individual must be an organized and motivated team member invested in advancing the goals of Development and Alumni Relations at Columbia Business School. 

The successful candidate will have a passion for excellent customer service and a commitment to exceptional quality, be flexible in nature, have sound judgment with a collaborative style that fosters teamwork and cooperation, and be capable of the utmost discretion in all matters. The team operates with core values of Respect, Inclusion, Service, Empathy and Excellence. 

About Columbia Business School:

For over a century, Columbia Business School (CBS) has helped develop leaders and builders of enterprises who drive value for their stakeholders and society at large through our MBA, MS, PhD, and Executive Education programs. We are equally committed to cultivating new scholars and teachers and to creating and disseminating pathbreaking knowledge, concepts, and tools that advance the understanding and practice of management through our faculty research and PhD programs. Our vision is simple: to develop ideas and leaders that transform the world—from the very center of business. 

Our ever-evolving curriculum, featuring pioneering courses, STEM certification, and immersive experiential learning, prepares students to excel in key areas such as digital transformation, entrepreneurship, innovation, twenty-first-century finance, the intersection of business and society, and climate and sustainability. The CBS administration enables CBS’ educational and scholarly mission through strategic and operational guidance and support, optimizing School resources through well-designed, transparent processes with a culture of respect for all.

Responsibilities

Prospect Research 

• Assist with implementing strategies for gathering, analyzing, and presenting prospect intelligence to drive data-informed fundraising. 

• Contribute to strategies for expanding the prospect pool by conducting proactive and reactive research to identify, rate, and confirm potential major and principal gift prospects. Utilize online resources, screenings, news alerts, reports, relationship mapping, and other tools to support prospect identification efforts.

• Prepare research deliverables, such as briefing materials, for fundraisers and leadership meetings.

• Evaluates existing and potential research tools, making recommendations for their utility, best use practices, and possible enhancements.

Portfolio Management & Support

• Collaborate with fundraisers to provide recommendations on prospect strategies throughout the fundraising cycle.

• Support prospect management efforts, including preparing for portfolio reviews, supporting the strategic portfolio assignment process, and tracking portfolio performance. 

• Ensure accurate and timely tracking of research activities and data entry into the fundraising database and shared tracking systems. Support the development of guidelines and aid with training staff on prospect tracking best practices.

Collaboration & Teamwork

• Support the Senior Associate Director, Prospect Development by ensuring consistent service standards and staff coverage. Provide cross-training for development support staff in basic research functions and assist in the onboarding and training of student research staff, as needed.

• Collaborate with team members and all levels of management to address challenges, monitor and share alerts, record interests, and contribute to the continuous improvement of prospect development processes, products, and resources.

• Collaborate with other teams within the office and across the School and University to enhance research outputs. Contribute to efforts to exchange information with University Development, other Columbia University departments, and peer institutions to improve practices and maintain industry standards. Plans and participates in various department-related events needed.

• Offer suggestions for procedural improvements and best practices adoption; including documentation updates; managing portfolios; and building strong relationships with fundraisers.

• Other duties and special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• 2-4 years of experience in prospect development or related field. Understanding of best practices in fundraising, research, prospect identification, and prospect management. Outstanding written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education or other complex institution; ability to translate complex information to different audiences; Salesforce experience is a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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