Vice President – Development & Alumni Relations

Vice President – Development & Alumni Relations | Culinary Institute of America

Hyde Park, New York

Institutional Overview

Since its founding in 1946, the Culinary Institute of America, a private, not-for-profit institution, has been widely recognized as the world’s premier culinary college – setting the standard for excellence in professional culinary, food, beverage, and hospitality education for almost eight decades. Originally founded as a cooking school to train returning World War II veterans in a vocation, the CIA has over the years evolved into a world-renowned college that not only offers degree programs (undergraduate and graduate-level), but also industry leadership conferences, consultancy services, training and certifications, as well as classes, dining and retail for food enthusiasts. CIA has multiple locations in the US and internationally, including its flagship campus in Hyde Park, NY; CIA at Greystone in St. Helena, CA; CIA San Antonio, TX; and CIA Singapore. Also in California, CIA at Copia is a public food and wine facility hosting its School of Graduate and Professional Studies, industry leadership conferences, and immersive consumer operations.

The CIA has been at the center of understanding and promoting food's relationship to health, the environment, and a vibrant, equitable economy. The college’s almost 60,000 alumni worldwide—many of whom have become household names—have transformed the food, beverage, and hospitality industries, not only as chefs, but as entrepreneurs, business owners, global F&B leaders, R&D scientists, educators, writers, content creators, and more.

Today, the College serves around 3,000 students across four campuses and offers associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts, bachelor’s degrees in food business, culinary science, applied food studies and hospitality management and online master’s degrees in food business, wine and beverage management, sustainable food systems and two first-of-its-kind master's programs – culinary arts and culinary therapeutics.

A core part of its education are the nine student-run restaurants, on all four campuses, that serve as incubators for tomorrow’s top chefs and restaurateurs. In 2028, the New York campus will open its first hotel, One&Only Hudson Valley, on the north campus grounds. This resort and residential project will be the second One&Only in the United States and part of a limited group of One&Only resorts worldwide.

Vision 2035 – Growth Strategy

The CIA is embarking on “Vision 2035” to ignite existing and new growth initiatives for the Institute. With the recent start of its sixth president, Michiel Bakker, in September 2024, the Culinary Institute of America is poised to usher in a bold new era for the future of food, culinary, and beverage education. President Bakker, formerly with Google and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, takes the helm at a time of significant disruption in higher education and in the culinary, food, beverage, and hospitality sectors, driven by shifts in student demographic, emerging technologies, innovative sustainability practices, and the forces of globalization and localization, among other factors.

The President, along with the leadership team and the CIA Board of Trustees, is embarking on a process to “co-create” the vision for the future of the CIA (“Vision 2035”) and transform the college into a truly global Institute for culinary, food, beverage, and hospitality education; focusing on the learning and development of the next generation of culinary and hospitality leaders, while being an industry thought leader and partner. The CIA will be an Institute grounded in the culinary arts, design, and sciences, and advancing at the intersection of hospitality, business, technology, media, innovation, health, and sustainability.

Position Summary

The Vice President – Development & Alumni Relations (VP) will lead a high-performing team across major gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, conference and collaborative sponsorships, alumni engagement, and advancement operations, while serving as a key ambassador to alumni, donors, trustees, and industry leaders. This leader will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing a bold development and alumni relations strategy that supports the CIA’s evolving academic portfolio, new college and school structures, global initiatives, and institutional priorities. The VP will report to the President and is a member of the President’s Leadership Team.

The VP must have progressive leadership experience in higher education or nonprofit fundraising with broad knowledge of best practices and principles of modern philanthropy. The position requires an energetic, highly engaged, collaborative, forward-thinking leader with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with CIA alumni, donors, internal constituents, industry leaders and strategic partners to support the CIA’s strategic priorities, academic mission, and global leadership aspirations.

The VP will serve as an active and engaged thought partner with members of the President’s Leadership Team to advance Vision 2035. The VP will oversee a staff of 21 full-time employees in pursuit of an annual fundraising goal of $15M.

Candidate Profile

We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no single candidate will have every experience outlined in the position responsibilities, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional qualifications, qualities, skills, and characteristics :

• Strong connection to the Culinary Institute of America as well as to outstanding education, practice, and scholarship on all aspects of food and the enterprises related to it; authentic desire to engage with and seek input from alumni and donors.
• Ten-plus years of progressive, senior-level leadership experience within a nonprofit fundraising environment, with at least five years of experience overseeing a team.
• Experience securing funds from individual and institutional (corporate, foundation, government) sources, successfully managing an annual fundraising goal in excess of $15M, and overseeing a major capital campaign.
• Demonstrated success in developing the case for support and executing strategic, innovative fundraising plans. Experience collaborating with executives, faculty, board, or other volunteer leaders on development-related activities. Significant experience identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts from individual and institutional donors at the level of six to seven figures or greater.
• Adept at change management and possess the ability to lead effectively in a highly focused, fast-paced institution.
• Possess the strategic and entrepreneurial capabilities and a growth mindset for creatively expanding the reach and impact of the CIA.
• Understanding of how to implement strategies for expanding into new global markets, ensuring support for fundraising initiatives across diverse locations and countries.
• A capable negotiator, both internally and with external constituents.
• Collaborative decision-making style that is balanced with business acumen and the ability to make data-informed decisions.
• An ability to develop leaders, build teams, inspire change, mentor, coach for excellence, and support staff development.
• Experience leading effectively in high-pressure situations.
• Demonstrated ability to drive complex fundraising initiatives with strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and consistent follow-through to ensure timely and successful outcomes.
• Excellent written, oral, interpersonal, and public speaking skills.
• Strong analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving abilities, with an attention to detail.
• High level of energy and self-motivation.
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitive data, plans, and analyses.
• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree is strongly preferred.

Equal Opportunity

CIA, being committed to respect for diversity and equal opportunity in education and employment, does not discriminate against individuals. Click here for the CIA’s Nondiscrimination Statement.

Download the full position description via the following link :

https : / / dsgco.com / search / 22551-cia-vp-dev-alum-rel

The Culinary Institute of America has retained the DSG Fundraising & Advancement Practice of DSG Global to assist in this confidential search process. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (current resumes and cover letters) may be submitted via the following link or directed to the leader of the search team :

https : / / talent-profile.dsgco.com / search / v2 / 22551

Ian McCray

Managing Director, DSG Fundraising & Advancement

ian.mccray@divsearch.com | 802.989.3764

Gerard F. Cattie, Jr.

Global Managing Partner and Practice Founder, DSG Fundraising & Advancement

gcattie@divsearch.com | 212.542.2587