Senior Director for Advancement, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR ADVANCEMENT

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CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY

SAPSUCKER WOODS SANCTUARY, ITHACA, NEW YORK

Founded more than 100 years ago by pioneering Cornell University ornithologist Dr. Arthur A. Allen, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (Lab) is an independent administrative unit of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Dedicated to advancing the understanding and protection of the natural world, the Lab joins with people from all walks of life to make new scientific discoveries, share insights, and galvanize conservation action.

It brings together world-class science, teaching, and public engagement with the agility and real-world impact of a nonprofit organization to meet its mission of interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.

The Lab’s Imogene Powers Johnson Center for Birds and Biodiversity is home to a community of 250+ faculty, scientists, postdocs, students, and staff members, including professionals in ornithology, animal behavior, bioacoustics, citizen science, conservation science, data science and statistics, ecology, evolutionary biology, community engagement, fundraising, marketing, multimedia productions, online and K-12 education, science communication, technical hardware and software engineering, and app development.

The Lab is seeking a Senior Director for Advancement to provide overall leadership and direction for fundraising, branding, marketing, and communications.

The Senior Director works with the Lab’s dynamic, multidisciplinary teams as well as with partners in the central Division of Alumni Affairs and Development and in University Relations to advance the Lab’s global-scale mission at a time of tremendous urgency and consequence for public engagement and conservation action.

The Senior Director will supervise, mentor, and motivate the Advancement group staff of 40+ (including six direct reports).

While a broad range of backgrounds will be considered, the ideal candidate will have the following qualifications / experience :

• Passion for the missions of the Cornell Lab and Cornell University, knowledge of birds and / or nature highly preferred.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in progressively responsible development leadership positions, which includes work in all functional areas of development and leadership of a major capital campaign.

Experience in conservation and knowledge of trends in environmental partnerships, fundraising, and communications preferred but not required.

• Demonstrated track record of successful frontline fundraising for an institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, or other environment of similar complexity with multiple stakeholders.
• Hands-on major and principal gift experience, including cultivation through solicitation and stewardship, as well as experience working with planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, and marketing and annual fund strategies for developing the next generation of leadership donors.
• Particular strength in developing strategic and comprehensive fundraising and communications plans, executing against these plans to achieve goals and objectives.
• A strong record of recruiting and developing exceptional people and fostering a transparent work environment where collegiality is key to success;

five-plus years of significant supervisory experience preferred.

• Ability to develop trust and strong collaborative working relationships; experience nurturing and motivating high-level volunteers and expressing appreciation for their role in building an effective network.
• Strong computer skills, which should include desktop software, databases, and networked information systems; familiarity with technology and other innovations that can streamline the development and communications process.
• Bachelor’s degree.

The annual salary for the role is currently anticipated to range from $235,000 to $250,000 depending on relevant work experience, education, and unique applicable skills.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

The Cornell Lab is committed to fostering a healthy workplace that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds as well as supporting growth and advancement opportunities.

The Lab is an inclusive community, and we recognize that diverse, inclusive communities create more innovative and impactful work to address global challenges and benefit humanity and nature.

The Lab welcomes staff who are still learning in their careers and who are motivated to take on new challenges in all aspects of professional development and mentorship.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty and staff of all identities and backgrounds.

We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and / or marginalized identities to apply.

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