Associate Dean for Advancement, Graduate School of Journalism

Position description

Columbia Journalism School is globally recognized as a leader in the field. Centered in the media capital of the world, it leads the way to a better future — backed by more than 100 years of experience in educating trailblazers of the industry. The school’s tradition is rooted in the bedrock values of ethics — and it looks forward, with cutting-edge innovation and media scholarship. Columbia Journalism School’s purpose is to educate students from all over the world to become conscientious, accomplished professional journalists. The School believes that a multiracial, multicultural democracy requires vigilant and consistent reporting on the rights and experiences of all people; and that journalism’s obligation is to the public and that it must remain independent and transparent about its methods and affiliations and responsible for its errors.

The Associate Dean for Advancement works with the Office of Alumni Relations and Development (OAD), the Dean, faculty, staff, and University leadership to create an innovative, comprehensive and sustainable advancement program to support the School. The Associate Dean reports to the Vice President for University Development with a dotted line to the Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism, and manages a staff of development professionals toward key fundraising goals. The incumbent is responsible for building on the successful track record the School has established over the past decades and leveraging that success to raise money for School priorities. The successful candidate will build a comprehensive development function consisting of individual and institutional donors.

Responsibilities

• Prospect management/fundraising with a portfolio of major- and principal-gift level prospects, including developing effective solicitation strategies for securing appropriate gifts while managing the prospect relationships to enhance continued and increased support.
• Supervise the Journalism School Development and Alumni Relations team, ensuring high performance and staffing a full range of development functions, including fundraising of major gifts, annual fund, and institutional donors, as well as managing the alumni relations function serving over 9,000 alumni.
• Provide staffing support to the Dean, ensuring that the Dean is actively and effectively engaged in the fundraising arena at the appropriate levels.
• Build, staff, and engage the School’s Board of Visitors.
• Collaborate as a member of the senior leadership team, working closely with other Associate Deans and faculty within the School of Journalism on strategic planning and optimizing results.
• Participate in the Office of Alumni and Development management and prospect coordination activities.
• Engage and solicit highly sophisticated prospects; manage a portfolio of 75 prospects and meet the associated activity goals.
• Create and execute engagement opportunities using School assets.
• As a senior member of the OAD staff, work within OAD’s Core and Partnership Values and proactively collaborate with colleagues around prospect issues.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree is required and a minimum of 7 years of fundraising or related development experience is required. At least three years of demonstrated leadership / managerial responsibility required.
• Must possess the ability to develop and supervise staff, as well as manage changing priorities and multiple projects.
• Must possess strong analytical, organizational, interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, with experience in strategic planning processes, a high level of attention to detail, and active listening skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated excellence in a variety of competencies, including project management, teamwork, analytical thinking, and client/customer awareness.
• Must be able to problem-solve and troubleshoot, in addition to the ability to work independently in a dynamic team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively partner with a diverse group of administrators and academic leaders.
• Must be able to negotiate issues, resolve problems and have strong influencing skills.
• The successful candidate must be a strategic thinker, effective in moving strategic agendas, politically savvy, ensure the utmost discretion in all matters, as well as possess an ability to work well with all levels of management, both internally and externally, be flexible in nature, have a sound judgment with a collaborative style that fosters teamwork and cooperation beyond the immediate team to the broader organization.
• Must have a passion for excellent customer service and commitment to exceptional quality.
• Computer proficiency (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, etc.) required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree strongly desired.
• Prior experience in a not-for-profit or similar complex organization a plus.
• Previous work experience in a higher educational institution highly preferred.

Other Requirements

• Subject to business needs, the Office of Alumni and Development supports a hybrid work arrangement for this position. Options will be discussed during the interview process.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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

Application instructions

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