Administrative Coordinator, Alumni Affairs and Development, Engineering

Cornell University•Ithaca, MI

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering’s Alumni Affairs and Development (AAD) team advances the Duffield College of Engineering’s mission by building lifelong relationships with alumni, donors, and friends while securing philanthropic support that fuels teaching, research, and public engagement. Through engagement, stewardship, and fundraising, AAD helps ensure Cornell’s long-term excellence and impact. The Cornell University is looking for an Administrative Coordinator to join the Duffield College of Engineering—the largest engineering program among the Ivies. Our Engineers are solving some of the world’s most important challenges, big and small – from space exploration, to climate change, to nanomedicine. The College’s Alumni Affairs and Development (AAD) team is seeking a highly organized, collaborative, and detail‑oriented Administrative Coordinator to support our fundraising and alumni engagement efforts. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment and enjoys working behind the scenes to make meaningful connections possible. Under the supervision of the Director of Development and in close partnership with Major Gift Officers (MGOs) and colleagues across the College, the Administrative Coordinator plays a vital role in managing data, supporting donor and alumni engagement, coordinating logistics, and ensuring smooth day‑to‑day operations. The position blends administrative excellence, communication, data management, and event and travel coordination in support of advancing the College’s philanthropic goals.

Requirements

Associate's degree with 2 to 4 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination.
Must be an excellent writer and be able to edit other people's written documents.
Must be able to work independently.
Must be discrete, exercise sound judgment, have demonstrated the ability to work with highly sensitive information, and maintain confidentiality.
Must be detail oriented, organized, and able to work on multiple tasks and meet established deadlines.
Must be able to work effectively in an environment made up of a mixture of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and volunteer leaders.
Must be able to work at an advanced level, with desktop applications, databases, networked informational systems, electronic calendaring and mail programs and the Internet is required.
Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree.
Familiarity with an alumni affairs and development office.
The ability to interact directly in a professional manner with high level administrators and volunteers as well as with alumni.
The ability to work at an advanced level with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), databases (Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition), and networked informational systems (PeopleSoft) is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Partner daily with Major Gift Officers, the Associate Dean, and the Director of Development to support prospect activity
Conduct research on alumni and donors to inform engagement and cultivation strategies
Maintain and update a high volume of prospect and donor data with accuracy and confidentiality, navigating multiple databases and dashboards with fluency
Assist with pipeline development and annual MGO work planning
Support one‑on‑one alumni visits, including preparing itineraries and logistics
Track regional travel by the Dean, department chairs, and school directors
Contribute to data analysis projects that enhance donor engagement and understanding
Coordinate alumni engagement and stewardship initiatives in collaboration with Alumni Engagement and University Donor Relations partners
Prepare gift reports for the Engineering AAD team and academic units
Assist in creating stewardship reports and materials that recognize and thank donors
Coordinate routine and complex calendar requests for MGOs for individual and team meetings as needed
Support high‑level volunteer groups, including the Engineering College Council and Campaign Executive Committee
Complete PeopleSoft entries related to alumni engagement and development activities
Prepare and distribute standard and ad hoc reports to support decision‑making
Support MGO travel by assisting with booking and logistics, itinerary creation, calendaring, preparation of materials, and completing post-travel reimbursements
Participate in and support alumni events organized by Engineering AAD, both on campus and regionally, which may include occasional evening and weekend hours and infrequent overnight travel
Assist with logistics for alumni campus visits as needed, ensuring a seamless experience for participants
Participate in university‑required compliance and professional development trainings
Stay current with emerging technologies and best practices relevant to the role
Actively contribute ideas and recommendations to strengthen team effectiveness
Support special projects and additional responsibilities as assigned

Benefits

Comprehensive health care options
Generous retirement contributions
Access to wellness programs
Employee discounts with local and national retail brands
Health and personal leave
Three weeks of vacation
13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1.
Two additional floating holidays
Tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program
Tuition aid for external education
Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program