Director of Development Information Technology

Cornell University•Ithaca, MI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Cornell University is seeking a Director, Development Information Technology, an executive-level role based in Ithaca, NY. This position offers a significant opportunity to lead a multi-year digital transformation aimed at modernizing development technology and enhancing how Cornell engages with its global alumni, donors, patients, and friends. The Director will serve as the strategic and operational leader for development and engagement technology across the university, reporting to both Cornell’s Vice President and Chief Global Information Officer and the Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development. This role involves leading a complex, enterprise-wide technology transformation, including the transition to a unified, modern CRM and development/engagement technology ecosystem. The Director must be adept at navigating ambiguity, shaping future solutions, and driving progress amidst competing priorities and diverse stakeholder needs. This strategic partner role bridges functional and technical perspectives to ensure innovative, sustainable technology solutions aligned with business needs, playing a pivotal role in defining new systems and ways of working with technology to support Cornell’s mission.

Requirements

Master’s degree with 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in enterprise systems, IT leadership, advancement technology, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Proven success leading large, complex, cross-functional technology initiatives with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
Experience transitioning organizations to new enterprise CRM platforms or similar large-scale systems.
Strong strategic thinking and the ability to partner effectively with senior leaders to align technology with business objectives.
Demonstrated change management expertise, including stakeholder engagement, communication, training, and adoption strategies.
Exceptional collaboration, communication, and relationship-building skills across diverse organizations and cultures.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for development and engagement technology across Cornell University, setting vision and direction for enterprise systems that support fundraising, engagement, analytics, and operations.
Lead a highly visible, multi-year enterprise implementation to a unified, Salesforce-based CRM and development and engagement technology ecosystem, ensuring strong governance, disciplined execution, and sustainable organizational adoption.
Serve as the technical lead for the Donor and Engagement Experience Project (DEEP), a core component of the Cornell Experience Modernization Initiative (CEMI), partnering closely with functional leaders, IT leadership, and external vendors.
Develop a deep understanding of development and engagement business processes and user needs, translating functional requirements into scalable, modern technology solutions that measurably enhance business outcomes.
Build, lead, and develop high-performing, cross-functional teams by setting clear direction and expectations, fostering trust and collaboration, and holding individuals and teams accountable for results; inspire and align diverse perspectives to operate effectively amid complexity and evolving priorities.
Coordinate and align technology initiatives across multiple campuses and locations, including Ithaca, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell Tech, and the Lab of Ornithology, effectively navigating shared governance structures, and stakeholder perspectives.
Lead structured change management efforts, including communication planning, stakeholder engagement, training, and adoption strategies, to ensure sustainable outcomes and long-term success.