Senior Director of Marketing
About The Position
Cornell University is seeking a Senior Director of Marketing for the Division of Alumni Affairs and Development in Ithaca, NY. This strategic leadership role is responsible for shaping how Cornell connects with its global alumni and donor community. The Senior Director will lead the development and execution of integrated, multi-channel marketing and communications strategies to drive engagement and philanthropic impact. As a key member of both the Communications, Marketing, and Participation (CMP) leadership team and the Alumni Affairs leadership team, this role partners across the organization to align marketing efforts with institutional priorities and translate strategy into compelling, audience-focused campaigns. The position also drives the evolution of marketing operations, establishing scalable processes, leveraging data and insights, and optimizing performance in a complex, matrixed environment. The role reports to the Executive Director of CMP.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree and 7 to 10 years of relevant experience in advancement, marketing, communications, or a related field, or equivalent combination
- Demonstrated success leading multi-channel marketing, communications, or fundraising campaigns in a complex organization
- Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, including experience using data to inform decisions and measure outcomes
- Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams within a matrixed environment
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex concepts for diverse audiences
- Experience collaborating with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams to achieve organizational goals
Responsibilities
- Lead the strategy, planning, execution, and evaluation of multi-channel marketing and communications campaigns that support fundraising, engagement, and institutional priorities
- Partner with senior leaders and stakeholders across AAD, colleges, and units to develop integrated marketing strategies aligned with divisional goals
- Oversee marketing campaign intake, prioritization, and cross-functional team coordination to ensure efficient execution
- Manage the divisional communications calendar to balance messaging, audience engagement, and channel effectiveness
- Define key performance indicators and lead analysis of campaign performance to drive giving and engagement outcomes
- Translate performance data, audience insights, and research into actionable strategies that refine targeting and improve results
- Establish and maintain governance, processes, and workflows that improve efficiency and consistency across marketing efforts
- Align internal and external resources to support priority initiatives and maximize impact
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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
