Job Description

Our Institution:

Founded in 1860, Bard College is an international network of highly innovative and admired educational institutions grounded in the liberal arts and sciences. Simon’s Rock at Bard College actualizes the simple yet radical idea that many students are ready for college before the age of 18. This idea, first envisioned by Elizabeth Blodgett Hall on the original Simon’s Rock campus in 1966 in Great Barrington, MA, launched the Early College movement in the United States and beyond. Simon’s Rock has carried out this mission for 59 years in Great Barrington, and in July of 2025 relocated to the Massena campus of Bard College, in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY.

In this new location, Simon’s Rock will have a diverse student population of approximately 160 students, both boarding and day students, drawn nationally and internationally, with a significant population of students identifying as LGBTQIA+. This includes enrollment in the Early College Associate in Arts degree program as well as in Bard Academy. Launched in 2015, Bard Academy is a two-year high school program with courses designed and taught by college professors and leading to entry into college after the 10 th grade. Students at the Massena campus may enter the Early College either as matriculants from Bard Academy or as students directly admitted to Early College after completing 10 th or 11 th grade, or the equivalent in homeschooled or non-traditional pathways.

The Role:

For Simon’s Rock at Bard College, we seek a Director of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Affairs as the leader of the Simon’s Rock Institutional Advancement team. Institutional Advancement (IA) plays a vital role in the long-term well-being of Simon’s Rock and provides essential services and engagement opportunities to the College’s alumni, parents, and other stakeholders. Most crucially, it serves as the central resource for alumni and parent giving, as well as other forms of philanthropic support for the College. IA is responsible for securing resources for the Fund for Simon’s Rock, the Simon’s Rock endowment, corporate and foundation support, and estate planning from individual donors.

The Director of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Affairs provides innovative and strategic leadership for the design, implementation, and success of comprehensive philanthropic strategies, including retaining and enhancing current funding, diversifying the donor base, and exploring new sources of foundation support. As the senior development officer, the Director reports to the Provost, and works frequently and directly with the Provost on strategy, planning, and execution of IA initiatives in support of the mission of Simon’s Rock. The Director supervises two IA staff positions as Simon’s Rock. The Director also liaises with the leadership of Bard College’s Office of Development and Alumni Affairs (ODAA).

While direct experience in higher education and/or independent high schools is beneficial, we are also interested in candidates with development experience in non-profit organizations. Interest and experience in fundraising around women’s history, educational access, and/or LGBTQ+ issues are a plus.

This position is a full-time position with benefits, based at the Massena campus of Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY. Travel for donor engagement and alumni events is periodically required.

Duties include:

• Design and execute strategies to achieve Simon’s Rock’s short- and long-term fundraising goals through annual, major, planned, and corporate and foundation giving
• Manage a major donor portfolio, including cultivation, solicitation, closing of gifts, and stewardship
• Research and identify prospective donors from inside and outside the Simon’s Rock community
• Determine and oversee annual alumni programming, including periodic reunions
• Design and execute the public phases of an upcoming endowment campaign
• Engaging with board members in regular meetings and in development activities
• Supervise a staff of two professionals in Institutional Advancement and Alumni Affairs
• Liaising with Bard College colleagues in the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs
• Collaborate with the Communications and Publications staff, at Simon’s Rock and at Bard College to develop advancement materials that make the case for success to alumni, families, and friends
• Oversee departmental technology use, data collection, evaluation, and planning
• Manage the Institutional Advancement and Alumni Affairs budget
• Provide data as needed for institutional, state, and federal reporting purposes
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 6 years of experience in advancement, preferably in higher education, or in a closely related field
• Experience writing/editing for advancement
• Experience with wealth screening and advancement prospect research
• Experience with CRMs and database management.
• Ability to leverage high standards for information integrity and employ an ethical approach to handling sensitive and confidential data
• Ability to communicate effectively with donors, alumni, and colleagues
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills

Preferred qualifications:

• Master’s Degree
• 8-10 years of experience in advancement
• Event production experience
• Project management experience
• Experience with an Early College program
• Experience with an independent school and/or liberal arts college

Application Instructions

All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter, résumé, and contact information for three references. Submit your files to interfolio.com at https://apply.interfolio.com/184091 Address email inquiries to careers@bard.edu No phone calls, please. For full consideration, please submit applications by April 15, 2026, but applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

Compensation: $100,000 to $125,000

This salary range reflects the College's good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation for the position at the time of the job posting. Salary decisions are dependent on several factors including but not limited to market and organizational considerations, experience, and qualifications of a selected candidate as well as internal and external equity.

Benefits Overview

We are pleased to offer our full-time employees an excellent benefit package which includes; health insurance options; TIAA retirement plans; vacation, sick, and personal time; tuition benefits and more. To learn more about employee benefits and eligibility at Bard College, please visit https://www.bard.edu/humanresources/benefits/

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Bard College is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from those who contribute to our diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information.

Bard is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.