Director of Corporate Relations

The New York Public Library

Director of Corporate Relations

New York, New York

As the nation's largest and most recognizable public library system, The New York Public Library (NYPL) represents New York City's cultural diversity and brilliance, with a dedication to serving its residents with free and accessible 21st century resources, and the principle that knowledge is the key to lifelong success. Across 92 locations in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, and with library cards available to all city residents regardless of where they live and work, NYPL's services extend to every neighborhood in New York. Just last year, the Library received over 16.3 million visits and circulated more than 21 million items to cardholders. In the coming year, NYPL will continue this critical role, opening new, inspiring spaces, serving even more readers, creators, and entrepreneurs, and providing for a more equitable and democratic society.

In 2020, the Library will celebrate its 125th anniversary in what will be a very exciting year – the opening of the fully-renovated Mid-Manhattan Library (to be named the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library), the opening of The Polonsky Exhibition of the Library's Treasures, a gala on October 5, and much more. These milestones, along with exhibitions, programs, and activities, will bring together the Library's 92 locations for a system-wide celebration of the Library's rich history and its important role as a center for learning to support a civic society, today and in the future. Curated booklists, special edition library cards, and a full-scale media campaign throughout the boroughs and on digital channels will emphasize how critical the Library is to the day-to-day life of New Yorkers. The 125th anniversary affords numerous sponsorship opportunities (programs, booklists, library cards, gala), with city-wide visibility and prominence.

Despite shifts in our cultural, social, and political landscape, libraries endure, and NYPL is poised to serve the betterment of the people, provide new and accessible opportunities for learning, and act as a public forum for another 125 years. Free access to university-caliber research resources, life-changing literacy classes, and support for everything from building a business to applying for citizenship is unique to this irreplaceable institution. With the understanding that reading and literacy are strongly correlated with positive economic and social outcomes, NYPL remains committed to supporting its communities and affirming the vital role of libraries in the digital age.

NYPL is currently seeking candidates for the position of Director of Corporate Relations, responsible for creating and managing a well-coordinated, strategic plan to cultivate and solicit support from corporations and corporate foundations. This position works to establish long term partnerships, strengthen existing relationships, and initiate new contacts within the corporate sector and provides strategic direction and oversight of corporate relationships. These partnerships are meant to inspire greater and more consistent involvement with NYPL and will result in additional engagement by the corporations and their employees. Reporting to the Vice President of Development, the Director will oversee all outreach to corporate donors and partners and the submission of funding requests, as well as maintain and develop relationships with current and prospective corporate partners to secure the funding necessary to support NYPL's priority programs. The position includes two staff members: the Senior Manager for Corporate Giving, and an Associate Manager.

Required qualifications and experience:

- Commitment to the mission and goals of NYPL.

- Bachelor’s degree preferred.

- Five to seven years of progressively responsible fundraising and business development experience, at a senior level, including a demonstrated track record in corporate relations and fundraising, grant and proposal writing, annual planning, and donor services. Candidate backgrounds of working within a corporation’s charitable giving or social responsibility program would also be considered.

- Demonstrated ability to provide management oversight, leadership, and direction, including creating and managing a budget.

- Fundamental understanding of comprehensive fundraising operations and the complementary roles of the various units that comprise them. Steeped in modern philanthropy best practices, including those pertaining to research, qualification, cultivation, and stewardship, as well as face-to-face solicitations and proposals.

- Strength in developing case statements and strategic, complex plans for corporate support, and executing against those plans to achieve goals and objectives. Experience working directly with the most senior levels of an organization, and the ability to effectively strategize and engage various groups and constituents.

- Demonstrated ability to strategically move corporations and corporate foundations across the spectrum of prospect development, culminating in proposals appropriate to the priorities of NYPL and the target institution. A history of securing six and seven-figure corporate grants or gifts, as well as sponsorships at various levels, including cultivation through solicitation and stewardship.

- Demonstrated ability in planning and executing strategic communications to complement philanthropic initiatives and achieve goals.

- Highly developed skills in organizational efficiency and project leadership, including demonstrated accomplishments while working with cross-functional teams.

- The ability to extract and analyze data to make effective, efficient decisions about prospect strategy and process.

- Experience with using Microsoft Office applications and relational databases such as Raiser's Edge.

The New York Public Library has retained Diversified Search to assist in this confidential search process. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (current resumes and cover letters) should be directed electronically to:

Gerard F. Cattie, Jr.

Managing Director

Practice Leader – Development & Philanthropy

Diversified Search

The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10174

gerard.cattie@divsearch.com | 212.542.2587