Assistant Director of Development, Direct Response Marketing, Faculty of Arts and Sciences

27-Mar-2023

Alumni Affairs and Development

61845BR

Job Summary

Alumni Affairs and Development is a dedicated team supporting Harvard’s advancement activity through front-line fundraising, alumni and volunteer engagement, technology, prospect management and research, business process, events, communications, and many other areas.

Our goal is to create an environment of respect that leverages the many talents, perspectives, and experiences of our employees; to deliver the strongest possible results by incorporating diverse perspectives into our daily work; and to make AA&D a great place to work for everyone. We strive to live our values of respect, inclusion, trust, collaboration, continuous improvement and innovation; and open communication and effective information sharing in our daily interactions and our work

AA&D comprises the University Development Office (UDO), Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, AA&D Resources, and the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA). There is a unique relationship between the University and the FAS fundraising operations, resulting from a long history in which University fundraising ultimately grew out of College fundraising.

Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development
FAS Development is responsible for the fundraising efforts supporting the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, including Harvard College, the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. FAS Development staff work with Harvard College donors, alumni, parents, and friends who provide critical support for the FAS and often for other parts of the University.

Direct Response Marketing, as part of Development Communications, drives broad participation among alumni and parents to raise flexible current-use funds for the core mission of the FAS (Harvard College Fund, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Fund, and a variety of other strategic priorities). The team combines fundraising principles with use of marketing channels, such as mail, email, phone, and social media, to communicate compelling cases for support that engage with over 100k constituents, inspire annual donors, and build a pipeline of future major donors. The team executes a robust annual strategy in addition to select partner collaborations with Major Gifts, Harvard College Fund, and Gift Planning.

The Assistant Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Student Development Partner (SDP) Program and the day-to-day operations of digital appeal projects. This includes managing student workers, creating compelling messaging, defining effective segmentation and pool management, building philanthropic awareness, and aligning direct response marketing plans to raise flexible, current-use funds for the core mission of the FAS (Harvard College Fund, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Fund, and a variety of other strategic priorities).

Position Description

Student Development Partner Program (SDP)

• Assists the Managing Director with overseeing the strategic direction of the Student Development Partner Program
• Develops a solicitation and student-generated content calendar ensuring alignment with the integrated DRM strategy and overall FAS fundraising priorities
• Creates project timelines with corresponding deliverables, identifying necessary SDP hours to accomplish projects, and tracking overall capacity to ensure SDPs are actively engaged throughout their available hours, this includes managing payroll
• Oversees, recruits, and trains up to 15 SDPs (including 2 Leads) each year
• Provides coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to all SDPs
• Coordinates and executes monthly full-team and 1:1 SDP meetings and weekly team-Lead meetings to review performance, special appeal projects, scheduling, and updates
• Uses database and technology tools to manage the day-to-day operations of the SDP program. This currently requires fluency in the ThankView platform and in script development, video recording and editing, and closed captioning. It may reintroduce phone and add texting channels in the future
• Remains “on call” by phone and email during calling shifts (phonathon currently paused), including evenings and weekends, to address extraordinary issues. Associate Director serves as back up
• Analyzes data and produces reports from SDP outreach platforms, providing current and YOY program statistics and trends; regularly updates stakeholders on results
• Manages the setup and deployment of ThankView campaigns
• Partners with Associate Director, Undergraduate and Recent Graduate Philanthropy on HCF-wide strategy for student involvement, Digital Content Strategist on integrating SDPs into social engagement, and gift officers on special donor outreach projects

Integrated Direct Response Marketing Program

• Works closely with the Managing Director and Associate Director to translate the overall integrated DRM strategy into an action plan each fiscal year with corresponding deliverables and deadlines for SDP and digital projects
• Serves as project manager for all email appeals for the DRM team, overseeing the execution of the email appeal strategy, including tracking and assessing results; identifying trends and developing corresponding plans; and creating testing mechanisms to gather data to inform future strategy and direction
• Coordinates with Digital Content Strategist to develop and execute social media strategy, leveraging DRM appeal content and Student Development Partner storytelling to engage donors and prospects
• Coordinates with Development Assistant on list pulls, training on process and serving as back up for general list pulls, and manages more complex list pulls and requests
• Assists with monitoring “reply to” email accounts and replying to inquiries, proofing all projects before final approval, and as needed, sharing project examples upon deployment to Teams channel
• Cultivates favorable working relationships and works closely with colleagues across Alumni Affairs and Development to accomplish annual goals—including but not limited to Operations/Business Intelligence, Development Communications, Student Employment Office, Alumni Development Services (ADS), Harvard University information Technology (HUIT), Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), Office of Major Gifts (OMG), Harvard College Fund team (HCF), and Donor Relations

Basic Qualifications

• BA/BS required. Minimum 3+ years’ relevant or transferrable experience (direct response marketing, fundraising, annual giving, phonathon, etc.)
• Excellent interpersonal, visual, and written communications skills, comfortable speaking in group settings
• Strong organization and time management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, the ability to work with, interpret, and report data
• Strong attention to detail

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Ability to establish and promote good working relationships with peers, alumni, and donors.
• Collaborative, professional, results-oriented team player with a willingness to learn/proactively acquire new skills as technologies and best practices evolve
• Ability to work independently and prioritize in a complex organizational environment
• Shows creativity and intellectual curiosity, as well as initiative and flexibility
• Must have excellent computer skills. Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, ThankView or similar video messaging platform, and HTML highly desired. Willingness to learn these programs required.
• Experience with databases and platforms desired (such as Advance, ThankView, Adobe Suite, Salesforce Marketing Cloud and social media platforms)
• Previous experience managing students desired
• Knowledge of direct response marketing practices highly desired
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles

Working Conditions

Workplace role requirements outside of campus-based engagements required by AA&D/team or unit, such as reunion activities, retreats, etc. You will be expected to work certain events/campus activities, such as reunions each spring, and participate in department retreats that are taking place on campus in Cambridge, MA. We will do our best to give you up to 2-weeks’ notice with these situations. 

• Fully remote (infrequent/less than weekly on campus presence required)
  • For those interested in remote work, this position can be performed as fully remote.  AA&D does require visits to Cambridge for on or around campus-based engagements required by AA&D leadership, your team or unit, such as reunion activities, retreats, etc.   All remote work must be performed in a state in which Harvard is registered to do business (CT, GA, IL, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VA, VT, and WA).  Additional details will be discussed during the interview process.    

Additional Information

This position requires a 3 month orientation and review period.
Please include a cover letter with your application.

Why AA&D?
We are a dedicated team of 400 alumni affairs and development professionals supporting Harvard’s advancement activity through roles that include front-line fundraising, alumni and volunteer engagement, technology, events, communications, prospect management and research, business process, talent management and many other areas.

Harvard’s Alumni Affairs and Development team inspires and galvanizes alumni, friends, and members of the University community to support Harvard through philanthropy, governance, and active engagement. AA&D believes a workplace that reflects the diversity of our society and our ever-evolving University constituency makes us a stronger and more effective organization. Our goal is to create an environment of respect that values the many talents, perspectives, and experiences of our community, to deliver the strongest possible results by incorporating diverse perspectives into our daily work, and to make AA&D a great place to work for everyone. AA&D strives to live our values of respect, inclusion, trust, collaboration, innovation and sharing of information in our daily interactions and our work.

To learn more about how Harvard supports diversity and inclusion throughout the University please visit the Office for Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at https://dib.harvard.edu/ .

Harvard University Benefits: Information can be found at https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards .

Accommodations: Harvard University welcomes individuals with disabilities to apply for positions and participate in its programs and activities. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please let your recruiter know.

Vaccine Requirements: Harvard University continues to place the highest priority on the health, safety and wellbeing of its faculty, staff, and students, as well as the wider community. Please note that all new employees are required to provide proof of primary series COVID-19 vaccination upon hire, as detailed on our COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement Webpage . Harvard University Health Services employees and other health care individuals are also required to be up to date on vaccination as described by the CDC. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. Additional information regarding this requirement, exemptions, verification of vaccination status, and other related policies and resources may be found on the University’s COVID-19 Information Website .

Job Function

Alumni Affairs and Development, General Administration

Department Office Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Code

405012 Admin Professional (N)

Department

Alumni Affairs and Development

Union

55 - Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers

Pre-Employment Screening

Education, Identity

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.