Director of Professorships and Donor Stewardship

19-Jan-2024

Harvard Medical School

64813BR

Job Summary

This full-time, exempt position on the Communications and Donor Engagement team reports to the Managing Director of Donor Relations and is responsible for managing the terms for, and stewardship of, named quad and affiliate professorships, as well as overseeing a portfolio of stewardship reports for HMS’ major and principal gift donors.

The Director is tasked with successfully navigating the complex and interconnected landscapes of Harvard Medical School, HMS’ hospital affiliates, and the University to oversee the establishment of new professorships and provide ongoing support for existing professorships. The Director of Professorships and  Donor Stewardship represents Harvard Medical School with its affiliates and within the University, and as such, is responsible for building and maintaining productive working relationships with a diverse body of internal and external stakeholders.

In addition to managing the professorships program, the Director carries a portfolio of stewardship reports for HMS’ major and principal gift donors and is responsible for producing thoroughly researched, thoughtfully written reports, often under strict deadlines, throughout the year. The Director’s portfolio includes reporting to donors who have established professorships and to many of Harvard University’s most generous donors.

Position Description

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Works with HMS affiliates, AAD colleagues, the University’s Gift Policy Committee (GPC), Harvard Medical School Office of Faculty Affairs (OFA), Harvard University’s Office of General Council (OGC), and Alumni and Development Services (ADS) to oversee the establishment of new quad and affiliate professorships and manage amendments to existing professorships. This involves full management of gift terms, both developing new gift terms and navigating amendments to existing terms. To successfully manage this work, the Director must maintain a deep and evolving knowledge of University gift policy and cultivate positive and productive working relationships with partners across the affiliates and within Harvard, including representing HMS AAD in the HMS Endowed Professorship Group.
• Responds promptly and thoroughly to complex donor and gift officer questions about the establishment of new professorships and amendments to existing professorships. Works with affiliate partners to review the status of current professorships in process, including pledge status, naming activation status, and funding milestones. Maintains the HMS AAD Professorship Tracker database.
• Monitors annual revenue goals for the clinical professorships program (typically around $8-$12 million per year).
• Partners with the Special Events team to ensure the successful execution of events celebrating the awarding of new quad and affiliate professorships. This includes preparing event briefings; writing speaking points for HMS’ Dean and other leaders; overseeing the production of citations and bespoke gifts for donors; and helping to design the event experience of our donors and affiliate partners. The Director is frequently expected to staff these events to support leaders in attendance and experience the event so they may continually iterate and improve on the event experience.
• At the direction of the Managing Director of Donor Relations, oversees a portfolio of stewardship reports. Researches, writes, edits, and produces ~20 stewardship reports throughout the year, frequently under deadline. Serves as the project manager for these reports, which involves tracking report status, ensuring reports are moving through the process on schedule, and updating report status in real-time in the Reporting module of our Funds & Terms database. Stewardship reports in the Director’s portfolio include those related to clinical and quad professorships, as well as a body of reports to HMS’ most generous major and principal gift donors. The development of these reports involves close work with faculty, administrators, and leadership to gather information in a timely fashion, as well as constant collaboration with frontline colleagues to ensure reports meet or exceed donor expectations and inspire continued giving to, and engagement with, HMS.

The ideal candidate will approach the work at hand with a positive, solution-oriented mindset and enjoy overseeing complex collaborative efforts. They must be highly responsive, self-motivated, and able to drive projects forward in a timely fashion.

The Director must have a demonstrated ability to tactfully manage projects with multiple internal and external stakeholders, some of whom may have competing priorities. This involves the ability to influence colleagues and partners without managerial authority and successfully drive compromise. They should consistently approach their work with a donor-centric mindset when working with internal and external partners. This position requires a high level of organization, professionalism, discretion, tact, and the ability to take initiative. The incumbent should have demonstrated experience working nimbly and successfully in an environment where priorities can shift quickly.

SUPERVISION AND REPORTING: Reports to the Managing Director of Donor Relations.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s preferred. Eight or more years of related experience, preferably with comprehensive skills in donor relations, engagement, and/or communications in an academic, medical, or scientific research environment. 

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Experienced writer with keen attention to detail.
• Superior interpersonal and written communication skills; communicates openly and honestly; exercises tact, diplomacy, patience, and discretion.
• Creative thinker who is open to new ideas and has a positive, can-do attitude.
• Demonstrates ability to plan, organize, and prioritize a diverse workload with frequent deadlines; entrepreneurial and problem-solving mindset. Integrity, high standards, and a commitment to excellence.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and confidentiality in working with prospects, volunteers, and HMS faculty, staff, and students.
• Skilled at public speaking and working with people at all levels.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe, and general database management software. 

Working Conditions

Harvard Medical School’s Office of Alumni Affairs and development is currently operating in a hybrid capacity, with staff expected to attend monthly all-staff meetings in person and have a presence in our Boston-based office at least once per week at the discretion of their manager. Some evening and weekend work is required as it relates to staffing stewardship events. While the majority of HMS AAD’s events are held in the Boston area, the position may involve infrequent travel.

Additional Information

The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up-to-date on CDC-recommended vaccines.

Please note that we are currently conducting a majority of interviews and onboarding remotely and virtually. We appreciate your understanding.

The Harvard Medical School is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

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Work Format Details

This is a hybrid position that is based in Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards ) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Job Function

Alumni Affairs and Development

Department Office Location

USA - MA - Boston

Job Code

303059 Development Sr Specialist

Work Format

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Department

Alumni Affairs and Development

Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Pre-Employment Screening

Education, Identity

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

We are committed to cultivating an inclusive workplace culture of faculty, staff, and students with diverse backgrounds, styles, abilities, and motivations. We appreciate and leverage the capabilities, insights, and ideas of all individuals. Harvard Medical School Mission and Community Values

https://hms.harvard.edu/about-hms/campus-culture/mission-community-values-diversity-statement

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.

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