Senior Associate Director, Priorities and Initiatives

Updated: almost 2 years ago
Location: Cambridge, MASSACHUSETTS
Deadline: The position may have been removed or expired!

01-Jun-2022

Alumni Affairs and Development

58661BR


Job Summary

This position will be based on our campus in Cambridge, MA. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic this position will be remote until further notice.

Alumni Affairs and Development (AA&D)
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.

University Development Office (UDO)
UDO works closely with the President and Provost, and their teams, to advance the University’s goals through their development activity; leads fundraising for University principal gifts, initiatives, and international fundraising; and coordinates cultivation and stewardship strategies for a select group of top donors.

Job Summary
We are seeking a Director of Priorities and Initiatives on the University Development Office (UDO) team within Harvard Alumni Affairs and Development (AA&D)

UDO works closely with the offices of the President and Provost on central and cross-School development efforts; engages and recognizes donors at a university-wide level; fundraises from alumni and non-alumni for all parts of the University through principal gifts, international, planned giving and other effort; and coordinates cultivation and stewardship strategies for a select group of top prospects. The UDO is part of AA&D which also includes Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, AA&D Resources, and the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA).

Reporting to the Director of Priorities and Initiatives, this position will develop and implement cross-University fundraising plans for a select set of faculty-led university-wide interfaculty initiatives and other priorities of the president and provost. This position also provides fundraising guidance to a set of Harvard affiliates and units. 

The successful candidate will have curiosity about intellectual content, as well as an entrepreneurial and creative approach to complex issues. This position will be exposed to the exciting breadth of the Harvard academic enterprise and many committed university leaders, faculty members, development colleagues, and donors. This position is expected to engage with academic content across the University, especially those pursuits that span multiple disciplines and Schools, in order to best support the many entities desiring funding, and to best engage with potential donors.

This role is anything but routine, requiring its incumbent to react to opportunities and to develop new approaches. This position requires creativity and resourcefulness, and a very high degree of collaborative spirit.


Position Description

  • Serves as UDO liaison to a select set of interfaculty initiatives, units, and affiliates that seek to do fundraising including the Wyss Institute, the Harvard Data Science Initiative, the Safra Center and the Arnold Arboretum as examples. Develops new and refines existing agreements so that level of UDO support is mutually understood, and documents progress.  Responsible for providing UDO services as agreed, such as prospect strategy, vetting and qualifying prospects, engaging faculty to connect with donors, creating gift opportunities, developing stewardship plans, monitoring solicitation activity, and connecting to appropriate resources in AA&D and in the University. Serves as a liaison to, and collaborates with, colleagues at the Schools on shared prospects, and prospects interested in the work of the interfaculty initiatives, affiliates and units. 
  • Together with the Priorities and Initiatives team, this position coalesces university-wide fundraising activity – facilitating planning, identifying prospects, and developing and marketing gift opportunities -- for university priorities that benefit multiple Schools. This position liaises with academic and programmatic leadership in support of fundraising activities. This role works with the Provost’s Office, senior faculty, and administrative leadership of select Harvard units, affiliates, and initiatives, providing support for fundraising efforts based on agreements with each entity. This position may oversee the work of support staff.
  • Implements fundraising plans, serve as the University point-of-contact for select university priorities defined by academic leadership, which may include the capital projects in Allston and the Presidential Discretionary Fund. Partners with stakeholders across university. Identifies prospects, works with communications and donor relations colleagues to refine gift opportunities and communications, naming/recognition opportunities, and fundraiser education on these priorities. Works closely with strategic communications teams on collateral materials and stewardship related to assigned areas.
  • Supports fundraising through direct work with prospects, and collaboration with colleagues who may have prospects with interest. Works closely with fundraisers and service teams to develop and manage engagement, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for high-capacity prospective donors. Plans, staffs, and briefs senior academic administrators and faculty for prospect/donor visits and events. Sometimes the position is the driver of activity, while other times is as an important partner and resource to a School/UDO fundraiser or to a leader in a unit/affiliate who may have the external facing responsibilities with a donor.
  • May be called upon to identify or manage prospects for select units, affiliates, or initiatives in collaboration with UDO and School fundraisers.  This position may work with donors who are previously unconnected to Harvard, or with donors who have given in the past and need to be well-stewarded for their support.
  • May be called upon to staff donor committee(s) by supporting volunteer activity, working with faculty leadership, collaborating with School colleagues, events and communications teams, and planning meetings with robust content.
  • Promotes university priorities and selected initiatives as giving opportunities with colleagues. Finds synergies between central gift opportunities and those in the Schools, for bundling purposes.
  • Build strong relationships with fundraising colleagues within UDO and in the Schools. Leverage opportunities to collaborate across the University to proactively maximize the impact of gifts.
  • Seek to improve skills and knowledge and understanding of Harvard by reading Harvard news, developing relationships with colleagues across campus, attending events and lectures, and training activities designed for this purpose.

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 8 years of experience in university fundraising or relevant transferable experience required.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

  • Demonstrated familiarity with academic content and experience working with faculty. 
  • The ideal candidate has a sophisticated and comprehensive understanding of fundraising principles and practices, an understanding of different cultures and philanthropic environments.
  • Additionally, the Sr. Associate Director will exhibit strong soft skills that include an ability to form strong relationships within the University and externally, an ability to leverage volunteer leadership in advancing donor relationships and gift discussions, initiative, problem-solving skills, influence without authority, ability to create order without a blueprint and comfort with ambiguity and desired outcomes that are not necessarily quantitatively measured.
  • As a member of the University Development Office (UDO), the candidate is expected to work in accordance with policies and procedures of Alumni Affairs and Development, and is expected to reflect our community values, including diversity, inclusivity, and belonging. 
  • This position may, at times, be in situations where expectation-management and diplomacy are warranted, with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Some evening and weekend hours, as well as domestic and international travel, will be required in this position.
  • The above covers the most significant responsibilities for this position. It does not, however, exclude other duties, the inclusion of which would be in conformity with the level of the position.

Additional Information

This position requires a 6 month orientation and review period.
Please include a cover letter with your application.

About Harvard University
Harvard University, based in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, was established in 1636 and is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States. The University is home to over 20,000 students and employs 18,000 people, making us the fifth-largest employer in Massachusetts. Harvard is a special place, filled with diverse, energetic, and talented people who are driven to grow and succeed. By working here, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard’s world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise.

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/.

Discover AA&D and Harvard University Benefits

  • Opportunities for internal advancement
  • A creative, high- energy, collaborative environment
  • Generous Vacation, Sick, Personal, and Holiday pay
  • Medical, Dental and Vision benefits starting on your first day
  • University-funded retirement plans
  • Tuition Assistance Program
  • Transportation benefits to help with your daily commute
  • Health and wellness discounts, memberships and programs

Additional benefits 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:  The University requires all Harvard community members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccine boosters, as detailed in Harvard’s Vaccine & Booster Requirements . Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University’s COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University’s “COVID-19 Vaccine Information” webpage: http://www.harvard.edu/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-information/ . 


Job Function

Alumni Affairs and Development


Location

USA - MA - Cambridge


Job Code

303059 Development Sr Specialist


Department

Alumni Affairs and Development


Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary


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.



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