Director of Development, Parents, Major Gifts

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Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

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 is comprised of the University Development Office (UDO), Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, AA&D Resources, the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), and the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

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. 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.

This opportunity focuses on non-alumni parents and is part of the robust Faculty of Arts and Sciences Development team. It will complement an existing spirit of collaboration and entrepreneurship, along with a culture of aspirational thinking in support of a strong mission. This full-time exempt position reports to the Senior Executive Director of Development, Major and Planned Gifts, serves as a leader and senior fundraiser on the Major Gifts team, and works in partnership with all FAS colleagues.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

The Director will work in partnership with the Senior Executive Director, fundraising managers, and all gift officers to build a strategic fundraising plan and prospect gift strategy for major- and principal-gift level non-alumni parent prospects in support of the FAS mission and priorities. This person will carry a portfolio of highly rated prospects and collaborate with colleagues to execute a fundraising strategy that includes qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship within their portfolios.

The Director will develop and implement an annual and multi-year fundraising plan in collaboration with the FAS Development team to build and expand philanthropic support among non-alumni parents. Critical to success is a strong partnership with the Harvard College Fund’s Parent Engagement Program (PEP), a volunteer-driven annual giving and volunteer engagement effort and developing opportunities for synergy.

This position requires a command of advanced fundraising principles, experience managing people and projects, a bias for making the ask, a high level of organization, professionalism, and a broad familiarity with the objectives of capital, endowment, and annual current-use fundraising. The Director must demonstrate leadership characteristics while balancing the demands of project management and prospect work to achieve strong results. 

Responsibilities:

• Participate as a leader on the team and across the organization to drive vision setting and fundraising plan development. Educate, mentor, counsel, and motivate staff.
• In consultation with the Senior Executive Director of Development, Major and Planned Gifts, and partners across Alumni Affairs & Development, develop and provide strategic direction for FAS non-alumni parents' major- and principal-gift fundraising strategy. This includes leveraging faculty and administrator travel, alumni volunteers, and prospect engagement events to advance fundraising objectives.
• Responsible for successfully meeting annual goals with a portfolio of highly rated non-alumni parent households at various stages of their relationship with Harvard throughout the gift cycle. A key responsibility is the development and execution of comprehensive prospect strategies designed to secure six-, seven-, and eight-figure gifts from the assigned pool. Strategy is often set in conjunction with other officers in the FAS and University Development Offices. Annual portfolio metrics will be reviewed with the Senior Executive Director of Development, Major and Planned Gifts, and progress towards goals will be evaluated monthly.
• As a member of the Major and Planned Gifts leadership team, the Director will coordinate with other senior members of the FAS development team to help further fundraising efficiency and efficacy with the non-alumni parent population. In coordination with the FAS senior staff, the Director will develop and implement moves-management processes to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major and principal donors. Develop, test and refine the case for FAS key fundraising priorities and gift opportunities.
• Work closely with Events, Academic and Donor Engagement, and Academic and Development Planning teams to implement prospect engagement strategies such as events, interaction with academic leadership, and compelling gift conversations and proposals.
• This position requires overnight travel; availability/flexibility to travel is required for this position.

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in development or related transferable skills.
• Bachelor’s degree required. 
• Previous management of frontline fundraisers required.
• 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.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Strong ability to quickly earn trust of staff and prospects.  Must have demonstrated experience engaging prospects/clients in thoughtful, personal conversations with tact and diplomacy.
• Must be mission-driven and have a demonstrated ability to work well with others in a collaborative manner. 
• Requires attention to detail, poise, and diplomacy given interaction with senior administration members and senior faculty; superb written and oral communication skills; flexibility; and the ability to multi-task without losing focus on both short- and long-term goals.
• Advanced knowledge of fundraising strategies and techniques preferred; experience managing a prospect pool and a proven record of moving prospects strategically through stages of identification, cultivation, solicitation, closure and stewardship.
• Experience briefing and staffing high-level academic or other leaders in prospect meetings.
• Must also demonstrate ability and interest for management and administrative functions, such as nurturing and mentoring professional staff, hiring and evaluating staff, and managing basic office functions. 
• Excellent interpersonal, public speaking, written communication, and presentation skills required.  Computer literacy required; must have experience with Windows and databases.
• The ideal candidate requires a sophisticated and comprehensive understanding of major gift fundraising principles and practices, extremely high levels of professionalism, collegiality, self-motivation, organization, and familiarity with the goals and objectives of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and of the entire Harvard Alumni Affairs and Development organization.

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 40 hours per week
• Orientation and Review Period: 6 months
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• Other Information: To learn more about AA&D and our team, please visit us here!

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 060. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.