Job Information
Harvard University Senior Executive Director of Development, UDO in Cambridge, Massachusetts
61597BRAuto req ID:61597BRJob Code:302062 Development Manager Department Office Location:USA - MA - Cambridge Business Title:Senior Executive Director of Development, University Development OfficeSub-Unit:------------ Salary Grade (https://hr.harvard.edu/salary-ranges#ranges) :062Time Status:Full-time Union:00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary Basic Qualifications:
15+ years of fundraising and fundraising management experience with a successful track record as a leader, manager, and strategist in a complex organizational environment, preferably in higher education.
Ability and willingness to travel and work some evenings and weekends.
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required.
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
Proven ability to motivate, engage and work with staff, donors, and volunteers, as well as academic leaders and faculty.
A demonstrated ability to manage relationships with donors and successfully close six-and-seven-figure gifts.
Must have definite abilities to evaluate problems accurately and display good, sound, and confidential judgment.
Must be able to listen carefully as well as influence and persuade others.
Must have the ability to innovate, think strategically and conceptually, manage multiple projects simultaneously and handle difficult situations with a sense of humor.
Energy, enthusiasm, and the ability to work both independently and productively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
Excellent interpersonal, organizational, analytical, verbal, and written communication skills.
Strong computer skills and familiarity with CRM's related to advancement.
Familiarity with the goals and objectives of Harvard and the Office of Alumni Affairs & Development (AA&D) is preferred.
Additional Information: For more information, to submit a nomination, or to apply for this role, please visit:
https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/harvard-university/senior-executive-director-university-development
This position requires a 6 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 (https://huhs.harvard.edu/covid-19-vaccine-requirement-faqs) . 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 (https://huhs.harvard.edu/covid-19-information#gsc.tab=0) . Department:Alumni Affairs and DevelopmentPre-Employment Screening:Education, IdentityJob Function:Alumni Affairs and Development Position Description:
Major Functions and Responsibilities
Oversee a central University fundraising program that includes planned giving, international, priorities and initiatives, and foundations. Build UDO-wide fundraising goals that incorporate the goals of each fundraising department. Prepare annual long-range plans and forecasts.
Provide leadership, supervision, and talent management for four direct reports including recruiting, hiring, onboarding, professional development, training, performance management, feedback, recognition, and retention.
Work with fundraising managers to set performance metrics for individual fundraisers. Work in conjunction with staff to conduct annual strategy and goal setting, including setting measurable, meaningful, and appropriate targets for individual staff members.
Partner with fellow fundraising leaders -- for UDO principal gifts, in AA&D’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences Development, and in all the Harvard Schools -- to ensure collaboration between teams and meeting of mutual objectives.
Introduce a systematic flow of information and coordination with Harvard schools about UDO fundraising activities involving their alumni or fundraising priorities including pipeline, strategies, planned asks, and presidential involvement.
Create and review reports that include UDO-wide fundraising results as well as progress toward measurable targets for fundraisers that demonstrate productivity as well as partnership, collegiality, and collaboration. Use data to make strategic decisions.
Create and cultivate a work environment that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. Embrace and model the values of respect, collegiality, excellence, curiosity, and humility.
Focus team activity on strategic impact and the success of short and long-term fundraising results and collegial relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
Provide guidance to Strategic Communications partners; ensure that engagement, stewardship and recognition programs continue to align with fundraising strategy.
Ensure the delivery of training required for fundraisers to be fully conversant in the funding priorities of each academic unit across the University.
In keeping with the different fundraising niches of each team, ensure a consistent approach to fundraising across all UDO fundraising units.
Manage a portfolio of < 25 major and principal gift prospects up to $25M level. Facilitate productive relationships between donors, senior administrators, and colleagues to develop strategies to solicit individuals in support of fundraising priorities.
Partner with research and prospect management, development operations and business intelligence to develop processes, procedures, and analytics to identify new prospects and ensure a strong pipeline of potential support.
Develop or update UDO fundraising policies, procedures, and resource materials, consistent across fundraising departments, with support from administration and planning team. Ensure that fundraisers meet expectations regarding adherence to policies and procedures. To augment AA&D training already in place, create onboarding and professional development for UDO fundraisers that can be offered to other units as desired.
Advance a culture that embraces the use of systems to effectively implement a moves management process. Work with operations team to collaboratively define and prioritize systems and infrastructure in support of the fundraising managers and staff.
Serve as a member of the UDO leadership team and the AA&D senior management team. Lead by example. Advocate for UDO needs and proactively understand the needs of other units in order to ensure that the UDO team is working with knowledge of the broader AA&D context.
Travel as appropriate to fulfill duties and maintain and submit timely reports on meetings with prospects and donors.
Other duties as assigned in adherence with the role.
School/Unit:Alumni Affairs and Development 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.Job Summary: This position will be based on our campus in Cambridge, MA, in a hybrid work environment.
Alumni Affairs and Development (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.
The Senior Executive Director (SED) of Development is an important leader in the University Development Office (UDO) that oversees four front-line fundraising teams (about 20 staff) that raise funds in support of the priorities of academic leadership across the University. This newly created position will support the work of several highly experienced fundraising managers while hiring for one open position. The SED oversees the planning, goal-setting, execution, and measurement of a highly successful fundraising program, ensuring that lead generation, prospect strategy development, and solicitations – and associated engagement and recognition programs -- are well integrated into the overall operation of UDO and the larger University fundraising environment. The SED will lead the work of the fundraising teams to attract significant gifts to Harvard for its funding priorities, through aligning donor interest with institutional priorities, collaborating with colleagues, and demonstrating transparency and collegiality.
This is an exciting time to join UDO, with the transition to a new Harvard president, a commitment to growth in the planned giving program, and expansion of efforts to measure impact to Harvard’s Schools and Units. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for University Development (AVP), the SED sits on the AVP’s leadership team working collaboratively to advance the goals of UDO.
An important aspect of this role is developing a strong sense of team across the fundraisers, a spirit of collective enterprise, and a shared commitment to UDO’s organizational goals, policies, and procedures. This role will ensure resources, remove obstacles, and create the conditions for the fundraising teams to succeed. Working with the department heads, this position will seek ways for team members to help each other and exchange best practices and information for mutual success. This individual serves as a leader, advisor, and strategist on the identification, cultivation, solicitation, closure, and stewardship of major and principal level gifts from individuals and organizations nationally and internationally. The SED will manage a modest portfolio (< 25) of donors while focusing the bulk of their time on management activities that facilitate the success of the UDO fundraising teams.
Information for applying to this position is in the Additional Information section of this posting. 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.