The Senior Director of Development operates within a dynamic school setting, collaborating with faculty, senior administration, and university officials. This role manages a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects (individuals capable of contributing $1M+, with an emphasis on $5M+ gifts) to secure funding for school priorities.
Responsibilities include:
Leading strategy for assigned regions and projects.
Meeting or exceeding departmental revenue goals.
Identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects.
Partnering with research center faculty and staff to enhance fundraising efforts.
Collaborating with senior staff on annual strategy planning and additional projects.
Representing Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) at events and meetings, with extensive travel to engage prospects and donors.
The Senior Director of Development must be able to work nights, weekends, and travel extensively.
Position Description
The Senior Director of Development will:
Manage 75-100 major and principal gift prospects across various relationship stages with Harvard Kennedy School.
Develop cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to enhance donor retention and revenue and meet individual revenue and moves management goals.
Conduct at least 100 face-to-face meetings with prospects.
Coordinate with faculty and research centers on fundraising strategies, donor recruitment, and priority education.
Supervise a shared staff assistant. May also manage Assistant/Associate Directors.
Mentor junior fundraisers, guiding them through challenges and strategy refinement.
Use various outreach methods for prospect engagement beyond travel areas.
Prepare background information, strategic briefings, and communications drafts.
Collaborate with senior staff to plan development trips, overseeing logistics and follow-up.
Support faculty or senior administrators in donor meetings and represent resource development at events.
Manage research for assigned portfolios, utilizing or directing the Senior Research Analyst.
Coordinate with Communications team on speaking engagement materials.
Participate in Alumni Relations and Resource Development (ARRD) Office meetings and projects, including event planning and staffing, creating presentations, and proposal writing.
Undertake additional responsibilities as needed.
The above covers the most significant responsibilities of this position. It does not, however, exclude other duties, the inclusion of which would be in conformity with the level of the position.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree required.
Minimum of 10 years of related fundraising experience. Proven success in soliciting and closing six-and seven-figure gifts in complex environments.
Additional Qualifications and Skills
Excellent communications skills, both oral and written.
Ability to manage a high-demand office with competing priorities.
Integrity and confidentiality in handling sensitive information.
Proficiency in problem-solving and data analysis.
Experience with MS Office and adaptability to new software.
Ability to work nights, weekends, and travel extensively.
Competencies
Action oriented, ability to deal with ambiguity, composure, comfort around higher management, decision quality, integrity and trust, interpersonal savvy, listening, planning, written communications, learning on the fly, organizing, peer relationships, personal learning.
Additional Information
We regret that Harvard Kennedy School does not provide visa sponsorship.
Harvard University requires pre-employment reference and background checks.
Harvard University is committed to supporting a healthy, sustainable learning and working environment.
This is a hybrid position based on our campus in Cambridge, MA. As a campus-based institution, we place a high value on the in-person experience, cross-team collaboration, and strong community building in order to create a vibrant campus for our students, faculty, staff, and research fellows. The position is required to work in-person on campus a minimum of three days per week during the academic year. Specific days and schedule will be determined between you and your manager.
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.
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.
LinkedIn Recruiter Tag (for internal use only)
#LI-DS1
Department Office Location: USA - MA - Cambridge
Job Code: 302060 Development Manager
Job Function: Alumni Affairs and Development
Work Format: Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)
Sub Unit: ------------
Salary Grade: 060
Department: Alumni Relations and Resource Development
Commitment to Equity Diversity Inclusion and Belonging: Harvard Kennedy School's Mission and Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism
At Harvard Kennedy School, fostering a diverse and inclusive community where everyone feels they belong is a matter of basic fairness consistent with our core values as an institution. It is also essential to our mission of improving public policy and leadership-because recruiting the best people and creating an environment where they can thrive make us better at what we do, because we learn more from people with different perspectives, and because we work in diverse groups and serve diverse societies. Learn more about Harvard Kennedy School's commitment to Diversity Equity, and Anti-Racism.
EOE 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.
