Assistant Director of Development, Harvard College Fund, Annual Programs

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

22h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Development, Annual Programs, is a full-time, exempt position in Harvard College Fund (HCF) annual programs and reports to the Senior Associate Director of Development, Annual Programs. The role plans and executes fundraising initiatives for College alumni one to nine years out from graduation, excluding those celebrating their fifth reunion. The Assistant Director develops strategies to grow recent graduate philanthropy and volunteerism, cultivates and solicits annual support for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, with emphasis on flexible, current-use gifts to HCF, and occasionally travels to meet alumni donor prospects and volunteer leaders. The position also identifies, recruits, and manages the Recent Graduate Leadership Committee, whose volunteers model giving and service and encourage peer participation in the Harvard community.

The role works in partnership with staff, alumni leaders, reunion officers, and colleagues across Harvard’s advancement functions. It serves as the primary staff contact for the HCF Vice Chairs for Recent Graduates, supports volunteer engagement and fundraising, and directs and mentors a shared full-time Development Assistant and Coordinator. The position requires fundraising knowledge, strong organization and professionalism, familiarity with volunteer management and annual, capital, and planned giving, and excellent written and oral communication skills.

The position is hybrid, with required onsite work in the Cambridge, Massachusetts office on assigned days each week and possible additional onsite meetings. The department sets the work schedule and location based on operational needs. The role requires approximately 20% travel during the year, overnight travel flexibility, work outside core business hours, and participation in certain events and campus activities, including spring reunions and on-campus department retreats. Standard hours are 40 per week.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 4 years of experience in university fundraising and administration or related transferable experience.
• Experience with Microsoft Windows and databases.
• Knowledge of academic communities.
• Demonstrated success in annual or capital giving, or applicable ability.
• Ability to write fundraising materials and devise sophisticated cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Events management ability.
• Proven ability to motivate, engage, and work with alumni, university officials, faculty, and staff or similar constituencies.
• Ability to evaluate problems accurately and exercise sound, confidential judgment.
• Ability to learn, adapt to change, innovate, think strategically and conceptually, manage multiple projects, and handle difficult situations tactfully.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and efficient, with the ability to produce clear documentation.
• Excellent public speaking, presentation, and written communication skills.
• Ability to be creative and proactive while remaining disciplined, discriminating, and able to prioritize and streamline work with manager guidance.
• Professional, confidential, honest, and trustworthy conduct.
• Even disposition and ability to deal effectively and politely with people of varied backgrounds and experience, including in difficult situations.
• Professional and caring demeanor, strong work ethic, collaborative approach, conscientiousness, and results orientation.
• Ability to listen, influence, and persuade others.
• Flexibility for overnight travel and work outside core business hours; travel is approximately 20% of the year, excluding trip preparation, execution, and follow-up.
• Ability to work onsite in the Cambridge, MA office on assigned weekly days and attend additional meetings or events as needed.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategies, in partnership with the Senior Associate Director of Development, to build and grow recent graduate philanthropy and volunteerism.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward unassigned alumni prospects in assigned classes, focusing on participation and leadership giving.
• Determine solicitation strategies for prospects independently and with management assistance.
• Conduct participation and leadership-level solicitations of unassigned prospects.
• Enlist and manage volunteer leaders.
• Serve as the primary staff contact for the HCF Vice Chairs for Recent Graduates and engage them in setting strategy for the Recent Graduate Leadership Committee.
• Establish a calendar, set goals, monitor metrics, plan and execute volunteer meetings and engagement events, and report results.
• Manage the Harvard College Fund Recent Graduate Leadership Committee in partnership with the Vice Chairs for Recent Graduates.
• Identify, enlist, and manage volunteers, setting clear expectations about their roles and responsibilities.
• Make solicitation assignments for volunteers and provide ongoing support and resources to help them close gifts successfully.
• Steward committee volunteers to support a rewarding and fulfilling experience.
• Partner with reunion officers to facilitate a reciprocal pipeline between the Recent Graduate Leadership Committee and reunion campaigns.
• Incorporate continuous training and preparation into committee work to prepare volunteers for their fifth and tenth reunion campaigns and support FAS and HCF priorities and goals.
• Collaborate with HCF Management Team, Major Gifts, Gift Planning, Principal Gifts, Harvard Alumni Association College Alumni Programs, FAS Research and Prospect Management, Gift Administration, Business Process & Operation, Advancement Communications, Events & Donor Relations, volunteers, and donors to advance engagement and fundraising.
• Direct the work of and mentor a shared full-time Development Assistant and Coordinator.
• Collaborate periodically on special projects with the HCF Management Team and FAS and UDO fundraising staff to advance fundraising objectives.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level