Duties & Responsibilities
The Assistant Director with the team of coordinators:

• Leverages the UDO service teams to execute the strategies for cultivation and solicitation. Brings all available UDO resources to defined donor strategy.
• Engages with faculty and academic leaders to coordinate and advance University principal gifts activities.
• Manages a tailored approach to acknowledgements and stewardship for each donors in the UDO fundraiser portfolios, working with colleagues in donor relations and communications.
• Monitors and executes preparation (including various supporting materials reflective of the university-wide priorities) and all next steps before and after the senior fundraisers' and institutional leaders' donor visits.
• Manages and maintains, in collaboration with relevant UDO teams, complicated donor giving histories to ensure our effective engagement with our University principal gifts donors.
• Corresponds with donors through their offices and sometimes directly to respond to requests/questions, and advance their giving and overall engagement with Harvard.
• Manages complex gift terms and associated paperwork and activities related to closing 7-, 8- and 9-figure commitments.
• Shapes agendas and itineraries and coordinates with events team on logistics and communications team on materials for our major University donor engagement groups including the Harvard X Advisory Council. Contributes to the strategy for donor groups' events, calls, and other special communications for each.
• Identifies new potential donors and crafts with the senior fundraisers and others an approach to engage prospects with the University.
• Proactively facilitates frequent interaction and communication with colleagues across the principal gifts team.

Important will be the ability to work independently as well as part of a team, in an extremely dynamic, fast-paced work environment, juggling multiple and changing priorities and responding to the strategic needs of the AVP, Sr. Director and the UDO Principal Gifts team more broadly.

The above covers the most significant responsibilities of the 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 with 4+ years of work experience, preferably in a large development operation.
Excellent written and oral communication skills required.Additional Qualifications

• Must be highly organized, detail oriented, and have the ability to work competently and efficiently in a multi-task environment. Must have proven organizational skills, ability to prioritize work in a fast-paced environment with multiple and sometimes conflicting priorities.
• Computer literacy required.
• Familiarity with basic fundraising principles and strategies a plus.
• Familiarity with the workings of Harvard development is helpful but not required.
• Familiarity with BSR Advance a plus.
• Management experience a plus.
• Able to work effectively with internal and external constituencies in a University environment. Must be able to evaluate problems accurately and display good, sound, and confidential judgment in developing solutions.
• Must be able to listen carefully as well as to influence and persuade others through soft power and motivation.
• Must be interested in and motivated by the intellectual community at Harvard.

Additional Information
SUMMARY:

Reporting jointly to the Associate Vice President (AVP) and Sr. Executive Director of Principal Gifts, this full-time exempt position in the University Development Office (UDO) works closely with both senior leaders to advance principal gifts fundraising.

The Assistant Director will divide his/her time between management of the Principal Gifts Coordinators (50%) and supporting the team s principal gifts prospect strategy efforts (50%) with the Sr. Executive Director.

The Assistant Director will devise and maintain systems to facilitate a variety of streams of fundraising activity from developing internal and external meeting agendas, minutes and next steps to helping support the Senior Executive Director for a strong finish to The Harvard Campaign and the transition to the post-campaign period. This includes a range of high-level activity to support donor visits, developing briefings, helping to set itineraries, and other activities that will assist in advancing University principal gifts development.

The Assistant Director will manage and oversee the work of a team of four-five UDO Principal Gifts Coordinators. Management includes hiring decisions; managing performance with input from the Principal Gift Officers; creating consistent high-quality practices for the UDO Coordinators; sharing best practices to enhance team efficacy; sharing information on funding priorities, donor activity, events, and other information across the team to ensure strong communication; talking through challenges, strategies and sharing ideas cross-team; creating an on-boarding program for new colleagues; ensuring coverage when vacation or staff turnover requires shifts; ; reviewing the team project load and reassigning staff as needed to support heavy work periods; and ensuring appropriate data management is undertaken for all UDO principal gifts prospects.

Please include a cover letter with your application.

Skills testing may be a component of the interview process for this position.

The department of Alumni Affairs and Development at Harvard University is committed to diversity. We welcome applicants who bring varied experience, thought, and practice to the department s mission to maintain and enhance an engaged community of alumni and friends worldwide and to lead the University s fundraising efforts.

Harvard University Benefits Package
Vacation/Sick/Personal/Holidays: Harvard offers 3 (union roles) - 4 (exempt) weeks paid vacation, a paid holiday break between Christmas and New Year s Day, 12 paid sick days, 11.5 paid holidays, and 3 paid personal days each year.
Medical/Dental/Vision Benefit: Harvard offers a variety of excellent medical, dental, and vision plans which all begin on the first day of employment.
Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with full vesting after 3 years of service.
Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive tuition assistance program, $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and discounted study options through participating Harvard Graduate Schools.
Transportation: Harvard offers a 50% discounted MBTA pass as well as parking options to assist employees in their daily commute to campus.
Wellness Options: Harvard offers programs and classes at little or no cost, including stress management, massages, nutrition, meditation, and complimentary health services. There are also fee-based athletic facility memberships available at various locations around the university for employees.

To apply please click here!