Job Summary

The Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD) educates leaders in design, research, and scholarship to make a resilient, just, and beautiful world. The GSD offers an unparalleled setting for interaction through the combination of disciplines?architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning and design?with an emerging research program and a robust public program of lectures and exhibition. The Development and Alumni Relations (DevAR) office at the GSD is seeking an energetic, forward thinking and experienced individual who will work as part of a team to support an ambitious fundraising agenda and engagement program.

This full-time exempt position will be a key member of the GSD Development team. Reporting directly to the Managing Director of Development, the Associate Director will be charged with developing and executing sophisticated cultivation and solicitation strategies leading to the realization of four, five, and six-figure gifts from an assigned portfolio of approximately 250 alumni and friends of the GSD. The Associate Director will work in close partnership with the fundraising team and others throughout the Development and Alumni Relations office to encourage philanthropic support at all levels from a variety of prospect and donor types.

Position Description

JOB SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage a targeted portfolio of prospects; solicit prospects for annual, major, and planned gifts. Responsible for meeting or exceeding assigned goals, including, but not limited to, goals for prospect visits, solicitations, successful gift closures, and dollars raised.
• Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of donors on an annual basis. Must work independently, as well as with the Managing Director of Development and fellow fundraisers, GSD faculty, alumni, and University Development Office staff to research and identify prospects capable of making leadership-level annual gifts to the GSD.
• Devise and implement a cultivation and solicitation strategy for a portfolio of prospects to include establishing ask amounts and gift proposals, prospect activity and projected revenue goals, and maintaining a travel schedule for cultivation, qualification, solicitation, and stewardship.
• With the Managing Director of Development, create an effective practice for identifying and elevating major and principal gift prospects.
• Acquire a deep understanding of assigned prospects? philanthropic interests, capacity, and inclination through face-to-face and virtual meetings.
• Through the development of thoughtful strategies and intentional prioritization of prospects, ensure revenue goals are met by focusing on upgrading donors and maintaining an active regional/territory presence.
• Create and implement opportunities to engage and meet with international prospects through virtual meetings and events.
• Adhere to all prospect management processes and policies around contact reports, proposals, stage codes etc. to ensure cross-departmental transparency and effectiveness.
• In collaboration with the Development and Alumni Relations events team and fundraising team, create and manage impactful programming (virtual and/or in-person) to increase awareness of GSD giving priorities and expand the prospect pool.
• Work in collaboration with Data Operations and other resources to identify new prospects for qualification.
• Actively seek to improve professional skills, knowledge, and understanding of the GSD by developing relationships with colleagues across campus, attending campus events and activities, and participating in training activities.
• Success will be measured by the incumbent?s ability to uncover prospective donors? philanthropic interests; the quality of their prospect strategies; their ability to move donors from cultivation to solicitation, and the successful closure of gifts that cumulatively surpass their respective fundraising goal.

• Extensive travel expectations are required to conduct donor and prospect visits, as well as for event staffing as needed. Responsible for communicating meeting strategies through written briefings and pre-visit briefing meetings or calls.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor?s degree and 7+ years of experience in major/leadership gift fundraising (or related experience) with a demonstrated track record of closing five- and six-figure gifts. Related transferable experience will be considered.
• Proven written and oral communication skills required.
• Ability and willingness for extensive travel, evening and weekend work is required.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Ability to be a passionate advocate for design and design education.
• Must be a collaborative problem solver and bring an entrepreneurial approach to designing creative donor and prospecting strategies.
• The ideal candidate will bring the highest levels of professionalism, collegiality, self-motivation, and organization.
• Candidates should possess excellent written, presentation, and verbal communication skills, be self-motivated, and have strong judgment.
• Outgoing and positive interpersonal skills with proven ability to work collaboratively or independently in managing multiple projects in a fast-paced and goal-oriented environment.
• Demonstrated ability to form and leverage relationships with top prospects, effectively engage prospects and secure significant gifts through effective prospect management.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, engage and work with senior level staff, donors, and volunteers and to forge effective relationships with academic leaders and faculty.
• Knowledge of complex academic institutions and experience staffing academic leaders in development work is preferred.
• This position requires a sophisticated and comprehensive understanding of fundraising best-practices.
• Strong active listening skills: demonstrated ability to uncover interests, motivations, and objections from prospective donors, clients, or others.
• Must have a natural affinity for collaboration, leading through influence, and a high level of emotional intelligence. Must be drawn to a challenge and exhibit the patience necessary to advance solutions in a complex and collaborative organization. Demonstrates a personal commitment to excellence as well as an ability to admit mistakes and forgive faults in others.
• Can evaluate problems and display good, sound, and confidential judgment. Must maintain a professional and caring demeanor. Must be able to listen carefully as well as to influence and persuade others.
• Superb organizational skills. Must have ability to think strategically and conceptually, manage multiple projects simultaneously and handle even difficult situations with a sense of humor. Must be able to listen carefully as well as to influence and persuade others.

Physical Requirements

Position involves frequent meetings and travel away from the office. Applicants must be able to perform typical office tasks, including sitting for extended periods, using standard office equipment, and occasionally lifting up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Working Conditions

This position is based in Cambridge, MA and requires regular, in-person work at the GSD throughout the academic year. Flexible work options for this role will be discussed during the interview process, but the exact schedule may be subject to change due to any operational adjustments in the department. Applications are accepted and encouraged from candidates not based in the Boston-Cambridge area, so long as they are able to commute to campus regularly during the academic year and reside in one of our approved payroll states. Harvard registered payroll states currently include Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only).

Additional Information

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.

For more information about Harvard GSD see: https://www.gsd.harvard.edu/

SALARY INFORMATION:
Salary ranges within each pay grade are based on qualifications, skills, experience, equity in comparison to similar positions, and external market values. Salary ranges allow for differences among positions within the same grade as well increasing levels of responsibility and performance within the same job.

For more information regarding salary ranges at Harvard please see: https://hr.harvard.edu/salary-ranges

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.

Work Format

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)


Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Harvard University views equity, 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 this excellence while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

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.

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