Associate Dean of Development, FAS

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Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Alumni Affairs and Development (AA&D) is a dedicated team supporting Harvard’s advancement activity through front-line fundraising, alumni and volunteer engagement, technology, prospect management and research, business process, events, communications, and many other areas.

Our goal is to create an environment of respect that leverages the many talents, perspectives, and experiences of our employees; 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. We strive to live our values of respect, inclusion, trust, collaboration, continuous improvement and innovation; and open communication and effective information sharing in our daily interactions and our work.

AA&D is comprised of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, Communications, Events & Donor Relations, University Development and Advancement Solutions, the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), and AA&D Administration.

Job Summary:

This full-time exempt position serves as the second-in-command for the leadership and management of the development teams that support the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). The largest unit and historic heart of Harvard University, FAS comprises Harvard College, the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Division of Arts and Humanities, Division of Science, Division of Social Sciences, Harvard Athletics, and the Division of Continuing Education. The Associate Dean also works collaboratively with colleagues across FAS Development, Alumni Affairs and Development (AA&D), Harvard Schools, and university-wide partners. 

The Associate Dean will oversee a fundraising team of approximately 100 employees, who report through the Executive Director of the Harvard College Fund (HCF), Executive Director of Major Gifts, as well as individual members of the Principal Gifts team. 

Together with the Dean/AVP, the Associate Dean has the responsibility of integrating and unifying HCF, major and principal gift development and shaping a cohesive, collaborative, and accountable fundraising team.  To achieve this, the Associate Dean is responsible for building, nurturing, and motivating the team to develop and achieve goals that focus on optimizing portfolios and sustaining growth. 

The Associate Dean will work closely with the Dean/AVP and the FAS Development Management team to shape, articulate, and advance priorities that achieve FAS fundraising goals. Consequently, this role will also serve as a key fundraising liaison to FAS Divisional Deans and center directors to optimize alignment between donors and institutional priorities. 

In addition, the Associate Dean will work closely with the Dean/AVP and the Management Team to shape development policies, practices and services that are facilitated across teams and through collaboration across AA&D, particularly the University Development Office and the Harvard Alumni Association. Key areas of this collaboration with AA&D will include optimizing FAS planned giving and developing a comprehensive strategy for talent management of FAS fundraisers.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Dean/AVP, principal gift officers, Executive Directors and their direct reports to ensure productivity in identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and closing gifts from the respective Schools’ top prospects.
• Partner strategically with the Associate Vice President for Communications, Events, and Donor Relations to develop a strong and effective case of support for current and potential donors in advancing the FAS development priorities. Serve as primary fundraising liaison to FAS Division Deans and center directors to maximize alignment of donor interest with academic priorities.
• Provide close counsel to the Dean/AVP and leadership teams on fundraising strategies and maintain a substantive relationship with Academic/Division Deans, FAS Administrative leaders, and AA&D leadership team.
• Ensure the development of, and adherence to, a collective development operating plan to achieve strategic cultivation and solicitation of prospects.  Work collaboratively to align plans with FAS Development’s multi-year plan.
• Provide leadership, guidance and oversight of their overall department’s strategic portfolio development and lead collaborative prospect assignment and portfolio review process.
• Lead strategy for a comprehensive program for professional development and fundraiser – and fundraising management – training.
• Establish expectations that are clear, well communicated, and related to the goals and objectives of the unit, and provide staff with frequent, constructive feedback, including interim evaluations as appropriate.
• Responsible for enhancing and supporting communication and collaboration between FAS, the University Development Office, and other schools of the University on gift opportunities for shared prospects.
• Works in partnership with the Management Team to develop effective strategies for communications, events, stewardship and proposals. 
• Advances a culture that embraces the use of systems and tools to effectively implement a moves management prospect management process, including the use of the Advance database and reporting and tracking tools. Works with the Operations team to collaborative define and prioritize systems and infrastructure in support of the fundraising managers and staff.
• Aids in a systematic and equitable approach to understanding and resolving employee/supervisor problems in accordance with the University Human Resources policies and practice. Assists in motivating supervisors and managers to ensure consistent, equal and fair treatment of their employees.  Works closely with the Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives and Operations and Human Resources department on staffing, compensation, diversity and inclusion, professional development, labor relation’s issues. 
• Travel expectations required with approximately 20 percent on the road, including night and weekend obligations.
• 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. Advanced degree preferred.     
• 15+ years of fundraising and fundraising management experience with a successful track record as a leader, manager, and strategist in a complex organizational environment, university fundraising and administration or related transferable experience preferred. 
• The position requires a minimum of seven (7) years of management experience with a proven ability to motivate, engage and work with staff, donors, and volunteers, as well as academic leaders and faculty.   
• A strong working knowledge of annual/reunion, major, planned and principal gift programs, including management of volunteer-intensive fundraising.
• You will be expected to work certain events/campus activities, such as reunions each Spring, and participate in department meetings and retreats that are taking place on campus in Cambridge, MA.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Must be a professional, confidential, honest and trustworthy person. Must have an even disposition and be able to deal effectively and politely with people from all types of backgrounds and experience and in all types of difficult situations. Must have definite abilities to evaluate problems accurately 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.
• A proven track record as an individual frontline fundraiser and volunteer manager.
• Demands a sophisticated understanding of development and academic affairs in a complex university environment.
• Ability to work effectively in a data-driven decision-making and management environment. 
• This position requires a sophisticated and comprehensive understanding of giving principles and practices, extremely high levels of professionalism, collegiality, self-motivation, organization, and familiarly with the goals and objectives of Harvard, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, FAS Development, and the Office of Alumni Affairs and Development. 
• Superb organizational skills. Must have solid analytical skills.  Must be motivated to learn and flexible to change.  Must be creative and proactive yet disciplined, discriminating and able to streamline work volume in order to maintain bottom line efforts in midst of multi-tasking and daily re-prioritizing. Must have ability to innovate, 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. 
• Excellent public speaking, presentation skills and written communication skills required.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 40 hours per week
• Orientation and Review Period: 6 months
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal, Credit
• Other Information: Please submit a cover letter

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Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 063. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• 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 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.