Senior Associate Dean for Alum at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Job Description:

Harvard University


Position Title: Senior Associate Dean for Alum

Req ID: 67031BR

School or Unit: Harvard Kennedy School

Description: Job Summary

Harvard Kennedy School stands at a pivotal moment; with the arrival of Dean Weinstein in July 2024 and the process of developing new priorities, the School is poised to enter a dynamic phase of growth related to impact and strategic planning. We seek a results-oriented and entrepreneurial fundraising professional who can serve as a key partner to the Dean in leading the School through and executing this exciting transition.

Reporting to the Dean, the Senior Associate Dean for Alumni Relations and Resource Development is responsible for the overall leadership, strategic planning, and successful execution of fundraising, alumni programs, and donor relations and stewardship for the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS). As the chief development officer (CDO) for the School, the Senior Associate Dean will:

• Provide strategic direction and leadership during a transformation period, including spearheading the planning and execution of comprehensive fundraising initiatives, developed collaboratively, that align with the School's evolving vision and goals.
• Innovate and implement strategies to engage and recruit a new generation of philanthropists, expanding our philanthropic base of supporters beyond traditional networks and cultivating lasting relationships for sustained organizational contributions.
• Develop and execute entrepreneurial fundraising initiatives aimed at expanding prospect pools beyond alumni and current donors, tapping into new networks and communities, and engaging them in meaningful mission-driven ways.
• Lead the organization's principal gift efforts, taking responsibility for cultivating and securing transformative gifts that have significant impacts on our programs and mission.
• Personally manage a select portfolio of major donors while empowering and guiding the development team to achieve collective fundraising goals.
• Set ambitious fundraising targets and develop clear, actionable metrics to monitor progress and ensure accountability.

Successful leaders at Harvard Kennedy School value transparency and a collaborative, democratic approach, and are passionate about the School's mission to improve public policy and public leadership and to generate ideas to provide solutions to pressing public problems. With this in mind, HKS seeks a dynamic and energetic leader who can inspire and engage its wide-ranging community around a shared desire to make the world a better place. We are committed to fostering a pluralistic, diverse, and inclusive culture and seek candidates who share our values and commitment.

The Senior Associate Dean will possess significant leadership experience, demonstrate strong communication and interpersonal skills, and have proven track records of success in strategic fundraising at complex institutions and in raising principal gifts in a complex environment. This role requires extensive travel, both domestically and internationally, to meet with current and prospective donors, alumni, and other stakeholders.

Important Application Instructions

Harvard Kennedy School has exclusively retained the executive search firm, Spencer Stuart, to lead the search efforts.

If you wish to submit application materials or nominate someone to serve as the next Senior Associate Dean for Alumni Relations and Resource Development for Harvard Kennedy School, please email HKS.ARRD@SpencerStuart.com. Applicants should include a statement of interest.

Position Description

Key Responsibilities

• Work as a collaborative member of the leadership team to influence and address all matters of significance to HKS as directed by the Dean, as well as its international stakeholders and supporters.
• Serve as the CDO, personally managing a select portfolio of major donors, leading principal gift fundraising for the School, as well as participating in the creation and successful implementation of strategies and programs to support and fund the HKS' priorities.
• Serve as an articulate, engaging, and passionate spokesperson about public leadership and policy research, education, public service, and the unparalleled programs, alumni, and impact of HKS.
• Manage and nurture a strong team of development and alumni relations professionals, including recruitment, development, and retention of professional and support staff. Maintain a strong sense of teamwork and an environment of mentoring and support.
• Maintain current knowledge of important developments within national and international funding environments as they are related to the School's mission and programs.
• Encourage and support the valuable ongoing relationships that currently exist between faculty and administrative leadership and prospects, donors, and alumni.
• Work closely with research centers and other high-profile program areas of HKS, as well as with the central University Development Office, to ensure organized, systematic, and unified fundraising and donor relations/communications strategies.
• Maintain effective working relationships between the HKS Alumni Relations and Resource Development Office and other academic and administrative units within the School and across the University.
• Work collaboratively with members of other external functions to develop consistent and effective strategies for development and alumni engagement. Implement strategies to achieve goals through cross-departmental/cross-institutional initiatives and teams.
• Participate as an active member of the Gift Proposal Advisory Committee (GPAC) to ensure that gift proposals and solicitations are thorough, effective, and consistent with School and University guidelines.
• Create and oversee a detailed annual budget for the Alumni Relations and Resource Development Office.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of eight years of progressive leadership of multi-faceted development work in a complex organization.
• Demonstrated experience managing a team of professional staff.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of eight years of progressive leadership of multi-faceted development work in a complex organization, preferably in higher education or a complex organization with a mission that intersects with one of HKS' priorities.
• Proven track record of securing major and principal gifts, as well as effective fundraising, including broad-based knowledge of current and next-generation development programs, campaign design and execution, and advancement services.
• Deep experience partnering with volunteer leadership Boards, as well as recruiting, building, and managing volunteer leadership Boards.
• Demonstrated success in establishing, building, mentoring, and inspiring high-performing teams.
• Experience designing and implementing a strategic fundraising plan and guiding an organization's leader, senior leadership, and wider staff in the fulfillment of their fundraising responsibilities.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills with experience in development-related writing.

Critical Leadership Capabilities

• Acting Strategically. The successful candidate will work together with the Dean and the leadership team to deliver sustainable and significant increases in philanthropic support.
• Driving Results. Entrepreneurial, creative, and results-oriented, the successful candidate must be a self-starter with a creative approach to problem-solving and the ability to capitalize on emerging opportunities.
• Leading People. The successful candidate will lead, motivate, inspire, and mentor a talented and dedicated team of alumni relations and development professionals.
• Collaboration and Influencing. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with senior colleagues at HKS, including faculty and research center directors, as well as other senior administrators at the School, to understand, interpret, and promote the unique and pressing needs related to HKS research, programs and curricula.

Additional Information

Important Application Instructions

Harvard Kennedy School has exclusively retained the executive search firm, Spencer Stuart, to lead the search efforts.

If you wish to submit application materials or nominate someone to serve as the next Senior Associate Dean for Alumni Relations and Resource Development for Harvard Kennedy School, please email HKS.ARRD@SpencerStuart.com. Applicants should include a statement of interest.

Learn more about our work culture and see yourself at Harvard Kennedy School.

We regret that the 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. 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.

Salary Range: $223,100 - $414,900

Note: Starting salaries are determined by the scope of the position, the candidate's relevant experience, and internal equity.

About Us

The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (HKS or Harvard Kennedy School) was established in 1936. At the time, the United States was recovering from the Great Depression, and the government was grappling with historic domestic and international challenges. Seeing a need for improved, professionalized public service, Harvard alumnus Lucius N. Littauer funded the Graduate School of Public Administration at Harvard with an unprecedented $2 million gift. At the time, it was the largest single gift from an individual donor given to a university.

HKS' mission is to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. By combining cutting-edge research, the teaching of outstanding students, and direct interaction with practitioners, HKS has an impact on solving public problems that no other institution can match. HKS' faculty, students, staff, about 23,000 degree program alumni, and more than 66,000 executive education participants tackle a diverse range of public challenges in the United States and around the world.

Teaching, research, and engagement with practitioners at HKS focus on several critical areas, including:

• Protecting international security and freedom
• Strengthening democracy
• Advancing social justice and human rights
• Increasing economic well-being
• Enhancing sustainability
• Improving public leadership and management

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: 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)

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Department Office Location: USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Code: 302063 Development Manager

Job Function: Alumni Affairs and Development

Work Format: Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Sub Unit: ------------

Salary Grade: 063

Department: Alumni Relations and Resource Development

Salary Range: $223,100 - $414,900

Union: 00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Time Status: Full-time

Pre-Employment Screening: Credit, Criminal, Education, Identity


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.

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