Assistant Director of Development, Fundraiser Support Management

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

About the Role

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) 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 help schools 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. AA&D strives to create an environment of respect that leverages diverse talents, perspectives, and experiences to deliver strong results and make AA&D a great place to work for everyone. AA&D is comprised of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, Advancement Communications, Events & Donor Relations (ACEDR), University Development and Advancement Solutions (UDAS), the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), and Office of Talent, Administration and Policy (OTAP).

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day management of a cohort of development assistants, including recruitment and hiring, onboarding, workload and schedule oversight, and ensuring they have the tools, processes, and information needed to support frontline fundraisers effectively.
• Own the full-year performance management cycle for the assigned cohort, in consultation with frontline officers and the Senior Associate Director of Development, Fundraiser Support Management, including setting expectations, providing ongoing feedback, and delivering formal evaluations.
• Conduct regular one-on-one check-ins with each development assistant to review workload, training needs, position satisfaction, and performance, and to address questions or concerns in a timely, supportive manner.
• Partner with frontline officers to assess the effectiveness of support, gather feedback on development assistant performance, and adjust responsibilities or priorities to align with evolving fundraising needs.
• Oversee long-term and interim staffing and project assignments for the development assistant cohort, balancing coverage and workload to ensure consistent, high-quality support for all assigned fundraising teams.
• Collaborate with Human Resources and the Senior Associate Director of Development, Fundraiser Support Management on performance concerns, employee relations matters, compensation topics, and policy interpretation to ensure fair, consistent, and compliant people practices.
• Help coordinate a cohesive approach to Group Leader management and engagement across both FAS Group Leader cohorts (Harvard College Fund and Donor Development), in partnership with the Senior Associate Director and peer Assistant Director, to ensure consistent standards, communication, and support.
• Work closely with Talent Management, the Senior Associate Director, and frontline leaders to identify skills gaps and professional growth opportunities, and to design and implement onboarding, training, and development plans that support both immediate job success and longer-term career progression.
• Co-plan and execute monthly development assistant cohort meetings with the Senior Associate Director and peer Assistant Director, including identifying themes, scheduling guest speakers, and curating content that enhances frontline support capabilities.
• Assign and oversee special projects and process improvement initiatives for development assistants, encouraging innovation and collaboration to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of fundraising operations.
• May supervise additional development assistants or assume expanded responsibilities as organizational structure, fundraising priorities, or staffing needs evolve.

Requirements

• 4+ years of related administrative experience.
• Previous experience in project/relationship management.
• Required to work onsite in the Cambridge, MA office on assigned days weekly and may be asked to also come in for additional meetings outside of the assigned days.
• Expected to work certain events/campus activities, such as reunions each Spring, and participate in department retreats that take place on campus in Cambridge, MA.

Qualifications

• Prior experience supervising staff, including coaching, providing feedback, and managing day-to-day workload and priorities; management experience within a development or similarly complex environment strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and support staff sensitively through periods of change and ambiguity, using sound judgment and creative problem-solving to navigate evolving priorities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present information clearly and confidently in group settings and to tailor messages to different audiences.
• Proven ability to build collaborative relationships and work effectively across departments and levels of the organization, exercising tact, discretion, and diplomacy.
• Skilled in handling sensitive and confidential information and situations with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Demonstrated negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to align diverse stakeholders around shared goals and solutions.
• Proven initiative and follow-through, with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Solid knowledge of office operations and comfort with modern office and collaboration technologies (e.g., office productivity tools, databases/CRMs, and communication platforms).

Schedule

40 hours per week. This position has been determined to allow some duties to be 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.

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.