Director, Principal & Major Gifts

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About the role

The office of Alumni Relations & Resource Development (ARRD) at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) seeks an experienced, ambitious, and mission-driven Director, Principal & Major Gifts. The Director works within an entrepreneurial and dynamic School environment and closely collaborates with faculty, senior administration, and University officials to independently manage a portfolio of prospects with a focus on securing gifts of $500k+.

The incumbent will secure funding for School and Center priorities, lead strategies for assigned regions, Centers, priorities, and projects, and achieve ambitious activity and revenue goals. HKS has a demonstrated track record of training the world’s leaders and public servants and a long tradition of philanthropy, exceeding targets in revenue dollars, alumni donors, and non-alumni donor engagement.

Responsibilities

• Manages a portfolio of 75-100 principal and major gifts prospects and donors.
• Achieves monthly visit and annual solicitation and revenue goals.
• Develops appropriate cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to consistently deepen engagement of entire portfolio and grow philanthropic revenue aligned with School and Center priorities.
• Qualifies, progresses, and cultivates newly identified prospects, and actively identifies and works with volunteers to tap into new networks of support.
• Partners closely with faculty and administrators at School-based research centers to provide guidance on and help implement fundraising strategy, recruit donors and board members, and raise funds for the center or program.
• Develops subject matter expertise and persuasive visions for areas staffed, and educates and informs ARRD colleagues to maximize revenue to those areas.
• Develops annual operating plan for own fundraising in partnership with the Executive Director, Principal and Major Gifts, and Senior Associate Dean, ARRD.
• Staffs faculty and/or senior administrators in meetings with donors and represents ARRD at events, meetings, and 1:1 visits.
• Drafts strategy briefings, follow-up correspondence, and contact reports.
• Partners with ARRD teams as appropriate, including Engagement, Development Communications, Alumni Relations, Pipeline & Operations, and Development Administration to maximize engagement of prospects, including planning around trips.
• Manages a shared staff assistant and may manage Assistant or Associate Directors of Development.
• Attends meetings and events and takes on critical project work as needed, such as planning efforts, development committee meetings or events, drafting reports and presentations, or writing proposals.
• Performs other responsibilities upon request, as needed, with or without accommodation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• 7+ years of experience in fundraising in a complex higher education, academic medical research organization, or similarly complex organization.
• Demonstrated track record in cultivating, soliciting, and closing six- and seven-figure gifts in a complex environment.
• Direct experience partnering with senior leadership, faculty, and/or board members in a complex organization.

Skills

• Demonstrated track record of cultivating relationships with high-net-worth individuals, volunteers, and diverse international donors.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to persuade and negotiate with peer leaders and external partners on issues and programs that impact ARRD and the School.
• Strategic thinker with a demonstrated ability to develop and implement both long- and short-term fundraising plans.
• High degree of political savvy and cultural sensitivity in navigating complex donor relationships.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including pipeline and portfolio management.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex content into compelling cases for support and to communicate HKS’ mission effectively.
• Experience in a metrics-driven environment; comfort with data-driven decision-making and fundraising metrics.
• Knowledge of industry best practices in philanthropy and fundraising.
• Familiarity with donor databases (e.g., Advance, Salesforce, or similar CRM).
• Ability to work nights and weekends and to travel as required.

Additional Information

This is a Cambridge-based position with expectations to be on campus 2-3 days/week. Some duties may be performed at a non-Harvard location, with the work schedule and location set by the department at its discretion. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees must work in a Harvard-registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts.

Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

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.