Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of 12-15 years of experience in university fundraising or relevant transferable experience required.
• Ability to travel approximately 35% of working days.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Experience with fundraising for intercollegiate athletics or strong interest in athletics with a demonstrated ability to learn to be able to quickly function at a high level in this environment.
• Management experience and ability to inspire and lead a high performing and inclusive team.
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate with a range of stakeholders across the University with political savvy, as well as the ability to build trust with donors and their representatives, organizational leadership, and internal partners.
• Good judgment and discretion when discussing alumni and parent prospects and ability to build trust and maintain composure in difficult situations.
• Sophisticated and comprehensive understanding of stewardship, donor relations, and fundraising best-practices, including fundraising feasibility and fundraising planning.
• Strong active listening skills, including an ability to ask sensitive questions with tact. Demonstrated ability to uncover interests, motivations, and objections from prospective donors, clients, or others strongly preferred. Someone who is pleasantly persistent while exhibiting sound judgement.
• Willing to learn and embrace new ideas and be flexible and open to change. Must be able to evaluate problems accurately and display good, sound judgment.
• 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. Demonstrate a personal commitment to excellence as well as an ability to admit mistakes and exhibit patience.
• Superb organizational skills and ability to think strategically and conceptually while managing multiple projects.
• Computer literacy required must have experience with Windows-based PCs and prospect databases.

Additional Information

• This position requires a 6 month orientation and review period.
• Please include a cover letter with your application.

Benefits

• 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

About Harvard University Alumni Affairs and Development

Harvard University is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders in many disciplines who make a difference globally. The University, which is based in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, has an enrollment of over 20,000 degree candidates, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Harvard has more than 360,000 alumni around the world. The University has twelve degree-granting Schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, offering a truly global education. Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States.

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