Associate Director, Prospect Research

Company Description

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.

Harvard Medical School's mission is to nurture a diverse, inclusive community dedicated to alleviating suffering and improving health and well‑being for all through excellence in teaching and learning, discovery and scholarship, and service and leadership.

You’ll be at the heart of biomedical discovery, education, and innovation, working alongside world‑renowned faculty and a community dedicated to improving human health. This is more than a job – it’s an opportunity to shape the future of medicine.

Harvard Medical School (HMS) seeks an Associate Director of Prospect Research to play a key role in advancing our fundraising strategy through high‑quality pipeline development, prospect research, due diligence, and data‑driven insights. Reporting to the Director of Development/Prospect Research, the Associate Director helps to develop proactive prospecting and pipeline development strategies utilizing data mining, predictive modeling, relationship mapping, and assists the team in effectively utilizing data and modern tools—including AI enabled solutions—to work more efficiently and effectively.

The ideal candidate is an experienced research professional who is comfortable working with large datasets; has strong analytical and writing skills; exercises excellent judgment around reputational risk; and is curious about how emerging technologies can responsibly support research and decision making.

• Partner with the Director of Research to strengthen and expand the prospect pipeline through the identification, evaluation, and prioritization of high‑potential donor prospects using evolving research tools, screening resources, and data analytics.
• Develop and implement proactive prospecting and pipeline development strategies utilizing data mining, predictive modeling, relationship mapping, and wealth and affinity analysis to identify new major and principal gift prospects and support data‑driven portfolio growth and fundraising strategy.
• Collaborate closely with principal and major gift officers to identify, qualify, and strategically advance prospects through the fundraising pipeline in alignment with institutional priorities and fundraising goals.
• Partner with and participate in prospect strategy discussions with frontline fundraising teams to support portfolio development and prospect strategy by providing actionable research, analysis, and recommendations on donor capacity, inclination, interests, and engagement.

• Conduct in depth research on current and potential donors, including biographical, business, philanthropic, and financial information.
• Prepare clear, concise, and well‑organized research products (profiles, briefings, memos, landscape scans) for senior leadership and frontline fundraisers.
• Analyze wealth indicators and philanthropic behavior to estimate giving capacity and identify strategic opportunities for principal and major gift cultivation.
• Monitor news, public filings, and other sources to keep stakeholders informed of developments affecting key prospects and donors.

• Lead or oversee due diligence reviews on high‑priority prospects and institutional partners, with attention to litigation, regulatory actions, sanctions and watchlists, corruption and fraud, and other activities that may conflict with HMS’s mission and values.
• Summarize findings in balanced, evidence‑based assessments that clearly distinguish fact from allegation, convey levels of risk, and outline any ambiguities or limitations.
• Collaborate with Development leadership and other campus partners on the integration of due diligence into gift acceptance and prospect strategy decisions.

• Work with Development…