Associate Director, Development Administration

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.

Why join the Harvard Kennedy School?

The John

F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is one of 12 graduate and professional schools at the university. Harvard Kennedy School’s 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, we have an impact on solving public problems that no other institution can match.

When you work at Harvard Kennedy School, you make a difference.

The Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) seeks an experienced and mission-driven Associate Director, Development Administration to help grow philanthropic support to the School by providing expertise in gift fund administration and financial acumen.

The Harvard Kennedy School has a demonstrated track record of training the world’s leaders and public servants. Since its founding in 1936, the Harvard Kennedy School has evolved from a graduate school of public administration to a global institution that brings together powerful research, students from over 100 countries, and practitioners from across the public sector to solve the major problems our time.

Established with a gift of $2 million, the Kennedy School also has a long tradition of philanthropy. In FY25, the School had a record-breaking year in revenue dollars, the number of alumni donors and the percent of revenue that came from non-alumni donors who chose the Kennedy School as their partner for impact.

The Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)’s Alumni Affairs and Resource Development is a dedicated team supporting the School’s advancement activity through front-line fundraising, alumni and volunteer engagement, and community building. Our work directly supports the HKS mission 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, we have an impact on solving public problems that no other institution can match.

The Associate Director, Development Administration serves as a key partner to the Managing Director, Development Administration and the Executive Director, Principal & Major Gifts in advancing Harvard Kennedy School’s (HKS) philanthropic goals while ensuring full compliance with University and School fiscal and gift policies. The Associate Director provides strategic oversight of fund management, financial stewardship, and gift administration activities that support the work of the Alumni Relations and Resource Development (ARRD) office, with emphasis on principal and major gifts.

It also provides the finance expertise to ensure the financial sustainability of ARRD activities, and drives expense budgeting, accounting, and financial modeling to support accelerated revenue growth.

This role ensures that gift funds are established, monitored, reported, and utilized in accordance with donor intent and institutional requirements. It plays a central role in maintaining the integrity of HKS’s financial stewardship practices by producing high-quality reporting; conducting research and analysis that informs donor engagement and strategic decision-making; drafting gift terms; and advising fundraisers, School leadership, and research centers. The role also manages the ARRD expense budget and all activities related to current and future fiscal year expense budgeting, and is a key partner to ARRD and HKS leadership in shaping the financial underpinnings of philanthropic revenue growth.

Through thoughtful oversight, exceptional judgment, and strong cross-functional collaboration, the Associate Director contributes to meeting and exceeding ARRD’s fundraising…