Senior Associate Director, Senior Leadership Engagement

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.

Alumni Affairs and Development 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.

Our goal is to create an environment of respect that leverages the many talents, perspectives, and experiences of our employees; to deliver the strongest possible results by incorporating diverse perspectives into our daily work; and to make AA&D a great place to work for everyone. We strive to live our values of respect, inclusion, trust, collaboration, continuous improvement and innovation; and open communication and effective information sharing in our daily interactions and our work.

AA&D is comprised of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, Advancement Communications, Events & Donor Relations (ACED), University Development and Advancement Solutions (UDAS), the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), and Office of Talent, Administration and Policy (OTAP).

The Senior Leadership Engagement team manages and implements donor and alumni engagement activities involving the President, Provost, Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Dean, SEAS Dean, and additional FAS academic leadership of Harvard University. These activities include planning AA&D-focused travel, facilitating event participation, and organizing donor and prospect meetings. To do this, the team builds strategic partnerships with AA&D colleagues from across the University to help coordinate and facilitate alumni engagement, donor cultivation and stewardship opportunities, with University and FAS leadership.

This is a strategic leadership position within the Senior Leadership Engagement team and includes management responsibilities for an assistant director, a coordinator, and an additional assistant director with a dotted line. The position is responsible for establishing and overseeing best practices related to supporting FAS academic leaders in trips, prospect meetings, and event participation. As part of this responsibility, the role serves as a strategic thought partner with FAS Development leadership and fundraisers to ensure that FAS academic leaders’ development time is aligned with fundraising objectives.

In addition to leadership responsibilities, this position also carries the FAS Dean’s portfolio and other FAS academic leaders, including but not limited to: itinerary and visit pipeline management, communication with prospects, briefing review, coordination with event hosts, trip logistics oversight, and partnership with academic leaders’ offices.

• Works with the Executive Director, Director, and FAS Development leadership to develop fiscal-year plans for FAS academic leaders and administrators, including virtual visits, travel plans, event participation, and other FAS development needs.

• Serves as a key partner to the FAS management team and regional leads to ensure effective engagement of FAS academic leaders with donors, volunteers, and prospects. This includes developing reporting processes, establishing criteria for engagement activity, and prioritizing leadership time.

• Manages and oversees the work of two assistant directors supporting the FAS leaders and a coordinator.

• Oversees all data management practices of the SLE team. This includes implementing tracking best practices, ensuring team…