Associate Director of Development, Direct Response Marketing

• Full-time
• Work Format:
  Hybrid
• Harvard Job Function:
  Communications
• Union: 00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary
• Salary Grade: 058
• Department:
  Alumni Affairs and Development
• FLSA Status:
  Exempt

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 (ACEDR), University Development and Advancement Solutions (UDAS), the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), and Office of Talent, Administration and Policy (OTAP).

The Associate Director of Development, Direct Response Marketing executes omni-channel campaigns (print, digital, and emerging technologies) for the Harvard College Fund, Graduate School Fund, Athletics, and the 1636 Loyalty Society recognition program. This position translates strategy into comprehensive production plans, data-driven audience segmentation, and coordinated project timelines, managing all campaign phases from planning through deployment while providing expert input on messaging and creative direction, maintaining key partnerships, supporting operational improvements and process documentation, and supervising a Development Assistant Specialist.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Support the Managing Director of Development, Direct Response Marketing with overseeing the strategic direction of direct response marketing channels (print, digital, and emerging technologies) and requesting signatories. Assume team leadership in their absence.

Supervise a Development Assistant Specialist, Direct Response Marketing, who provides key coordination for all DRM projects and inbox management. Develop, train, mentor, and provide backup support for direct report.

Collaborate with the Managing Director to enhance business processes, develop and implement team workflows and project management frameworks, and document process improvements to support operational efficiency and team alignment.

Translate fundraising strategy into a comprehensive production schedule and audience matrix; manage creative and content timelines, workflows, and approvals to ensure successful implementation of a robust, data-informed fundraising calendar.

Track, analyze, and assess project results and trends to continuously refine strategy to maximize revenue and participation.

Provide strategic input and recommendations on audience segmentation, messaging, and campaign optimization using analytics across channels; manage audience strategy including list pulls and segmentation.

Build and maintain productive work relationships with production and deployment partners (mail house, Email Marketing, and Project Management); keep USPS accounts in good standing.

Execute campaign…