Associate Dean for Development & Alumni Relations – Harvard Graduate School of Design
Position Description:
Job Summary :
The Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) educates leaders in design, research, and scholarship to make a resilient, just, and beautiful world. The GSD offers degree programs across a range of design disciplines—architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, urban design, design engineering, and real estate—as well as advanced research programs that cut across all of these disciplines, and a robust public program of lectures, exhibitions, and publications. Taken together, the immense variety of people, programs, and ideas represented at the School sustains a vibrant and rich environment for learning, inquiry, and collaboration unlike that of any other design school.
The School seeks an experienced, inclusive, and forward-thinking fundraising leader for the role of Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations. The Associate Dean is responsible for advancing the mission of the GSD through strategic planning and leadership in the formation and execution of a comprehensive fundraising strategy. A member of the School’s senior leadership team, the Associate Dean builds strong relationships with the School’s stakeholders and donors and develops, prioritizes, and implements fundraising and alumni relations strategies.
Reporting to the Dean of the GSD and working in close liaison with the University Development Office, the Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations serves as the School’s principal strategist for all aspects of external relations and leads a team of 20+ staff. The Associate Dean will be a highly valued and visible resource and partner to the GSD’s Dean, senior leadership, faculty, researchers, and administrative colleagues. We seek a creative and collaborative fundraising professional who can identify and tap non-traditional sources, as well as foundations, corporations, international prospects, and our alumni base, to grow support for the GSD’s mission.
Position Description :
-Works closely with the Dean in the design, planning, and execution of a multi-year external relations plan that establishes goals and objectives for the GSD.
-Works closely with the Dean, senior administrative staff, faculty leadership, and the University, to shape the case for support for the School and its core messages.
-Establishes a program of engagement and cultivation that strengthens the School’s relationships with donors, prospective donors, and alumni leadership. Develops relationships with volunteers, which deepen their engagement with the GSD, the University, and each other.
-Assists the Dean, and other senior academic and executive leadership, in their engagement with School prospects, including developing donor strategy, overseeing advance preparation and briefings, and orchestrating follow-up.
-Recruits, retains, develops, and directs a high-performing fundraising and alumni relations staff in a highly competitive marketplace.
-Nurtures culture of philanthropy and relationship building. Educates faculty and staff about how relationships are developed, cultivated, stewarded, and recognized. Understands and utilizes the science of fundraising, including appropriate analytics in keeping with industry best practices.
-Establishes and maintains a framework of accountability for the GSD’s external relations activity, ensuring that the department measures and reports on fundraising progress and creates a shared framework of accountability for fundraising results.
-Working in close collaboration with the GSD Communications Office, plans, designs, and executes a strategic communications plan incorporating key messages directed to key constituencies.
-Serves as the primary liaison for all major committees comprised of external constituents.
-As a member of the senior management team, participates in strategic planning efforts and ensures that fundraising efforts are aligned with strategic priorities and direction.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervises a team of 20+ development and alumni relations staff at the GSD.
Basic Qualifications :
-Bachelor’s degree required. Minimum of 10 years experience in development and alumni relations.
-Experience developing and managing fundraising and alumni relations teams.
-An interest in design, design education, and the role of the GSD at the University and in the various design and professional fields in which the School plays a leadership role.
-Experience working with academic leadership and faculty in an external relations context.
-Demonstrated ability using best practices and analytical tools to plan, measure, and evaluate fundraising and alumni relations programs.
Additional Qualifications and Skills :
-Advanced degree and experience in a design/arts environment preferred.
-Demonstrated ability to plan and execute a multi-faceted external relations effort in a complex, decentralized university environment required.
-Experience cultivating and soliciting major- and principal-gift donors; working with academic leaders and faculty on donor relationships; and developing and mentoring fundraising staff.
-Experience working as a member of a senior leadership team in a collaborative and entrepreneurial context.
-A record of accomplishment of effective collaboration across traditional boundaries and roles.
-Proven ability to lead staff and volunteers toward shared objectives in a complex and dynamic environment.
Ability and willingness for extensive travel is required.
-Occasional evening and weekend work required.
Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.
The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up-to-date on CDC-recommended vaccines.
[Full-Time (Salaried)] Salary Range: 150000-220000
Schedule Requirements:
Minimum Requirements:
Physical Requirements :
The position involves frequent use of computer keyboard and mouse. This position requires extensive travel. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Working Conditions :
This position will be based in Cambridge, MA. Flexible work options for this role will be discussed during the interview process.
Additional Information :
The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up-to-date on CDC-recommended vaccines.
For more information about Harvard GSD see: https://www.gsd.harvard.edu/
Level of English Required: Advanced/Fluent
How to Apply:
https://jobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/home/HomeWithPreLoad?PageType=JobDetails&partnerid=25240&siteid=5341&Areq=62791BR