Associate Director of Development

Posting date: February 20, 2026

External Reference: 002336SR

1. Job Type: Full-time
2. Location: Cambridge
3. School/Unit: Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
4. Salary Grade: 058
5. Job Function: Alumni Affairs and Development
6. FLSA Status: Exempt
7. Term Appointment: Yes
8. Union: 00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

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 Faculty of Arts and Sciences?

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics and the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.

Job Description

Job Summary:

The Associate Director of Development at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education (DCE) will design, implement, and grow impactful annual giving and stewardship programs.

As a key member of DCE’s Advancement team, the Associate Director of Development reports directly to the Director of Advancement, with a dotted-line relationship to Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development. This structure supports close coordination with FAS development teams, alignment of strategy, and access to shared resources.

DCE’s goal is to secure consistent annual support while broadening awareness of the diverse opportunities for engagement across FAS.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Development Strategy

• Set and oversee strategy to acquire, retain, and upgrade non-rated and non-managed donors giving between $100 and $10,000, building a robust and sustainable donor pipeline for FAS Development.
• Develop and direct DCE annual fund strategy, including setting fundraising priorities, ensuring alignment with institutional goals, and coordinating closely with FAS to maximize engagement and opportunity for donors.
• Enforce content standards to ensure all fundraising communications align with best practices and University branding, while leveraging FAS Development resources for strategic insight.
• Lead cross-functional, project-based initiatives that advance DCE’s fundraising objectives, including expansion into emerging donor and volunteer communities.
• Develop, implement, and refine policies and procedures to support consistent, scalable, and effective fundraising operations.
• Attend various FAS, DCE and University-wide communications and staff meetings with marketing, stewardship, annual-giving, and research.

Annual Giving

• Create and provide strategic oversight of annual giving programs in close collaboration with DCE’s Director of Advancement and the FAS Development team, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and revenue goals.
• Direct and manage a portfolio of annual fund priorities, setting goals, identifying value propositions, allocating resources, and evaluating performance to drive sustainable growth.
• Leverage the alumni database to support annual giving strategy, including donor segmentation and accurate management of biographic records. Develop initiatives and incentives that encourage alumni to update their information, ensuring data integrity and stronger engagement.
• Recruit, lead, and manage the volunteer leaders on Harvard Extension Alumni Association (HEAA) Board of Directors Development Committee; partnering with them to establish and grow peer-to peer cultivation and stewardship strategies.
• Collaborate with development colleagues across disciplines, including FAS major gifts and planned giving, to design and execute integrated fundraising strategies.
• Build and maintain relationships with peers at comparable institutions to establish benchmarks, share best practices, and assess program effectiveness.

Donor Stewardship

• Draft and send weekly, personalized gift acknowledgements that reflect donor intent, strengthen stewardship efforts, and reinforce meaningful engagement with the institution.
• Assist with the launch of a new donor recognition society.
• Create new annual fundraising event for philanthropic leaders.

Communication & Collaboration

• Lead and manage donor email communications for annual giving, stewardship, and other donor support needs. Ensure alignment with institutional messaging and DCE/FAS best practices.
• Craft impactful donor and student profiles that communicate giving priorities, celebrating donor impact, and reflecting the transformative value of philanthropic support.
• Partner with communication colleagues to leverage social media in support of fundraising and donor engagement goals.

Gift Analysis & Reporting

• Monitor fundraising performance, identify trends and refine strategies to ensure continuous progress.
• Provide timely updates and strategic guidance to DCE leadership and FAS colleagues.

Working Conditions:

This is a 2-year term position with the possibility of extension.

This position will be based in Cambridge, MA. Hybrid workplace models in place at DCE with a minimum of 2 days per week on campus. DCE or department may adjust these as necessary or appropriate.

Will be required to travel around 20% of working time primarily within New England, and occasionally within the US and International.

The position will be required to work occasional weekends and nights.

Physical Requirements:

Will be required to travel around 20% of working time primarily within New England, and occasionally within the US and International.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in development, advancement, and/or related field

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• 3 or more years of experience in frontline or annual giving fundraising
• Demonstrated success in annual, major giving, or applicable ability, writing fundraising materials, developing cultivation and solicitation strategies
• Events and program management
• Ability to motivate, engage and work with alumni, university officials, faculty, and staff or similar constituencies
• Experience with Microsoft programs and databases
• Ability to evaluate problems accurately and display good, sound, and confidential judgement
• Highly organized, conscientious, and results-oriented
• Excellent public speaking, presentation, and written communication skills required
• Motivated to learn and flexible to change
• Ability to innovate, think strategically and conceptually, manage multiple projects, and handle difficult situations with tact

Additional Information

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Compensation Range/Rate (including Shift Differential if applicable): $100,000 - $120,000/annual
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Criminal, and Education
• A cover letter is required for consideration.
• This is a 2-year term position with the possibility of extension.
• The interview process may include additional assessment.
• All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

About Us

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) comprises four academic units serving about 30,000 domestic and international students annually, which allow Harvard to meet the learning needs of intellectually curious and highly motivated students from high school through retirement. Established in 1910, the Harvard Extension School (HES) offers access to Harvard faculty for a diverse community of adult learners, enrolling about 15,000 students. HES offers over 1,000 open enrollment courses — 85 percent of which are accessible online — and provides flexibility through noncredit, undergraduate, and graduate courses, including degrees, certificates, and a premedical program. The Harvard Summer School, founded in 1871, offers around 450 credit and noncredit courses both on the Harvard Campus and online, catering to 9,000 high school, college, and adult learners. Additionally, it offers up to 15 international study abroad programs, hosting up to 300 students each summer. Harvard DCE Professional & Executive Development delivers over 140 noncredit programs annually, reaching more than 3,600 participants through online platforms and its executive development center in Cambridge. The Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement offers about 140 peer-taught courses to approximately 550 active members.

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 058. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.