Posting date: October 14, 2026
Reference: 004015SR
- Job Type: Full-time
- Location: Cambridge
- School/Unit: Harvard Kennedy School
- Department: Alumni Relations and Resource Development
- Salary Grade: 054
- Job Function: General Administration
- FLSA Status: Non-exempt
- Term Appointment: No
- Union: 55 - Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers
- Work Format: Hybrid
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.
Job Description
The Development Coordinator, PMG (Principal and Major Gifts) works in partnership with and provides administrative support to two Principal Major Gift fundraisers who are charged with raising funds and planning and executing prospect strategy, cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation for Harvard Kennedy School (HKS).
Working independently and as part of a team in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, the Development Coordinator is responsible for day-to-day administrative support, such as updating prospect activity and tracking progress, calendaring, making travel arrangements, drafting and proofreading prospect briefings and materials, report generation, database maintenance, and assisting with projects related to assigned HKS research centers and regional-based fundraising portfolios.
The Development Coordinator may also coordinate selected department-wide resources, workflows and strategies, in addition to providing customer service to Alumni Relations and Resource Development staff members, the HKS Dean’s Office, HKS faculty, staff, and research centers, donors, and alumni.
Job-Specific Responsibilities:
- Provides general office support including but not limited to responding to phone and email inquiries, maintaining calendars, filing, and managing updates in the development database.
- Pulling, reviewing with fundraiser, and updating fundraiser’s detailed prospect list (marked with stage codes, quarter of solicitation, proposal designation, ask amounts, next steps) and their monthly activity reports showing progress to fundraiser’s conversion, visit and solicitation targets, weekly.
- Calendaring for donor and faculty meetings.
- Coordinates travel arrangements including international travel for supervisors and others as required. Drafts accurately detailed itineraries.
- Updating weekly next steps on prospects in each fundraiser’s portfolio.
- Taking information from each donor visit, drafting contract reports (required for getting credit for a visit), entering into database.
- Creating shell briefings for HKS leadership and faculty visits with that fundraiser’s prospects.
- Creating and revising curated prospects lists with staging and next steps for fundraisers work with Centers and on Dean’s priorities.
- Liaising within ARRD and across the School with non-frontline teams on donor-related items, such as issues related to stewardship and event prep.
- Prepping materials for fundraiser’s standing meetings with Centers.
- Provides first look research and vetting for new prospects to determine whether they have capacity and are philanthropic.
- Researches prospects and program information; performs routine data pulls, reporting, and data analysis as needed using Advance, QlikView, MS Word, and/or Excel.
- As a member of the Alumni Relations and Development Office team, takes on critical project work as needed. This may include working on fundraising project planning efforts, staffing development committee meetings or events, and drafting reports and presentations.
The above covers the most significant responsibilities of this position. It does not, however, exclude other duties including coverage for the PMG group as needed, the inclusion of which would be in conformity with the level of the position.
Working Conditions: Primary work takes place in an office environment. Some tasks may require being on campus or in other off-site locations for a period of time. Sitting or standing for periods of time. Some repetitive motion
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
2 or more years of administrative and customer service support experience. Prior experience with complex calendar, expense, and travel itinerary management.
A complete application must include a cover letter and resume.
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
- Must be highly organized, collaborative, focused, adaptable, reliable, self-motivated, and able to work effectively with people from different backgrounds and experience.
- Strong interest in higher education and a working knowledge of national and global policy issues is required.
- Excellent organizational skills required. Detail oriented, efficient, and capable of managing assignments from multiple sources at once while meeting project deadlines.
- Ability to interface with senior University leaders and high-capacity donors with collegiality and discretion.
- Ability to be a resourceful and confident critical thinker who can anticipate work and adapt proactively and decisively within a busy office with competing demands.
- Efficient manager of time and schedules.
- Work experience in a development office preferred.
- Strong knowledge of MS Office and ability to learn new software quickly.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage highly confidential information.
- Bachelor's Degree preferred.
- Ability to work occasional nights and weekends.
Additional Information
- Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
- Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
- Pre-Employment Screening: Identity
- Other Information: This position is based on our campus in Cambridge, MA and required to work on campus at least 2 days/week.
- Application instructions: A complete application must include a cover letter and resume.
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 054. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.
Benefits
Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Generous paid time off including parental leave
- Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
- Retirement plans with university contributions
- Wellbeing and mental health resources
- Support for families and caregivers
- Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
- Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks
Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.