Associate Director, Development Administration

The Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) seeks an experienced and mission-driven Associate Director, Development Administration to help grow philanthropic support to the School by providing expertise in gift fund administration and financial acumen.  

The Harvard Kennedy School has a demonstrated track record of training the world’s leaders and public servants.  Since its founding in 1936, the Harvard Kennedy School has evolved from a graduate school of public administration to a global institution that brings together powerful research, students from over 100 countries, and practitioners from across the public sector to solve the major problems our time. Established with a gift of $2 million, the Kennedy School also has a long tradition of philanthropy.   In FY25, the School had a record-breaking year in revenue dollars, the number of alumni donors and the percent of revenue that came from non-alumni donors who chose the Kennedy School as their partner for impact.

The Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)’s Alumni Affairs and Resource Development is a dedicated team supporting the School’s advancement activity through front-line fundraising, alumni and volunteer engagement, and community building. Our work directly supports the HKS mission 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.

The Associate Director, Development Administration serves as a key partner to the Managing Director, Development Administration and the Executive Director, Principal & Major Gifts in advancing Harvard Kennedy School’s (HKS) philanthropic goals while ensuring full compliance with University and School fiscal and gift policies. The Associate Director provides strategic oversight of fund management, financial stewardship, and gift administration activities that support the work of the Alumni Relations and Resource Development (ARRD) office, with emphasis on principal and major gifts.   It also provides the finance expertise to ensure the financial sustainability of ARRD activities, and drives expense budgeting, accounting, and financial modeling to support accelerated revenue growth.  

This role ensures that gift funds are established, monitored, reported, and utilized in accordance with donor intent and institutional requirements.  It plays a central role in maintaining the integrity of HKS’s financial stewardship practices by producing high-quality reporting; conducting research and analysis that informs donor engagement and strategic decision-making; drafting gift terms; and advising fundraisers, School leadership, and research centers. The role also manages the ARRD expense budget and all activities related to current and future fiscal year expense budgeting, and is a key partner to ARRD and HKS leadership in shaping the financial underpinnings of philanthropic revenue growth.

Through thoughtful oversight, exceptional judgment, and strong cross-functional collaboration, the Associate Director contributes to meeting and exceeding ARRD’s fundraising goals, sustaining donor confidence, and enabling effective long-term resource planning.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• In partnership with the Managing Director, Development Administration, draft, edit, and prepare gift terms for  philanthropic gifts.
• Lead the Development Administration team’s fund management and financial stewardship portfolio, partnering closely with ARRD fundraisers, HKS Office of Financial Services (OFS), and the University’s Alumni and Development Services (ADS) to create, track, and manage gift funds.
• Oversee the preparation, analysis, and dissemination of gift fund reports, including balances, contributions, income, and historical activity.
• Research and analyze gift histories, terms, and usage to ensure compliance with donor intent and University policy; advise the Senior Associate Dean of ARRD, ARRD staff, and senior HKS administrators on appropriate fund use.
• Develop and manage tools and systems for tracking gift activity and coordinate ARRD and School-wide ad hoc reporting requests.
• Liaise with the University’s Alumni Development Services on HKS’ pledge reminders to ensure timely and accurate financial commitments.
• Create, manage, and monitor annual and monthly budgets, expense forecasts, and financial projections.
• Assess financial feasibility of fundraising initiatives, and provide financial insights to support accelerated revenue growth and sustainability.
• Provide financial reports and expense projections in collaboration with OFS to support multi-year planning and donor stewardship.
• Ensure that internal ARRD budget tools, processes and accounting adhere to demonstrated best practice in Development.   
• Review existing processes and recommend enhancements to improve accuracy, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, leveraging best practices across the School and University.
• Perform complex financial modeling and ad-hoc analysis using University systems and data tools to support strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, and quarterly reporting.
• Prepare and present summaries, dashboards, and decision-support materials for ARRD leadership.
• Partner with the Senior Associate Dean, ARRD, the Managing Director, Pipeline & Operations, and the Director, Business Analytics & Strategic Planning to tie expense projections and resource needs to revenue forecasts and multi-year philanthropic strategies.
• Build and sustain strong working relationships with key partners across HKS and the University—including OFS, ADS, research centers, academic departments, and student affairs—to ensure coordinated practices, shared understanding, and efficient workflows.    

Other Responsibilities

• Perform additional duties as required or assigned, supporting ARRD’s mission and the evolving needs of the School.
• Uphold Harvard’s standards for confidentiality, data security, donor privacy, and ethical stewardship

Physical Requirements:

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:

• Bachelor's degree and 6+ years of experience in a fundraising office in a complex higher education, academic medical research organization, or similarly complex organization.
• At least 3 years’ experience in Development Finance or comparable team within a fundraising office.
• Demonstrated track record of working on gift agreements and supporting expense budgets and projections.
• Direct experience partnering with senior leadership and fundraisers to facilitate timely closing of gifts and revenue growth.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Degree in Finance or Accounting preferred.
• Knowledge of fund management and financial stewardship principles.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, and ability to explain gift policy and finance rationales clearly and concisely.
• Collaborative, approaches work with integrity and can manage highly confidential information.
• Ability to analyze and explain data.
• Strong knowledge of MS Office and ability to learn new software quickly.
• Ability to work nights and weekends as required.

Additional Information

• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal, Credit

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. 

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. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.