Development Support Lead — Frontline Fundraising

Harvard University; Massachusetts; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO & parental leave

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Wellbeing resources

Family support

Tuition assistance

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Harvard University is seeking an Assistant Director to lead a cohort of development assistants within Alumni Affairs and Development. You will oversee recruitment, onboarding, workload planning, and performance management to support frontline fundraisers.

You will collaborate with HR and senior leaders on policy interpretation, staffing decisions, and training initiatives, while coordinating group leadership across related programs.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of related administrative experience.
• Experience in project/relationship management.
• Onsite work in the Cambridge, MA office on assigned days weekly.
• Willing to participate in department events and campus activities in Cambridge, MA.
• Supervising staff experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day management of a cohort of development assistants including recruitment, onboarding, workload oversight, and providing tools and information.
• Own the full year performance management cycle with set expectations, feedback, and formal evaluations.
• Conduct regular one-on-one check-ins to review workload, training needs, and performance.
• Partner with frontline officers to assess effectiveness and adjust responsibilities to evolving fundraising needs.
• Oversee long-term and interim staffing and projects to ensure high-quality support for fundraising teams.
• Collaborate with HR and the Senior Associate Director on performance concerns, compensation topics, and policy interpretation.
• Help coordinate Group Leader management across FAS Group Leader cohorts with peers to ensure consistency.
• Work with Talent Management to identify skills gaps and design onboarding and development plans.
• Co-plan and execute monthly development assistant cohort meetings with leadership.
• Assign and oversee special projects and process improvement initiatives for development assistants.
• May supervise additional assistants or expand responsibilities as needed.

Skills

Staff supervision

People management

Communication

Relationship management

Problem solving

Change management

Team leadership

Collaboration

Tools

Office productivity tools

Databases/CRMs

Communication platforms

Job description

Harvard University is seeking an Assistant Director to lead a cohort of development assistants within Alumni Affairs and Development. You will oversee recruitment, onboarding, workload planning, and performance management to support frontline fundraisers.

You will collaborate with HR and senior leaders on policy interpretation, staffing decisions, and training initiatives, while coordinating group leadership across related programs.