Director, Principal & Major Gifts (International Focus)
$500,000–$500,000 year
HybridCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Job Summary
Manage a portfolio of 75-100 principal and major gifts prospects, achieving monthly visit and annual solicitation and revenue goals. Qualify, cultivate, and steward domestic and international donors, partnering with faculty and administrators to recruit board members and raise funds for research centers. Develop cultivation and solicitation strategies to deepen engagement and grow philanthropic revenue aligned with School priorities. Plan and execute trips with and without School leadership to priority regions, while drafting strategy briefings, follow-up correspondence, and contact reports. Staff faculty and senior administrators in donor meetings and represent ARRD at events. Work nights and weekends, travel as required, and perform other duties as needed.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree
- 7+ years of progressive experience in fundraising in a complex higher education, academic medical research organization, or similarly complex organization
- Demonstrated track record in cultivating, soliciting and closing six-and seven-figure gifts in a complex environment and with international donors
- Direct experience partnering with senior leadership, faculty, and/or board members in a complex organization
- Proficiency in Arabic, Mandarin, and/or Spanish
- Experience in international fundraising
- Demonstrated track record of cultivating relationships with high-net-worth individuals, volunteers, and diverse international donors
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Proven ability to persuade and negotiate with peer leaders and external partners on issues and programs that impact ARRD and the School
- Strategic thinker with a demonstrated ability to develop and implement both long- and short-term fundraising plans
- High degree of political savvy and cultural sensitivity in navigating complex donor relationships
- Strong organizational and project management skills, including pipeline and portfolio management
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex content into compelling cases for support and to communicate HKS' mission effectively
- Experience in a metrics-driven environment; comfort with data-driven decision-making and fundraising metrics
- Knowledge of industry best practices in philanthropy and fundraising
- Familiarity with donor databases (e.g., Advance, Salesforce, or similar CRM)
- Ability to work nights and weekends and to travel as required
- Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
- Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal
- This is a Cambridge based position with expectations to be on campus 2-3 days/week
Desired Qualifications
- Ability to work nights and weekends and to travel as required
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