Director of Development Communications | Harvard University Kennedy School - Military Veterans

Job Summary ? ? The Director of Development Communications leads strategic communications efforts to support alumni engagement and fundraising at the Harvard Kennedy School as key member of the Alumni Relations and Resource Development (ARRD) senior team. They will lead a team of three communications professionals and work cross-functionally to advance HKS's vision and fundraising goals. Responsibilities include developing and implementing an integrated communications and marketing plan to engage donors, alumni, and friends across various channels, and for producing content and fundraising materials that highlight the impact of engagement and contributions. ? ? ? The Director will collaborate closely with HKS's Office of Communications and Public Affairs (OCPA), leadership, and other departments to ensure messaging aligns with the school's strategy and University initiatives. They will also work closely with the University Development Office, the Harvard Public Affairs and Communications office, and external volunteer committees. The ideal candidate has a track record of successful multi-channel campaigns and strategic skills to coordinate internal and external communications efforts. ? Position Description ? ? Communic a tions Management : Oversee ARRD's communications and marketing plan and directly manage three communications professionals with responsibility for donor and alumni communications, marketing and promotional materials, digital data management and analysis, alumni and event collateral development, insignia production and brand management, and media release drafting related to donor gifts, and ensuring alignment within HKS donor and alumni communities. Manage communications to all alumni and prospective and existing donors through various publications, direct mail, online communications, and programming opportunities on and off campus in conjunction with Alumni Relations, the HKS Fund, Individual Giving, Events, Academic and Development Coordination, and Stewardship teams. Manage internal communications for the ARRD team through regular meetings, internal communications via Teams channels and a SharePoint site, and fostering collaboration across the office. Serve as a member of ARRD's Senior Leadership Team providing strategic advice and guidance to the Senior Associate Dean. Develop and maintain effective communication practices and information sharing across the ARRD team. Create new communications and marketing efforts to drive key initiatives including financial aid fundraising, alumni data confirmation, and digital first efforts for all collateral. Strategic Planning and Coordination : Develop a data-based and outcome-focused ongoing communications and marketing strategy for outreach efforts with alumni, donors, and friends of the Kennedy School. Analyze engagement metrics across ARRD, providing insight on effectiveness and ideas to improve or streamline processes. Regularly share insights and recommendations with the team to enhance communications strategies. Serve as a key liaison across HKS stakeholders around development-related communications. Collaborate closely with OCPA colleagues on content and messaging for key channels including the alumni magazine and social media to infuse messaging that reinforces a culture of philanthropy. Partner with senior colleagues and the Senior Associate Dean in ongoing planning. Draft and review coordination of donor related materials for the University Development Office. Report out and work closely with development communications leaders across the University to coordinate messaging, strategies, and tactics. Ensure adoption of accessibility compliant practices across all communications platforms and collateral. Content Creation and Production : Lead development and design of email banners and templates, gift cases and stewardship design, key branded/insignia products, and other materials. Work with the Dean's staff to draft high-level remarks for alumni and donor events and other targeted speaking platforms when appropriate. Create talking points and draft responses to emerging alumni and donor concerns. Generate content for and oversee design and development of materials related to ARRD activities including the Annual Report of Giving & Alumni Engagement and alumni section of the website. ? Basic Qualifications ? ? Bachelor's degree required, with a minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible communications and marketing experience with direct and indirect management/supervisory experience required. Experience working in development communications, marketing, or university public affairs is also required . ? Additional Qualifications and Skills ? ? Graduate degree in a related field highly preferred. Prior experience in website management, e-marketing/ communications and social media highly desired. Must have proven ability to function effectively and to successfully oversee major institutional projects within a highly decentralized environment. Must exhibit good judgment, diplomacy, and effective management skills as well as an ability to think strategically, creatively, and operationally. The ability to work independently, collegially across departmental boundaries, and as part of a team and to work under deadline is also required . The nature of contemporary communications demands constant awareness of the changing landscape of social media and methods of conveying information. The Director should demonstrate thought leadership in applying new technologies and messaging to engage key constituencies. ? Additional Information Learn more about our work culture and see yourself at Harvard Kennedy School. We regret that the Harvard Kennedy School does not provide visa sponsorship. Harvard University requires pre-employment reference and background checks. Harvard University is committed to supporting a healthy, sustainable learning and working environment. This is a hybrid position based on our campus in Cambridge, MA. As a campus-based institution, we place a high value on the in-person experience, cross-team collaboration, and strong community building in order to create a vibrant campus for our students, faculty, staff, and research fellows. The position is required to work in-person on campus a minimum of three days per week during the academic year. Specific days and schedule will be determined between you and your manager. The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up-to-date on CDC-recommended vaccines. Salary Range : $102,300 - $179,100 Note: Starting salaries typically fall in the lower half of the salary range; however, they are ultimately determined by the scope of the position, the candidate's relevant experience, and internal equity. Benefits We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (