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Senior Associate Director of Alumni Relations and Events

Job Details

Job Summary

This position is responsible for strategic planning, oversight, and implementation of programs and projects that engage alumni, strengthen their connection to GSAS, build relationships between alumni and students, and underscore the key priorities of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. This position also manages and evaluates alumni programs and GSAS events to ensure programs advance the mission and goals of GSAS.

Auto req ID

61290BR

Job Code

304059 Alumni Affairs Manager

Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Business Title

Senior Associate Director of Alumni Relations and Events

Sub-Unit

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Salary Grade

059

Time Status

Full-time

Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Basic Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • 8 years of related experience
Additional Qualifications and Skills
  • Significant experience in alumni relations, volunteer management and event coordination. Work experience in higher education and development settings.
  • Master’s degree preferred
  • Demonstrated experience managing complex events that involve multiple stakeholders; influencing without management authority; building consensus; and developing and tracking goals and metrics to measure event success.
  • Adept at engagement strategy, volunteer management, content development, and collaboration across internal teams.
  • Commitment to delivering excellent customer service, the ability to work collaboratively, and comfort working with ambiguity.
  • Excellent organizational, interpersonal, problem-solving abilities, with a proven track record in developing and implementing strategic solutions. Advanced knowledge of the practices and procedures associated with building and maintaining effective working relationships with all levels of alumni and internal and external constituencies. Ability to establish professional working relationships and interact effectively with diverse groups having competing interests and priorities within the university and community.
  • Ability to interact with senior level administrators, donors/prospects, and colleagues with an understanding of protocol and confidentiality.
  • Advanced written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including skill to produce information that is appropriately presented and effectively received by target constituencies.
  • Proficiency with technology, particularly familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint; proficiency with Zoom and all its capabilities; and CRM databases
  • Experience managing staff, delegating effectively, and providing timely feedback.
  • Sound judgment and demonstrated strength in identifying, analyzing and solving problems with diplomacy while working with diverse populations.
  • Flexible, open, and receptive to new information, ideas, and approaches. Seeks and acts upon performance feedback.
Additional Information

A Cover Letter is required to be considered a candidate for this position.

The position is based in Cambridge, MA. There is a minimum of 3 days per week on-campus..

This position will require domestic and international travel as well as occasional evenings and weekend work.

All formal written offers will be made by FAS Human Resources

Department

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Pre-Employment Screening

Credit, Criminal, Education, Identity

Job Function

Alumni Affairs and Development

Position Description

Event Management
  • Plans, develops, and implements strategies for alumni-specific programs, events, and activities including GSAS Alumni Day, bi-annual meetings of the GSAS Alumni Council, the Centennial Medalists Award Luncheon, departmental reunions, virtual events, and domestic and international events that engage alumni with the intellectual content of GSAS.
  • Collaborates with internal GSAS departments to provide event and logistical support for GSAS Welcomes events, Admitted Students Day, Harvard Horizons, DGS retreats, and other GSAS internal events, including those for admissions, financial aid, diversity recruitment, student affairs, and fellowships.
  • Oversees highly complex Commencement activities and logistics, including outreach to students and departments, overseeing ticketing for various Commencement events, vendor management, liaising with University partners, coordinating staffing for all activities, and participating on University-wide Commencement planning committee.
  • Works to define goals and measures of success at the outset of event planning, and revisit/measure against those goals throughout the planning process and during the debrief. Sets and runs kickoff and debrief meetings.
Volunteer Management
  • In conjunction with the Senior Director of Global Outreach, oversees the work of the GSAS Alumni Council, supports the work of Council committees, forges relationships with Alumni Council members, plans and executes all aspects of Council meetings, liaises with faculty speakers to Council, and prepares briefings for the Dean.
  • Advances volunteer recruitment efforts to promote greater university engagement with the GSAS community.
  • Works closely with the Office of Career Services, the Office of Student Affairs, and academic departments (as relevant) to facilitate connections between alumni and current students to provide engagement opportunities which include, but are not limited to: career advising, career development and mentoring programs, and student engagement.
Operations
  • Prepares and manages annual Alumni Relations budget and serves as primary event budget/billing liaison for partners.
  • Fosters strong working relationships with Development, Communications, academic departments, and other campus partners to advance alumni engagement and to inform our graduate students, alumni, departments and programs, and others regarding our events and volunteer opportunities.
  • Oversees the project management, file sharing, and communication systems for the department to ensure all team members and campus partners have complete visibility into the event production process.
  • Oversees creation and management of project timelines, procedures, plans, and concepts covering all aspects of event production.
  • Provides supervision and leadership of Alumni Relations staff. Build, nurture, motivate and mentor direct reports to achieve goals in support of GSAS mission. Establishes expectations that are clear, well communicated, and related to the goals and objectives of the team, and provide staff with frequent, constructive feedback, including interim and annual evaluations as appropriate.
School/Unit

Faculty of Arts and Sciences

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Physical Requirements

This role involves periodic travel for events management. Physical movement involves walking, stairs, lifting up to 20lbs, moving furniture.

Working Conditions

Harvard University continues to place the highest priority on the health, safety, and well-being of its faculty, staff, and students, as well as the wider community. Please note that all new employees will be required to provide confirmation of primary series COVID-19 vaccination upon hire, as detailed on our COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement Webpage . Harvard University Health Services employees and other healthcare individuals are also required to be up to date on vaccination as described by the CDC. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. Additional information regarding this requirement, exemptions, verification of vaccination status, and other related policies and resources may be found on the University’s COVID-19 Information Website .

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

Company

 Harvard FAS

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences is the home of Harvard’s undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard’s PhD. programs (the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872). The 40 academic departments and more than 30 centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.

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