Senior Director, Principal Gifts

Location: Hybrid presence in Cambridge, Massachusetts; work performed remotely must be from a Harvard-registered US state. Occasional evenings, weekends, campus events, donor meetings, and domestic or international travel may be required.

Company

hirify.global Central Administration supports the university's schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities, while Alumni Affairs and Development advances fundraising and engagement.

What you will do

• Manage approximately 50 principal-gift prospects, donors, and volunteer leaders with capacity for gifts of $10 million or more.
• Develop engagement strategies, gift opportunities, proposals, solicitations, and stewardship plans for 8- and 9-figure gifts.
• Build relationships with high-net-worth individuals, philanthropic representatives, university leaders, and volunteers.
• Coordinate with fundraisers and service teams across Harvard to advance school-based, central, and university-wide priorities.
• Plan and support strategic donor visits and events, including briefing senior academic administrators and faculty.
• Advise colleagues on prospect strategies and represent University Development with professionalism and discretion.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and at least 12 years of related experience.
• Demonstrated success engaging high-net-worth individuals and securing multimillion-dollar, complex, principal-level gifts.
• Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work with university leadership, staff, donors, and donors' financial and legal advisors.
• Intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, discretion, adaptability, and strong relationship-building skills.
• Computer literacy, including Windows-based PCs, prospect databases, and videoconferencing platforms.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative environment centered on respect, inclusion, trust, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance starting on day one.
• Paid time off, including parental leave, and retirement plans with university contributions.
• Wellbeing, mental health, family, and caregiver support.
• Professional development, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, discounts, and campus perks.

Hiring process

• Submit a cover letter with the application.
• Pre-employment screening includes identity and education verification.
• The position includes a six-month orientation and review period.