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Stewardship Officer

Stewardship Officer

locationUnited States
PublishedPublished: 5/31/2024
Full Time

28-May-2024

Stewardship Officer

Alumni Affairs and Development

65885BR

Job Summary

Alumni Affairs and Development (AA&D) 
Alumni Affairs and Development is a dedicated team supporting Harvard’s advancement activity through front-line fundraising, alumni and volunteer engagement, technology, prospect management and research, business process, events, communications, and many other areas.

Our goal is to create an environment of respect that leverages the many talents, perspectives, and experiences of our employees; to deliver the strongest possible results by incorporating diverse perspectives into our daily work; and to make AA&D a great place to work for everyone. We strive to live our values of respect, inclusion, trust, collaboration, continuous improvement and innovation; and open communication and effective information sharing in our daily interactions and our work.

AA&D is comprised of the University Development Office (UDO), Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, AA&D Resources, the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), and the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

The Stewardship Officer, a full-time non-exempt position on the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Donor Relations team, will report to and work in partnership with the Senior Associate Director of FAS Donor Relations to project manage, research, and write narrative stewardship reports to principal and major donors to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The Stewardship Officer will draft original copy and relationship-advancing correspondence on behalf of academic leaders. The Stewardship Officer liaises with academic departments to collect information for inclusion in reports, ideates stories that illustrate impact, prepares text, images, and design elements in layout for production using desktop publishing software, and collaborates with prospect managers and stakeholders to tailor donor correspondence.

Position Description

  • Organizes and executes the production schedule, content development, and review of stewardship books for the most generous financial aid donors.
  • Develops original content for the FAS Financial Aid stewardship reporting program, including cover letters, beneficiary biographies, and fact sheets, and assists in the review of student-generated multimedia intended for a donor audience.
  • Researches fund usage and drafts content for acknowledgments and stewardship reports, including fellowships and professorship reports to principal gift donors under the signature of deans and administrators; personalizes messages in collaboration with gift officers.
  • Generates ideas for feature stories, design elements (such as visual organization and infographics), and other non-narrative elements (such as images) to aid text in communicating the story of impact in top-donor stewardship reports.
  • Prepares text and images in layout for production using desktop publishing software.
  • Builds and sustains strong working relationships with University leadership, administrators, faculty, and colleagues within AA&D. 
  • Develops comprehensive knowledge of donors and updates relevant files and reporting schedules; documents stewardship activity.
  • May edit and proofread documents produced by colleagues in FAS Donor Relations.
  • Uses all resources available (BSR Advance, FileMaker databases, colleagues, etc.) to complete comprehensive research.
  • As part of the FAS Donor Relations team, works toward the successful execution of the Department’s strategic plan and its business operations.
  • The above covers the most significant requirements of the position. It does not, however, exclude other appropriate and legitimate duties that may be required.

Basic Qualifications

  • College degree from an accredited institution required.
  • Minimum of three years of work experience, preferably in higher education and/or professional writing and program management, preferably in fundraising and/or donor relations.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

  • Five or more years of experience in higher education donor relations/fundraising preferred
  • Professional project management, writing, editing, research and/or proofreading experience preferred
  • Superb writing, editing, proofreading, and research skills, with an ability to identify important information for inclusion in reports and adapt writing to many voices and strong command of English grammar.
  • Exceptional attention to detail and an ability to remain organized while maintaining accuracy, quality, and professionalism under deadline pressure; excellent time- and project-management skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and customer focus, with ability to communicate professionally and diplomatically in a leadership environment, with diverse members of the university community. Able to cultivate and maintain strong relationships with colleagues and administrators.
  • Understanding of an academic and fundraising/donor relations environment, with broad knowledge of and interest in academic subjects.
  • Able to work with confidential information with a high level of discretion. 
  • Able to work without close supervision, make decisions independently, accept constructive feedback, and be adaptable.
  • Strong computer skills: familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel and ability to use Microsoft Teams; ability to find and assess information from Web resources; familiarity with or ability to learn Adobe Creative Cloud products, including InDesign, Photoshop, etc. Knowledge of FileMaker Pro and BSR Advance a plus.
  • Able to meet deadlines or communicate proactively about project obstacles.
  • Strong problem-solving skills, with ability to resourcefully obtain information and overcome obstacles with skill and tact.
  • Able to prioritize work appropriately and adapt easily to changing priorities.

Additional Information

  • This position requires a 3 month orientation and review period.
  • Please include a cover letter with your application.
To learn more about the AA&D team, please visit our Careers site at https://alumni.harvard.edu/careers

To learn more about how Harvard supports diversity and inclusion throughout the University please visit the Office for Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at https://dib.harvard.edu/.

Accommodations: Harvard University welcomes individuals with disabilities to apply for positions and participate in its programs and activities. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please let your recruiter know.

COVID 19 Vaccination Information: 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.

Work Format Details

This is a hybrid position that is based in Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

  • Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
  • Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
  • Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
  • Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
  • Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
  • Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
  • Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
  • Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
  • Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Job Function

Alumni Affairs and Development, General Administration

Department Office Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Code

405012 Admin Professional (N)

Work Format

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Sub-Unit

------------

Salary Grade

056

Department

Alumni Affairs and Development

Union

55 - Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers

Time Status

Full-time

Pre-Employment Screening

Education, Identity

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.

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.

LinkedIn Recruiter Tag (for internal use only)

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