Career Center

Alumni Affairs and Development
The mission of Harvard University's Alumni Affairs and Development (AA&D) is to foster and sustain a highly engaged, vibrant community of alumni and friends worldwide and to lead the University's engagement and fundraising efforts in support of Harvard's mission. AA&D pursues these objectives via a central organization—comprised of the University Development Office, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Development, the Harvard Alumni Association, and AA&D Resources—which works in close collaboration with the individual Schools' development and alumni relations offices University-wide. The entire central AA&D organization has more than 430 full time employees.

Harvard Alumni Association
The Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) is the University-wide alumni association for Harvard University. It is also the home to the Harvard College and Radcliffe College alumni/ae association and the staff that support them. In its University-wide capacity, the HAA serves alumni of all eleven schools at Harvard in a manner supportive of and complementary to the work of the individual school alumni offices. Harvard University alumni span the globe at nearly 400,000 strong – more than 327,000 are in the USA, with 204 international countries represented.

The Director of Clubs and Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) is a fulltime, exempt position responsible for providing the vision and strategic leadership required to advance all volunteer management, relationship building and programmatic aspects of the Harvard Alumni Associations' current 194 Clubs, 57 Shared Interest Groups, and 42 alumni contacts worldwide. This position involves managing and strengthening a diverse network of alumni volunteer leaders in service to their alumni communities, ensuring that they are informed, in touch, and empowered and that the network is active and engaged. The Director will work closely and collaboratively across the HAA, Alumni Affairs and Development (AAD), and the University to increase alumni engagement and deepen connection with Harvard through strengthening clubs, enhancing support for SIGs, empowering and recognizing alumni volunteers, and ensuring that this robust and important network of communities is connected to the University through programming, communication, and other avenues.

• Provides management oversight and sets strategic direction for the Clubs and SIGs team, consisting of 8 individuals. This includes direct management of three officers (Senior Associate Director and two Associate Directors) with the half-time support of one Staff Assistant. Responsible for supporting and managing the Clubs and SIGs networks to ensure that Clubs and SIGs are connected to the University through programming, communication, and other avenues. Ensures that the structures and resources necessary to support Clubs and SIGs are in place and that alumni community portfolios and program responsibilities are appropriately distributed across the team
• Works closely and collaboratively across the HAA, especially with the Director of Engagement Marketing and the Director of Alumni Engagement and Events, to increase alumni engagement and deepen connection to Harvard through strengthening clubs, enhancing support for SIGs, using data to identify areas of opportunity, and empowering alumni volunteers. Provides expertise in volunteer leadership to a network of 2,000 volunteers who manage 194+ Harvard Clubs and 57+ SIGs and serve as 42 alumni contacts.
• Establishes the strategic direction for the evolution and growth of the HAA Shared Interest Group (SIG) program, in order to provide more scaffolding and support to our SIGs. Works closely with the Associate Director responsible for direct oversight of the program regarding the communication around and the implementation of changes.
• Develops and stewards key relationships with HAA volunteer Directors for Clubs and SIGs. In partnership with Directors, staff liaisons, and other volunteers, identifies, cultivates, and recruits alumni leaders for these roles and, working with them, develops specific strategies to support priority organizations, highlights the work of successful organizations, distributes knowledge across the network, and identifies future leaders. Working with the HAA volunteer VP for University-wide Affairs, Clubs and SIGs, sets the strategic direction each year for the Clubs and SIGs Directors of the HAA Board.
• Analyzes data from AlumniMagnet, Club and SIG annual reports, the HAA engagement survey and other sources to develop and execute strategies, policies, and practices around volunteer recruitment, support and education, member retention, marketing efforts, events and programs, working both within the Clubs and SIGs department and across the HAA.
• Monitors and ensures that the activities of Clubs and SIGs are operating within and in compliance with HAA and University guidelines including Trademark policies, Club and SIG operating guidelines, etc.
• Working with the Deputy Executive Director, sets annual budget and monitors expenditures.
• Sets the strategic direction and priorities for Club and SIG volunteer education efforts and resources. Works in collaboration with the Associate Director of Volunteer Training and Engagement and the Clubs and SIGs team to implement and oversee the work which includes the development of resources (toolkits, guidelines, frameworks) and online and in person conferences and convenings meant for alumni volunteers to learn with and from each other. Works to ensure issues of diversity, inclusion, and belonging are addressed as part of this work.
• Manages the process for recognizing outstanding Clubs and SIGs through the Club and SIG Committee Awards.
• Builds relationships with University-wide alumni affairs offices and development colleagues to enhance alumni connection, help the alumni experience to feel coordinated and leverage information about Clubs and SIGs, volunteers, and alumni to the benefit of the University.
• The above covers the most significant responsibilities of the position. It does not, however, exclude other duties, the inclusion of which would be in conformity with the level of the position.

This position requires a 6 month orientation and review period.

About Harvard University
Harvard University, based in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, was established in 1636 and is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States. The University is home to over 20,000 students and employs 18,000 people, making us the fifth-largest employer in Massachusetts. Harvard is a special place, filled with diverse, energetic, and talented people who are driven to grow and succeed. By working here, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise.

Why AA&D?
We are a dedicated team of 400 alumni affairs and development professionals supporting Harvard's advancement activity through roles that include front-line fundraising, alumni and volunteer engagement, technology, events, communications, prospect management and research, business process, talent management and many other areas.

Harvard's Alumni Affairs and Development team inspires and galvanizes alumni, friends, and members of the University community to support Harvard through philanthropy, governance, and active engagement. AA&D believes a workplace that reflects the diversity of our society and our ever-evolving University constituency makes us a stronger and more effective organization. Our goal is to create an environment of respect that values the many talents, perspectives, and experiences of our community, 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. AA&D strives to live our values of respect, inclusion, trust, collaboration, innovation and sharing of information in our daily interactions and our work.

Discover AA&D and Harvard University Benefits

• Opportunities for internal advancement
• A creative, high- energy, collaborative environment
• Generous Vacation, Sick, Personal, and Holiday pay
• Medical, Dental and Vision benefits starting on your first day
• University-funded retirement plans
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Transportation benefits to help with your daily commute
• Health and wellness discounts, memberships and programs

Additional benefits can be found at https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards

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.

Vaccine Requirements: The University requires all Harvard community members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccine boosters, as detailed in Harvard's Vaccine & Booster Requirements. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University's COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University's

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 10 years' experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, both in person and on the phone.
• Team management experience.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends, including for three HAA Board meetings and events, as well as travel ~10-15 days per year.

• Master's degree preferred.
• Experience in alumni relations, volunteer management and/or organizational capacity building in a university or non-profit setting strongly preferred.
• Professional background characterized by initiative, leadership, creative energy, and well-honed organizational skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure both independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to recruit, motivate, train, and manage staff and volunteers.
• Strong diplomatic skills and proven success managing a wide variety of personality types and difficult situations that can arise.
• Strong problem solving skills and adept at conflict management.
• Demonstration capability for project management and financial management.
• Experience working with computer systems, including knowledge of various Word, Excel, and Outlook programs and familiarity with database management software.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: 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, or any other characteristic protected by law.