Associate Director of Development, Direct Response Marketing

The Associate Director of Development, Direct Response Marketing executes omni-channel campaigns (print, digital, and emerging technologies) for the Harvard College Fund, Graduate School Fund, Athletics, and the 1636 Loyalty Society recognition program. This position translates strategy into comprehensive production plans, data-driven audience segmentation, and coordinated project timelines, managing all campaign phases from planning through deployment while providing expert input on messaging and creative direction, maintaining key partnerships, supporting operational improvements and process documentation, and supervising a Development Assistant Specialist.
Job-Specific Responsibilities:
Support the Managing Director of Development, Direct Response Marketing with overseeing the strategic direction of direct response marketing channels (print, digital, and emerging technologies) and requesting signatories. Assume team leadership in their absence.
Supervise a Development Assistant Specialist, Direct Response Marketing, who provides key coordination for all DRM projects and inbox management. Develop, train, mentor, and provide backup support for direct report.
Collaborate with the Managing Director to enhance business processes, develop and implement team workflows and project management frameworks, and document process improvements to support operational efficiency and team alignment.
Translate fundraising strategy into a comprehensive production schedule and audience matrix; manage creative and content timelines, workflows, and approvals to ensure successful implementation of a robust, data-informed fundraising calendar.
Track, analyze, and assess project results and trends to continuously refine strategy to maximize revenue and participation.
Provide strategic input and recommendations on audience segmentation, messaging, and campaign optimization using analytics across channels; manage audience strategy including list pulls and segmentation.
Build and maintain productive work relationships with production and deployment partners (mail house, Email Marketing, and Project Management); keep USPS accounts in good standing.
Execute campaign project management across all project phases—including planning, coordination, proofing, and deployment—monitoring partner project manager activity and managing overall timelines, cross-functional dependencies, and deliverables to ensure on-time, on-budget execution and consistent high-quality work.
Translate strategic direction into creative briefs and design recommendations; provide feedback on copy and design development to ensure alignment with DRM objectives and brand; contribute design mockups and direction as needed.
Collaborate with partners and stakeholders to test, explore, and leverage opportunities for donor and revenue growth and process improvements.
Support internal communications that build awareness of direct response marketing and document process and workflows.
Basic Qualifications:
BA/BS degree preferred. Minimum 6+ years’ relevant or transferable experience (direct response marketing, fundraising, annual giving, etc.)
Excellent interpersonal, written, verbal, and visual communication skills
Excellent organization and time management skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, the ability to interpret and report data
Must have excellent computer skills.
You will be expected to work certain events/campus activities, such as reunions each Spring, and participate in department retreats that are taking place on campus in Cambridge, MA.
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
Proven project management skills, including developing and executing direct response marketing plans, managing schedules and budgets, coordinating stakeholders, and assessing performance
Experience managing and developing staff
Track record translating business needs into content-driven solutions
Strong ability to build and maintain positive relationships with peers, alumni, and donors and exercise sound judgment
Collaborative, professional team player with results-oriented mindset and willingness to learn new skills and technologies as best practices evolve
Keen eye for detail; commitment to quality, error-free work
Knowledge of direct mail best practices, web and interactive media, marketing research and analytics highly desired
Prior experience working within a development or marketing is preferred
Knowledge of Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Office Suite, and HTML highly desired; willingness to learn these programs is required

Employment type
Full-time

Work arrangement
Hybrid