Assistant Director, Special Projects, Direct Response Marketing

at  Harvard University

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Assistant Director serves as the project manager responsible for working with key partners primarily Athletics and the Harvard College Fund. They will guide and implement fundraising appeal projects with a data-driven, audience-first approach and pilot new strategies to advance DRM’s program.

• Establish a framework that prioritizes special projects, coordinates with DRM strategy, aligns with goals, and fosters trust among partners
• Assist in developing strategies, tactics, and plans in response to partner program needs
• Develop project timelines balancing other audience outreach, partner goals and capacity, and DRM production schedules
• Serve as project manager for all partner/pilot projects, guiding from kickoff through asset coordination, content gathering, reviews, feedback, and approvals, and ensuring projects are completed successfully on time and on budget
• Coordinate with partners on appeal elements like list pulls and visual assets, requesting support as needed from DRM Development Assistant and Resource teams
• Work with DRM project managers to consider capacity of email and print appeal production partners and ensure adherence to established procedures
• Prepare content for production, such as vendor and delivery instructions, and communicate directly with print and email partners
• Track results and timeline needs to assess performance, trends, and timing and make recommendations that optimize results
• Develop and maintain appeal project templates that create efficiencies, follow brand guidelines, and align with DRM best practices. Proactively update to adjust to performance and innovation.
• Build deep understanding of donor and prospect giving motivations through analysis and partner engagement.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BS required. Minimum 3+ relevant or transferable experience
• Excellent interpersonal, visual, and written communications skills, comfortable speaking in group settings
• Strong organization and time management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, the ability to work with, interpret, and report data
• Strong attention to detail

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Ability to establish good working relationships with peers and manage expectations
• Collaborative, professional, results-oriented team player with a willingness to learn/proactively acquire new skills as technologies and best practices evolve
• Ability to work independently and prioritize in a complex organizational environment
• Shows creativity and intellectual curiosity, as well as initiative and flexibility
• Must have excellent computer skills. Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite is required.
• Experience with databases and platforms desired (such as Advance, ThankView, Adobe Suite, Salesforce Marketing Cloud and social media platforms). A willingness to learn these programs is required.
• Knowledge of direct response marketing practices highly desired

• Establish a framework that prioritizes special projects, coordinates with DRM strategy, aligns with goals, and fosters trust among partners
• Assist in developing strategies, tactics, and plans in response to partner program needs
• Develop project timelines balancing other audience outreach, partner goals and capacity, and DRM production schedules
• Serve as project manager for all partner/pilot projects, guiding from kickoff through asset coordination, content gathering, reviews, feedback, and approvals, and ensuring projects are completed successfully on time and on budget
• Coordinate with partners on appeal elements like list pulls and visual assets, requesting support as needed from DRM Development Assistant and Resource teams
• Work with DRM project managers to consider capacity of email and print appeal production partners and ensure adherence to established procedures
• Prepare content for production, such as vendor and delivery instructions, and communicate directly with print and email partners
• Track results and timeline needs to assess performance, trends, and timing and make recommendations that optimize results
• Develop and maintain appeal project templates that create efficiencies, follow brand guidelines, and align with DRM best practices. Proactively update to adjust to performance and innovation.
• Build deep understanding of donor and prospect giving motivations through analysis and partner engagement