About: MIT Resource Development & MIT Alumni Association
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Founded in 1861 to accelerate the nation's industrial revolution, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private university organized into five schools (architecture and planning; engineering; humanities, arts, and social sciences; management; science) and one college (computing). MIT is an integral part of its host city of Cambridge, a diverse and vibrant community noted for its intellectual life, history, and thriving innovation climate. With a campus nestled between Central and Kendall Squares, and across the Charles River from Boston’s Back Bay, the Institute is optimally positioned to collaborate with its neighbors and to contribute to its community. The MIT community is driven by a shared purpose: to make a better world through education, research, and innovation.
MIT has placed second in U.S. News and World Report’s 2023-24 annual rankings of the nation’s best colleges and universities. As in past years, MIT’s engineering program continues to lead the list of undergraduate engineering programs at a doctoral institution. The Institute also placed first in five out of 10 engineering disciplines. U.S. News also placed MIT first in its evaluation of undergraduate computer science programs. The Institute placed first in four out of 10 computer science disciplines.
To read about MIT facts and statistics, click here.
Okay so, what if there wasn’t an MIT? From the ethernet to biogenetics – we depend on MIT and here’s why:
MIT Resource Development
The Office of Resource Development serves MIT’s mission by strategically fostering lifelong relationships with alumni, friends, and organizations that result in goodwill and philanthropic engagement.
The Resource Development department staff works closely with the Alumni Association and a network of reunion and fundraising volunteers to generate private support for a broad range of purposes, including undergraduate scholarships, professorships, research, building construction and renovation, athletics, and the arts, among others.
The department takes special pride in their role supporting the MIT community, known worldwide for the application of science, technology, and scholarship to questions of global significance. MIT provides a rare and special setting where people and ideas combine and recombine to illuminate mysteries, make sparks fly, and foster intellectual breakthroughs.
In each of the last four years, gifts and commitments raised have exceeded target, providing over $500M annually to advance MIT’s current, capital, and endowed funding priorities. MIT’s last campaign, The MIT Campaign for a Better World, provided over $6.24b in funding to help the people of MIT tackle humanity’s urgent global challenges.
The Office of Resource Development consists of 12 teams and a number of strategic partners, which contribute to a variety of fundraising initiatives.
The Office of Resource Development's Teams & Strategic Partners:
Julie A. Lucas - Vice President for Resource Development, MIT
Julie A. Lucas
Vice President for Resource Development, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Julie A. Lucas has served as the vice president for resource development at MIT since 2014. She reports to the MIT president and directs the Institute's fundraising enterprise, securing resources to ensure MIT’s leadership in higher education. Her chief responsibility is establishing strategic direction for fundraising teams and the departments that support them. This includes identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major, principal, leadership, and planned gifts to build philanthropic support for the Institute.
In the course of her work, Lucas collaborates closely with MIT senior leaders, deans, faculty, administrators, and volunteers. She serves on MIT’s Academic Council, Building Committee, Corporation Development Committee, Gift Policy Committee, Gift Acceptance Committee, Annual Giving Board, and Steering Committee for Community Giving. She maintains the highest standards for resource development teams, bolsters and strengthens the Institute's advancement community, and showcases MIT’s vision and impact—all in support of MIT’s mission to build a better world.
In 2016, Lucas spearheaded the public launch of the MIT Campaign for a Better World, an ambitious $5 billion fundraising initiative that amplified the Institute’s distinctive strengths in education, research, and innovation, and has advanced MIT’s work on some of the world’s biggest challenges. Under her leadership, the Institute elevated its fundraising aspirations to embrace the tremendous possibilities of the new MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing. In December 2018, MIT’s president announced that the Institute would increase the Campaign goal to $6 billion. In June 2021, MIT completed the Campaign and surpassed the goal, raising a total of $6.24 billion. Under her leadership, the Office of Resource Development has exceeded its annual fundraising target of $500 million for the past eight years.
Lucas has more than 25 years of experience as a development professional and currently serves as chair of CASE 50, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education group that includes the top 50 fundraising institutions in the world. She has held senior roles at various institutions prior to joining MIT, including University of Southern California, Fordham Law School, Hofstra University, and New York University (NYU) and its business and law schools. She earned a BA from McDaniel College, MS from Hofstra University, and advanced certification from NYU’s Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising.
Matthew K. Eynon - Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Resource Development
Matthew K. Eynon
Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Resource Development
Matthew Eynon serves as Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Office of Resource Development at MIT and brings 30 years of advancement leadership experience to his role.
Eynon serves as the deputy to the vice president and is responsible for enhancing the internal organizational processes and infrastructure to allow RD to fulfill its mission for MIT. Working with the vice president and senior management team for RD, Eynon helps establish strategic direction for fundraising programs, direct short-term and long-range plans, develop budgets to support each unit’s goals, and ensure that performance is tracked and monitored. This includes leading and managing the organization’s day-to-day operating activities, building capacity to support future campaigns, and designing strategic planning.
Before MIT, Eynon served as vice president for College Advancement at Franklin & Marshall College. As member of that college’s senior staff, Eynon successfully led the most ambitious campaign in Franklin & Marshall’s history and expanded its advancement division. Prior to that, Eynon served as a member of the advancement senior leadership team at Boston College during its successful $1.6 billion campaign and in advancement leadership roles at Suffolk University, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and two independent schools.
A graduate of Dickinson College, Eynon is an active leader for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). He has served as a member and chair of CASE’s Global Commission on Philanthropy, a member of the CASE Board of Trustees, and co-chair of the CASE Global Reporting Standards & Management Guidelines Working Group. He also served as a CASE District I Board Chair and District I/II Conference Co-Chair. Eynon received the Carol and Stephen Hebert Award for Distinguished Service from CASE District I.
MIT Alumni Association
The MIT Alumni Association (MITAA) is a crucial collaborator in building the MIT community that cultivates in all its members the ability and passion to work wisely, creatively, and effectively for the betterment of human kind. The Alumni Association provides services and resources that strengthen alumni and friend engagement to MIT and each other—across every stage of life—creating an infinite connection around the globe.
MITAA seeks to engage and inspire the MIT global community to make a better world. It serves as a platform to strengthen the ties of MIT’s 146,539 living alumni and its students and friends with the Institute and with one another, and offers opportunities for connection through various resources, programs, services, and channels.
In fiscal year 2023, 60% of living alumni engaged with MIT philanthropically, virtually or face to face. More than 15,000 alumni volunteered in service to the MIT community. MIT Annual Giving reported $84.2 million in gifts, and more than 35,000 alumni, students, and friends gave to MIT.
MIT Alumni Association - Leadership Spotlight:
Whitney T. Espich - Chief Executive Officer, MIT Alumni Association
Whitney T. Espich
Chief Executive Officer, MIT Alumni Association
As chief executive officer of the MIT Alumni Association (MITAA), Whitney T. Espich is charged with ensuring that the MITAA fulfills its longstanding mission to further the well-being of the Institute and its graduates by increasing the interest of members in the school and in each other.
Reporting to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, Espich collaborates with the Alumni Association’s president and board, and with President Kornbluth and Institute leadership, in positioning the association as the platform for MIT’s alumni engagement.
As the MITAA's most senior leader, Espich directs more than 100 staff tasked with connecting MIT’s alumni to its faculty, staff, and students, and with generating broad-based annual philanthropic support for the Institute.
Espich was named MITAA CEO in August 2017. Prior to this role, she served as executive director of communications, events, and donor relations in MIT's Resource Development group, where she played a significant role in launching the public phase of the MIT Campaign for a Better World.
Before joining MIT, Espich worked in Harvard University’s Central Alumni Affairs and Development Office, first as director of university development communications initiatives and then as senior director of strategic marketing and communications.
Earlier in her career, she held communications and management positions at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Citigate Cunningham, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation (Monticello), and Mary Baldwin College.
Espich serves on the board of the Council of Alumni Association Executives and sits on the Council for Advancement and Support of Education Commission on Alumni Relations.
Originally from Virginia, she holds a BA from Indiana University Bloomington, an MA from the University of Virginia, and an MPhil from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
The Opportunity: Executive Director, Human Resources & Strategic Talent Management
The Executive Director (ED), leads the Human Resources (HR) & Strategic Talent Management (STM) team that services both the MIT Alumni Association (AA) and Resource Development (RD). The ED develops and manages the strategy for this shared services enterprise. The ED works with both senior teams to attract talented employees, ensure their strategic engagement and growth, and guide their ongoing performance.
The incumbent will be responsible for building a world-class talent capability to support AA/RD's strategic initiatives and priorities. The key priorities will be used to establish a strategic talent management program that represents best practices in the industry; identify and develop leaders; develop successor talent; and provide strategic direction in the processes and practices associated with the development and retention of AA/RD's talent at all levels. The ED oversees the design, delivery, and implementation of programs and resources that advance the commitment of MIT/RD/AA in belonging, diversity, equity, and inclusion. The ED is accountable for developing appropriate metrics to chart and monitor progress.
Characteristic Responsibilities:
Design and manage all foundational elements of a high performing and integrated human resources unit including functions of: recruitment, retention, promotion, salary and compensation analysis, equity and market adjustment processes, professional development, training, on-boarding, performance reviews, merit increases, employee relations, BDEI programs, and staff development for the HR-STM team.
Create an integrated strategy for talent management that directly supports the business needs of both MIT's AA and RD teams.
Working with the senior AA/RD teams, develop a multi-year workforce plan that builds out the talent needed to achieve AA/RD's strategic goals.
Build a leadership pipeline and talent review process that prepares the organization for growth and improves the depth and breadth of internal talent and skills across the departments.
In accordance with the Institute and Community Equity Officer’s strategic plan in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ICEO), work in collaboration with colleagues to define strategic priorities, as well as develop, implement, and assess programs and policies to advance AA/RD’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Develop a core leadership and management development strategy that equips AA/RD leaders with the basic tools, skills, and process knowledge required to effectively manage their people and lead the organization.
Manage an organization-wide talent review process including development plans for high-potential leaders, management assessment, performance management, and learning and development programs.
Ensure that exceptional talent is recognized and that appropriate strategies are devised to retain the most promising employees.
Define enterprise-wide career development strategies. Assess the internal climate to create relevant training programs. Develop and roll out all training strategies to improve performance.
In collaboration with senior leaders, develop a dashboard of key indicators and metrics to determine progress along the way.
Provide coaching and mentoring to senior leaders to effectively manage their people.
Develop relationships with the MIT community, including School and DLC-based development staff and central HR and compensation to understand and develop programs, as needed.
Provide team-oriented leadership to the AA/RD strategic talent management staff responsible for executing strategy and managing day-to-day operations.
Responsible for effective staff management including hiring and orientation, coaching, training and development, workflow and performance management, and the development of a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and innovative work environment that promotes creativity and innovation.
Benchmark the compensation and rewards and recognition practices to ensure that they support talent management goals.
Manage usage of external search or talent management consultants, as needed.
Manage an AA/RD salary and compensation budget and work closely with Finance and Operations to stay within overall AA/RD budget parameters.
Liaison with MIT's Central HR organization, leveraging connections and MIT policies to help MIT AA/RD.
Represent MIT in the local and national HR & STM industry networks/associations and keep pace with emerging trends.
Understand the business purpose and contributions of the full AA/RD enterprise.
Foster a culture of positivity, collaboration, and excellence.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree required. Advanced degree preferred, particularly in a business or human resources related field. PHR, SHRM, or SPHR certification strongly preferred.
Minimum of 10 years of Human Resources experience demonstrating progressive responsibilities, success, and expertise in talent management, assessment, engagement, and development.
Thorough knowledge of performance management practices. Understands all elements of talent management and professional development.
Experienced strategic leader of a successful team with proven abilities to attract, build, develop, and mentor a small to medium-sized group.
Exceptional communication skills (written, verbal, listening) and a demonstrated ability to confidently and effectively present, commanding and engaging both small and large audiences.
Sound judgment and work ethic, and the ability to think strategically and act decisively.
Extensive knowledge and experience in MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Proven record of accomplishment in a position requiring independent planning and efficient utilization of time and resources, including experience managing budgets.
Exceptional interpersonal skills, coupled with exceptional relationship building and influencing ability, insightful, and intuitive.
Experienced in process improvements, results-oriented, and holds others accountable.
Proven leader in a professional setting.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively on a senior management team.
Experience improving effectiveness through a commitment to building and sustaining a work environment that advances diversity and inclusion, celebrates achievements, and encourages teamwork.
Leadership Characteristics:
Effective and experienced senior leader, capable of partnering with peers, RD/AA leadership, and Institute partners in developing a comprehensive and sustainable plan for human resources, including leadership of innovative approaches to all core HR functions.
Principled leader with the ability to navigate complex organizational settings and integrated unit and functional policies and norms.
Effective and strong communicator, able to rally support and build consensus for a range of ideas, programs, and initiatives in partnership with leaders in multiple units.
Manages people well; gets the most and best out of the team; sets and communicates guiding goals; measures accomplishments, holds people accountable and gives useful feedback.
High levels of resourcefulness; knows how to get things done through both formal channels and the informal network.
Relates well to all kinds of people; makes a pleasant first impression and builds solid relationships.
Skilled at getting individuals, teams, and an entire organization to perform at a higher level and to embrace change.
Effective in a variety of formal presentation settings; commands attention and has executive presence/impact.
Applications & Nominations
To explore this opportunity further, please send your resume in confidence to:
Lisa Vuona has decades of experience in executive search and human resource management, primarily in the non-profit, healthcare and education sectors. She is distinguished by her track record and network, and by her approach, which combines the strategic power of data with a finely tuned ability to understand the client’s organization and identify high-caliber leaders who fit the culture.
Beth Parsons specializes in the education and non-profit sectors, having held fundraising and leadership roles in prominent educational and social impact organizations for nearly 20 years. She partners with clients to develop search strategies on the basis of organizational needs and core values. Her extensive advancement network serves as a source of high-impact talent.
With decades of HR leadership experience, Diane Turek Pire is adept at aligning talent to strategy and culture in support of business goals and positioning human capital to achieve operational excellence. She has successfully built and managed high-performance global teams with a focus on engaging world-class talent, in addition to leading large-scale growth and transformation initiatives.
Don’t check off all the boxes or meet every single requirement? We have learned that potential candidates hesitate when applying for a job unless they meet every single requirement. Boyden Boston is dedicated to inclusivity and valuing diversity and equity in the workplace. If this opportunity excites you, but your background may not be a perfect match, we still encourage you to apply.
Boyden Confidentiality Notice
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MITAA & MITRD - Executive Director, HR and STM - Job Description (PDF Download)
