SUMMARY: The Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) educates design, research, and scholarship leaders to make a resilient, just, and beautiful world. The GSD offers degree programs across a range of design disciplines?architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, urban design, design engineering, and real estate?as well as advanced research programs that cut across these disciplines and a robust public program of lectures, exhibitions, and publications. The immense variety of people, programs, and ideas at the School sustains a vibrant and rich environment for learning, inquiry, and collaboration, unlike any other design school.
GSD?s Office of Executive Education and International Programs seeks an Assistant Director for Programs, within a growing and fast-paced department. The Assistant Director for Programs will serve as the administrator for assigned program(s) and will provide a range of administrative services to the faculty teaching teams and to the Director of Executive Education and International Programs.
Under the Director?s supervision, duties include coordinating faculty, branding and logistics for the global programs, reviewing promotional and marketing materials, and offering suggestions to enhance program content and structure, as appropriate. Maintaining participant relationships and conversations is a key part of this role. Other duties are liaising among faculty team members; coordinating meetings and client calls; and managing logistics related to program delivery and events. This position coordinates key aspects of program development processes, and related documentation and communication activities. Experience working with government policy makers, business leaders, real estate developers, and financial industry executives very helpful.
TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Specific duties include, but are not limited to:
Admission and open enrollment program coordination.
Assisting Director in program generation/design, scoping and planning of new programs.
Managing trainings, meetings, reimbursements, and other project logistics.
Serve as primary liaison for Executive Education with faculty teaching team.
Proofreading and preparing presentations, routine correspondence, meeting minutes, and other materials requested by the Director and faculty teaching team.
Acting as key liaison with other departments within GSD and Harvard.
Ensuring timely submission of program deliverables.
Delivering programs abroad as necessary, ensuring timely delivery of all program outputs.
Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting as requested.
Conducting basic research related to capacity building projects, as requested.
Other duties, as required.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: There are no supervisory responsibilities associated with this position
Please note that in order to be considered for this position, a cover letter and resume are required with the submission of your application.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor?s degree or equivalent work experience required
Minimum of 5 years? relevant work experience
Additional Qualifications and Skills
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor?s degree or equivalent.
Minimum 3-5 years of project management experience.
Requires strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact well with faculty, staff, and project partners in developing countries.
Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
Excellent technical skills including high proficiency with MS Office suite.
Proven ability to proof effective proposals, reports, and papers.
Requires a flexible, adaptable team player with an eye for detail and skills to collaborate with multiple teams with shared accountability in fast-paced, high-energy, rapidly evolving relationships and often fluid and ambiguous circumstances.
Ability and willingness to travel internationally required.
Attention to detail is essential.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Previous experience in an academic/research environment with a focus on design/architecture helpful.
Direct experience and familiarity with business environments and institutions a strong plus.
Ability to work independently without supervision and to develop the administrative framework for the initiatives.
Strong comfort level with social media/networking tools, internet use, and website editing and content management.
Ability to work effectively with a variety of constituents.
Excellent judgment in assessing and understanding cross-cultural cues, on a consistent basis.
Ability to solve problems on site abroad with tact and grace.
Harvard experience in Executive Education very helpful.
Requires a team player with an eye for detail and skills to collaborate with multiple teams with shared accountability in fast-paced, high-energy, rapidly evolving environment.
Physical Requirements
Some lifting of curriculum boxes and classroom set-up may be required.
Applicants must be able to perform typical office tasks, including sitting for extended periods, using standard office equipment, and occasionally lifting up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Working Conditions
Work is performed mainly in an office setting with substantial work taking place in institutional settings. Some lifting of curriculum boxes and classroom set-up may be required.
Candidates must have employment authorization to work in the US, and we regret that we cannot sponsor a VISA.
Additional 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.
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.
Work Format
Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)
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.
About Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Harvard University is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders in many disciplines who make a difference globally. The University, which is based in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, has an enrollment of over 20,000 degree candidates, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Harvard has more than 360,000 alumni around the world. The University has twelve degree-granting Schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, offering a truly global education. Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States.