Senior Director for IT Strategy and Project Management

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Why join the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences?

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics and the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.

Job Summary:

The Senior Director of IT Strategy and Project Management reports directly to the Managing Director of Administrative IT, and plays a multifaceted role in driving impactful outcomes for 25,000 students, 1,800 faculty and instructional staff, and 500 administrative staff. The Senior Director is responsible for aligning decision support, strategy, vision, and project planning across the four Administrative IT (AIT) units (ERP Systems, Platform Solutions, Infrastructure, and Project and Product Management). 

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

The Senior Director partners strategically with the AIT Managing Director, providing insights and decision-making support to advance organizational objectives. Acting as an advisor, provides a wide ranging inputs on strategic and tactical matters. The Senior Director provides strategic coordination to integrate and unify AIT workstreams, connect teams, and facilitate communication between leadership and the organization. They will evaluate departmental metrics to gauge effectiveness and identify areas of improvement. 

Other duties and responsibilities include:

• Advises DCE's Executive Leadership Team (ELT) on collaborations with HUIT, School partners, and vendor relationships.

• Chairs the Project Planning Governance board, assessing proposals, scoping projects, identifying risks, and recommending prioritizations to the ELT.

• Collaborates with the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Dean on DCE-wide processes, guidelines, and operations.

• Represents DCE in University initiatives, including the University Project Review Committee (PRC), which evaluates project proposals for well-defined business case, cost, scope and stakeholder involvement. The PRC provides feedback to proposal teams and recommendations to the University’s IT Capital Review Board.

• Leverages Harvard experience and institutional knowledge to advance DCE initiatives and align the Division with university-wide efforts.

• Guides teams, provides expert advice, and enhances overall efficiency. Fosters relationships across the organization and drives cross-divisional collaboration. 

• Oversees strategic planning and alignment with organizational goals, identifying growth opportunities within AIT.

• Represents AIT externally, liaising with Harvard units, partner organizations, and other stakeholders. Represents the Managing Director in meetings, providing briefings and updates to the Leadership Team.

• Ensures strategic IT service delivery, streamlining processes and leading projects to enhance AIT operations. Identifies evolving needs and skill gaps to support business growth and team career development.

• Liaises with AIT leadership to collect, review, and compile budget input for the annual planning cycles.

• Oversees the Product Ownership model, which defines product visions, manages backlogs, and works as a liaison between the developer, stakeholder and vendor teams to ensure effective communication and timely feature delivery.

• Oversees management of project governance, methodology, portfolio management, and tools and standards for Project Management.

• Manages staff (5 FTE). This includes recruitment, training, performance management, and fostering an inclusive work environment. Responsible for effective staff management and professional development, including hiring of innovative technology talent, mentoring, and performance management. 

Working Conditions:

This position will be based in Cambridge, MA. Hybrid workplace models in place at DCE with a minimum of 2 days per week on campus. DCE or department may adjust these as necessary or appropriate. 

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree 

• Minimum of ten years of relevant work experience 

• Supervisory experience 

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Demonstrated adaptability, versatility, and flexibility in response to shifting conditions. 

• Experience successfully building relationships within and external to IT. 

• Demonstrated skill challenging other’s positions constructively. 

• Ability to direct large, complex cross divisional strategic projects.   

• Experience working across organizational boundaries to achieve results.  

• Demonstrated team performance skills, service mindset approach, and the ability to act as a trusted advisor.  

• Demonstrated skill influencing at all levels to ensure ownership of assigned tasks and objectives.  

• Demonstrated skill facilitating group discussions.

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Compensation Range/Rate (including Shift Differential if applicable): $170K-$210K/annual
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, and Criminal
• Other Information:
  • A cover letter is highly encouraged for consideration.
  • All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

About Us 

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) comprises four academic units serving about 30,000 domestic and international students annually, which allow Harvard to meet the learning needs of intellectually curious and highly motivated students from high school through retirement. Established in 1910, the Harvard Extension School (HES) offers access to Harvard faculty for a diverse community of adult learners, enrolling about 15,000 students. HES offers over 1,000 open enrollment courses — 85 percent of which are accessible online — and provides flexibility through noncredit, undergraduate, and graduate courses, including degrees, certificates, and a premedical program. The Harvard Summer School, founded in 1871, offers around 450 credit and noncredit courses both on the Harvard Campus and online, catering to 9,000 high school, college, and adult learners. Additionally, it offers up to 15 international study abroad programs, hosting up to 300 students each summer. Harvard DCE Professional & Executive Development delivers over 140 noncredit programs annually, reaching more than 3,600 participants through online platforms and its executive development center in Cambridge. The Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement offers about 140 peer-taught courses to approximately 550 active members.

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 061. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.