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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 DescriptionJob Summary:
Senior administrative leader and strategic partner to the Faculty Chair/s regarding local staff operations and overall management of the administrative grouping (AG). Responsible for ensuring the AG has coordinated, effective administrative support within FAS's federated service model and each unit can deliver on its teaching and research mission.
Job-Specific Responsibilities:
- Strategic partnership: Serve as a strategic partner to the Chair(s), translating academic priorities into operational plans and advising on organizational, administrative, and resource-related decisions that support each unit's long-term teaching and research mission.
- Cross-functional coordination: Coordinate and oversee support from FAS functional teams to ensure the AG receives aligned, responsive administrative support and can successfully advance its academic, research, and operational priorities.
- Administrative team leadership: Manage, develop, and direct local administrative staff, establishing priorities, allocating work, and ensuring the AG has the administrative capacity and infrastructure needed to support faculty, students, and academic programs.
- Administrative project leadership & institutional engagement: Lead and execute departmental administrative projects, coordinate responses to requests and priorities from the division, FAS, and the broader University, and represent the department on committees and working groups, as needed.
- Resource stewardship: Provide strategic resource stewardship (space, trade-offs, grants, donor funds/reporting, delegated contracts, locally managed endowment funds, etc.) to Department Chair and functional team members.
Working Conditions:
- May be expected to work on campus up to 4 days per week.
- 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.
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree, or equivalent experience
- Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible administrative or operational experience
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
- Experience leading a complex performing arts program
- Experience in higher education or similar organizations
- Demonstrated experience partnering with senior leaders, preferred
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy and attention to detail
- Professional written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently and escalate issues appropriately
- Stakeholder coordination and customer-service orientation
- Executive-level judgment with the courage to speak candidly & constructively to senior leadership in service of the institution's long-term interests
Certificates and Licenses:
- Will require completion of internal financial, procurement, or research compliance training
- Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
- Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
- Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Credit, Criminal
- Other Information:
- Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
- Other Information: All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.
- Job Architecture: Academic & Faculty Support Operations, Grade 59, Manager
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 059. 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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
- Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible administrative or operational experience
- Experience leading a complex performing arts program
- Experience in higher education or similar organizations
- Demonstrated experience partnering with senior leaders
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy and attention to detail
- Professional written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently and escalate issues appropriately
- Stakeholder coordination and customer-service orientation
- Executive-level judgment and ability to speak candidly to senior leadership
- Completion of internal financial, procurement, or research compliance training
Harvard Business School Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Harvard Business School and has not been reviewed or approved by Harvard Business School.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off is considered broad, covering vacation, sick and personal days, numerous paid holidays including a winter recess, and paid parental leave. This breadth is positioned as a core part of the total rewards package.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage includes multiple medical plan options alongside dental, vision, FSAs/HSAs, and specialized support for high medical costs. This range of options is framed as competitive with large private employers.
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Retirement Support — Retirement programs include a university tax‑deferred 403(b) with automatic enrollment and escalation plus additional pension/retirement programs for eligible groups. These features are presented as part of a strong long‑term financial benefits offering.
Harvard Business School Insights
What We Do
Founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University, Harvard Business School is located on a 40-acre campus in Boston. Its faculty of more than 250 offers full-time programs leading to the MBA and PhD degrees, as well as more than 175 Executive Education programs, and Harvard Business School Online, the School’s digital learning platform. For more than a century, faculty have drawn on their research, their experience in working with organizations worldwide, and their passion for teaching, to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. The School and its curriculum attract the boldest thinkers and the most collaborative learners who will go on to shape the practice of business and entrepreneurship around the globe. Community Guidelines: We may hide or block persons or hide or delete comments that include obscenities or are explicit, are spam or duplicate posts, spread misinformation, are irrelevant to the post, or are otherwise deemed inappropriate.








