Advise and assist students, faculty and other researchers, as
well as departmental research administrators with coordination of
compliant transportation of research materials, including
deployment of scientific equipment abroad or in the field, shipping
of biological samples, chemicals, or other hazardous materials
to/from domestic and international laboratories and field
sites
Advise and support students, researchers, and department
research administrators in planning or setting up efficient and
compliant mechanisms to fund and pay for fieldwork activities or
other related fieldwork operations
Develop practical solutions to fieldwork challenges under
time-sensitive or ambiguous conditions, balancing researcher needs,
operational realities, and institutional requirements
Advise on responses to fieldwork operations adverse incidents
and participate in post-incident reviews to identify lessons
learned and recommend changes to practices, tools, or training, in
coordination with relevant divisional leadership and departmental
partners
Serve as divisional fieldwork operations subject-matter
resource
- Serve as a divisional resource for Science Division units, and
other academic divisions as needed, on international research and
fieldwork operations
- Assist in interpreting institutional policies and regulatory
requirements, and translating them into clear, practical guidance
for diverse field settings (e.g., remote wilderness, marine, rural,
and urban environments)
- Identify recurring questions, training needs, and gaps in
fieldwork practices; and contribute to developing guidance, tools,
and resources to support consistent fieldwork practices and
strengthen divisional capacity for supporting complex research
operations
Support fieldwork safety, research compliance, policy alignment,
and risk mitigation
- Interpret and apply University, School, state, federal,
sponsor, and international requirements related to research
operations and fieldwork activities; help research teams identify
applicable regulatory and compliance requirements (e.g., permits,
research approvals, data protections) and incorporate them into
fieldwork and international research plans
- Advise and guide students, faculty and other researchers on
matters related to fieldwork or research permits, import/export
permits, and other agreements - county-specific/local, USDA, PICs,
MATs, MTAs, Nagoya protocols, etc.
- Monitor policy changes affecting research operations and
fieldwork; analyze implications, recommend process or practice
improvements, and escalate high-risk, sensitive, or
precedent-setting issues to appropriate leadership and University
offices as needed
- Advise Science Division units, and other academic divisions as
needed, on risk mitigation strategies for field-based research,
including researcher safety, emergency communication, travel
guidance, local context, and operational continuity
Coordinate cross-unit partnerships and represent fieldwork
needs
- Coordinate with Science Division units, other academic
divisions as needed, and central University and FAS offices
involved in research operations, global support, travel, research
and academic compliance, procurement-adjacent processes, and
sponsored research administration
- Highlight operational barriers, policy implications, and
compliance challenges related to conducting research in complex
field environments
- Build strong working relationships with faculty,
administrators, central offices, vendors, consultants, and external
partners, and participate in fieldwork-related meetings, special
projects, and operational initiatives as a subject-matter
contributor
Improve fieldwork processes, systems, and training
- Identify operational challenges across Science Division units,
and other academic divisions as needed, and recommend process
improvements to strengthen research fieldwork support, improve
service delivery, reduce risk, and support faculty research
priorities
- Document and communicate operational policies, procedures,
guidance, and training for fieldwork-related activities.
- Assist in developing and delivering training, lunch and learn
seminars, workshops, and online resources on fieldwork safety and
best practices, risk management, and research compliance
expectations
- Conduct outreach to academic departments within the science
division, and other academic divisions as needed, to raise
awareness of available advice and resources for fieldwork and
international research
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required.
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in research
administration, operations, program management, international
research support, fieldwork coordination, or a related area.
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
- Strong understanding of research operations, fieldwork
logistics, international research complexities, and institutional
compliance requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to advise stakeholders, coordinate complex
operational activities, and resolve non-routine fieldwork issues
across multiple units or divisions.
- Excellent judgment, discretion, problem-solving skills, and
ability to make sound recommendations in ambiguous or high-pressure
situations.
- Ability to advise faculty, researchers, staff, and leadership
on sensitive or complex operational matters.
- Strong communication, negotiation, collaboration, and
relationship-building skills across all levels of an
organization.
- Ability to develop procedures, training materials, guidance,
and process improvements that support safe and compliant
fieldwork.
- Familiarity with Harvard systems and international research and
fieldwork policies strongly preferred.
Additional Information
- 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
- Other Information: All formal offers will be made by FAS
Human Resources
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 057. 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.
