Assistant Director, MBA Admissions Marketing & Outreach

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join Harvard Business School?

Harvard Business School, located on a 40-acre campus in Boston, was founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University. It is among the world's most trusted sources of management education and thought leadership. For more than a century, the School's faculty has combined a passion for teaching with rigorous research conducted alongside practitioners at world-leading organizations to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. Through a dynamic ecosystem of research, learning, and entrepreneurship that includes MBA, Doctoral, Executive Education, and Online programs, as well as numerous initiatives, centers, institutes, and labs, Harvard Business School fosters bold new ideas and collaborative learning networks that shape the future of business.

Job Description

Job Summary:

MBA Admissions Marketing at Harvard Business School (HBS) seeks an Assistant Director to play a central role in shaping how prospective students experience and engage with HBS. This role combines strategic outreach, community engagement, and content-driven storytelling to attract a diverse and dynamic pool of applicants.

The Assistant Director will lead outreach initiatives across key markets, build and activate relationships with alumni and students, and contribute to the development of authentic, high-impact marketing content. This individual will serve as a visible ambassador of HBS, representing the School at events globally while also helping to translate on-the-ground insights into compelling outreach strategies.

We seek a candidate with strong judgment, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments, contributing to an engaged and high-performing team.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Outreach Strategy & Execution

• Develop and implement targeted outreach strategies to increase awareness and drive applications across priority audiences and geographies
• Represent HBS at domestic and international events, including conferences, presentations, and small-group engagements
• Plan and execute on- and off-campus events designed to educate and inspire prospective applicants
• Analyze prospect pool data, engagement trends, and funnel conversion to inform strategy and optimize outreach efforts
• Identify emerging opportunities (industries, organizations, geographies) to expand reach and impact

Alumni & Community Engagement Strategy

• Support the development and execution of outreach efforts that engage alumni and students in prospective student engagement
• Build and manage relationships with regional Alumni Clubs, Shared Interest Groups, and individual alumni volunteers
• Collaborate with alumni and student leaders to facilitate small-scale, high-impact engagement opportunities that extend the reach of admissions outreach
• Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment between community engagement efforts and broader admissions priorities
• Contribute to the evolution of engagement approaches by identifying opportunities to deepen participation and connection across the HBS community

Community & Pipeline Development

• Identify and cultivate relationships with organizations and communities aligned with building a diverse and high-potential applicant pool
• Partner closely with the Pipeline Programs team to align college outreach and long-term talent development strategies
• Develop tailored engagement approaches for specific communities, informed by audience insights and market trends

Content & Digital Engagement

• Manage a defined set of outreach-related content initiatives that support prospective student engagement and event marketing efforts
• Partner with the Admissions & Alumni Marketing and Communications Content, Digital, and Production team to ensure alignment with broader messaging and campaigns
• Help surface and shape stories and perspectives from students, alumni, and prospective applicants to inform outreach materials and communications
• Support ongoing prospect engagement efforts through content contributions across channels such as email, web, and event-related communications

Cross-Team Collaboration & Institutional Contribution

• Collaborate closely with Admissions, Digital Marketing, and Pipeline Programs teams to ensure a cohesive prospect experience
• Share insights from the field to inform messaging, positioning, and program awareness strategies
• Contribute to a team culture of innovation, experimentation, and continuous improvement

Team

• Manage a full-time team member
• Support team-wide events such as outreach and yield events, conferences, and other activities as required
• Work closely with Marketing team members responsible for other outreach segments
• Contribute to collaborative culture with willingness to both teach and learn from colleagues

Other

• Opportunity to develop into an Admissions Board Member; training and onboarding to take place over several Evaluation cycles
• Build trust and collaboration by being present on-site and engaging directly with colleagues and various constituents
• Responsible for other duties as assigned

Working Conditions:

• Ability to travel (20%) extensively within the U.S. and internationally. Occasional evenings/weekends as required.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum of 5 years’ relevant work experience
• Experience managing relationships across multiple stakeholders (e.g., community-based organizations, alumni, students, etc.)

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• In addition to the 5 years of experience listed above, we require 2 additional years of relevant work experience
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences
• Strong relationship-building skills and a demonstrated ability to manage external stakeholders
• Experience planning and executing events or outreach initiatives
• Comfort with public speaking and representing an organization in external settings
• Interest in storytelling and content creation (experience with video, writing, or social media a plus)
• Analytical mindset with the ability to use data to inform strategy and decision-making
• Ability to travel and work occasional evenings/weekends as required

Additional Information

• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• Other Information:
  • This is a hybrid position which we consider to be a combination of remote and onsite work at our Boston, MA based campus. HBS expects all staff to be onsite a minimum of 3 days per week and departments provide onsite coverage Monday - Friday. Specific hours and days onsite will be determined by business needs and are subject to change with appropriate advanced notice.
  • We may conduct candidate interviews virtually (phone and/or via Zoom) and/or in-person for this role.
  • A cover letter is required to be considered for this opportunity.

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.