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 the Harvard Kennedy School?

The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is one of 12 graduate and professional schools at the university. Harvard Kennedy School's mission is to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. By combining cutting-edge research, the teaching of outstanding students, and direct interaction with practitioners, we have an impact on solving public problems that no other institution can match. When you work at Harvard Kennedy School, you make a difference.

Job Description

The Director for Special Projects is a member of the Executive Dean's management team, responsible for advancing high-priority initiatives across Harvard Kennedy School (HKS). This role drives execution of strategic priorities, leads cross-functional collaboration, strengthens administrative effectiveness, and ensures alignment across offices, departments, and centers.

Serving as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the Executive Dean and other School leaders, the Director translates strategic direction into coordinated action, ensuring timely progress and organizational coherence.

The Executive Dean's portfolio includes campus planning and operations, executive education, finance, human resources, information technology, and research and library services. Each of these areas is led by a member of the Executive Dean's leadership team, and the Director will be a member of this team.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Priorities and Execution:

• Partner with the Executive Dean and other leaders at the School in advancing special projects and strategic priorities. The Director will be responsible for ensuring the Executive Dean's priorities are executed.
• Establish and lead cross-functional working groups to develop and implement priorities that further strengthen the administration and operations of the School.
• Complete data and policy analyses to guide informed decision-making.
• Provide regular briefings to the Executive Dean and other members of the leadership team on milestones, challenges, and progress.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Foster collaboration and communication across departments and research centers, ensuring effective coordination and implementation of priorities.
• Serve as a central point of coordination for cross-functional initiatives.
• Support leaders at the School with advancing School-wide objectives, as directed by the Executive Dean.

Operational and Programmatic Oversight:

• Recommend and implement systems and process improvements to enhance administrative effectiveness, in collaboration with leaders across the School.
• Co-lead the Local Emergency Management Team (LEMT), including developing and maintaining emergency procedures and protocols, working with the University's Crisis Management Team (CMT) to ensure alignment with University emergency management, facilitating training and table-top exercises for members of the LEMT, leading response efforts, and assist with developing and executing plans for high-security events.

Executive Dean's Office:

• Oversee daily operations of the Executive Dean's office, ensuring efficiency, responsiveness, and effectiveness.
• Develop systems and structures to support effective electronic record management, create meeting agendas and facilitate meetings, design and execute planning retreats, and create a process for setting and tracking annual goals across the Executive Dean's team.
• Develop and manage workflow, communications, and agendas.
• Create talking points and briefing materials for key institutional meetings and presentations.