Position Details
- Job Type: Full-time
- Location: Cambridge
- School/Unit: Harvard Business School
- Department: Advanced Leadership Initiative
- Salary Grade: 057
- Job Function: Communications
- Work Format: Hybrid
- FLSA Status: Exempt
- Term Appointment: No
- Union: 00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary
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.
The Advanced Leadership Initiative (ALI) is an innovative, University-wide academic fellowship program designed to help experienced leaders apply their knowledge, skills, and leadership capabilities to solve some of society’s most pressing challenges. Over an academic year in-residence, ALI provides a diverse, global community of accomplished leaders with interdisciplinary learning, leadership development, and collaboration in preparation for a next chapter of service and social impact.
Job Description
Job Summary:
The Marketing Manager partners with ALI leadership to develop and execute integrated marketing and communications strategies which advance the visibility, reputation, engagement, and impact of the Initiative. The Marketing Manager will serve as ALI’s lead day-to-day marketing resource and a trusted thought partner to leadership, translating the Initiative’s mission, distinctive Fellowship experience, community, and impact into compelling communications for prospective Fellows, current participants, alumni, faculty, partner organizations, and other external audiences.
This is a broad, integrated marketing role offering the selected candidate meaningful and gratifying impact on program growth and development through the combination of strategic planning with hands-on execution across brand and positioning, recruitment marketing and partnership development, content and storytelling, digital communications, social media, events, community engagement, and analytics. Reporting to the Managing Director, Selection and Coalition, the Marketing Manager will leverage their marketing expertise, audience insight, and strong editorial judgment to help shape ALI’s marketing priorities.
Job-Specific Responsibilities:
- Develop and continuously refine an integrated marketing and communications strategy aligned with ALI’s mission, Fellowship recruitment, programming, alumni engagement, and broader positioning.
- Use audience insights, performance data, market trends, external best practices, and marketing expertise to recommend priorities, campaigns, channels, investments, and opportunities to expand ALI’s visibility, reputation, and reach.
- Translate strategic priorities into measurable, multichannel marketing plans and campaigns that communicate and strengthen ALI’s positioning, value proposition, Fellowship experience, community, and impact.
- Lead Fellowship recruitment marketing and new and existing partner organization outreach by developing targeted campaigns, compelling prospective-Fellow communications, recruitment collateral, and building relationships with professional membership organizations and other candidate pipeline partners.
- Develop and execute an integrated content strategy that brings ALI’s mission and impact to life through compelling stories about Fellows, alumni, faculty, projects, collaborations, leadership, and social impact.
- Write, edit, and produce high-quality content and communications for websites, newsletters, email campaigns, social media, presentations, reports, program materials, profiles, event communications, and other audiences and channels.
- Manage and continuously improve ALI’s website, social media, email, and broader digital presence, applying SEO/AEO/GEO/AISO, accessibility, user-experience, and digital content best practices to strengthen discoverability, engagement, and audience experience.
- Strengthen engagement across the ALI community by developing communications that connect current Fellows, alumni, faculty, partners, and other stakeholders; showcase alumni accomplishments and impact; and encourage continued participation in programs, events, networks, and communities of interest.
- Lead marketing and communications for ALI programs and events, including information sessions, seminars, symposia, speaker programs, convenings, and alumni activities, with coordinated promotion and follow-up before, during, and after each event.
- Extend the reach and impact of ALI programming through articles, video, photography, social media, email, and other digital storytelling and promotional content.
- Establish and monitor performance metrics and manage marketing operations, including reporting and recommendations to leadership, project timelines, budgets, approvals, production, deliverables, vendors, freelancers, designers, photographers, videographers, and other creative partners, while ensuring brand consistency, quality, accuracy, and accessibility.
- Build trust and collaboration by being present on-site and engaging directly with colleagues and various constituents.
- This role is responsible for other duties as assigned within a small team environment, and some travel and evening/weekend work is anticipated.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
- Minimum of 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, communications, digital marketing, content strategy, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience developing and executing integrated, multi-channel marketing and communications strategies.
- Exceptional attention to detail, writing, editing, and storytelling skills, including the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
- Experience with digital marketing, email marketing, websites/content management systems, and social media.
- Strong project management and time management skills and demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, stakeholders, and deadlines simultaneously.
- Experience using analytics and audience insights to evaluate and improve marketing effectiveness.
- Demonstrated ability to operate both strategically and tactically, moving comfortably from developing recommendations and plans to hands-on execution.
- Positivity, professionalism, flexibility, creativity, and resourcefulness.
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
- Experience in higher education, executive education, leadership development, professional services, nonprofit organizations, social impact, or another mission-driven environment.
- Experience communicating with senior executives, accomplished professionals, thought leaders, faculty, alumni, or similarly sophisticated audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to develop compelling stories about individuals, ideas, organizations, and impact.
- Experience with CRM, marketing automation, analytics, and digital campaign platforms.
- Experience managing external creative partners, agencies, or vendors.
- Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build productive relationships across a complex, highly collaborative organization.
- Intellectual curiosity and an interest in leadership, lifelong learning, social innovation, and addressing complex societal challenges.
Additional Information
- Standard Hours/Schedule: 40 hours per week
- 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.
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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.