Portfolio Director, Harvard Institutes for Higher Education

Posting date: March 25, 2026

002557SR

• Job Type: Full-time
• Location: Cambridge
• School/Unit: Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Salary Grade: 058
• Job Function: General Administration
• 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 the Harvard Graduate School of Education?

The Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) is a diverse community of learners, teachers, and employees who are passionate about changing the world through education and striving for maximum impact in the field of education.

Many choose to work at the Harvard Graduate School of Education because they believe in our mission and are excited by our vision for the future. We have a reputation as a great place to work, for our excellent leadership, and we are a strong community that values diversity. For more information about HGSE, its programs, research, and faculty, please visit: www.gse.harvard.edu.

Job Description

As integral members of the HGSE Professional Education team Portfolio Directors join a dynamic group of colleagues focused on empowering educators to build competencies, skills, and networks necessary to have positive impact in the field of education. Directors build, lead, and cultivate a portion of Professional Education program offerings. All programs are designed to support our mission of equipping education leaders, practitioners, and advocates with knowledge and skills to improve student access, opportunity, and success.

The Portfolio Director for the Harvard Institutes of Higher Education (HIHE) is responsible for designing and implementing a strategy to nurture, assess, refine and expand a portfolio of professional development offerings for higher education professionals, faculty, and leaders across the US and globally. Programs may be delivered in a variety of modalities including on-campus, at client sites in the US and overseas, online live with facilitation, asynchronous online programs, and on-demand models. The HIHE Director leads and manages this portfolio in close collaboration with PPE leadership, HGSE and Harvard faculty, and key institutional stakeholders.

Position Description

Portfolio Development and Management

• Serve as an administrative leader of a portfolio of executive education programs and related professional development opportunities as part of HGSE’s Professional Education program designed to support educational leaders across the US and globally.
• Build and maintain a deep understanding of the broad landscape of professional development programs serving higher education leaders and proactively cultivate robust relationships with lead organizations, colleges, universities, and individuals to stay abreast of trends in the field.
• Work with HGSE faculty to explore new HIHE programs that best serve the needs of the field as informed by data and active discourse with sector leaders and key PPE client organizations.
• In collaboration with the Senior Portfolio Director, research, propose and vet ideas regarding a strategic direction for the overall size and shape of the portfolio with attention to portfolio coherence as well as program quality, relevance, accessibility, and sustainability.
• Collect, analyze, and utilize data to inform and implement PPE decisions about program frequency, updates, and retirements.

Program Design and Delivery

• Collaborate with faculty on overarching program vision and architecture. Work with faculty chairs and the Marketing team to develop program learning objectives and descriptions, and to determine the characteristics of target audiences. Collaborate with and work in support of faculty chairs to determine program presenters and learning activities. Identify, train, and manage program facilitators.
• With support from the Finance team, develop and manage program budgets, contributing to cost-effective program management.
• Inform, monitor, and participate in marketing and admissions processes for assigned programs to develop optimal cohorts, identify growth opportunities, and suggest mitigation strategies for enrollment challenges in partnership with PPE’s Marketing and Client Engagement teams.
• Work closely with the PPE Program Delivery Team to collaboratively plan and execute all aspects of program delivery to ensure a high-quality learner experience in every program modality (residential, live online, asynchronous online, blended).
• Collaborate with PPE’s Innovation and Insights Team to conduct program debriefs. Identify and drive follow-up on strengths and areas for development. Leverage best-practices in learning design to foster interactivity and the application of learning to problems of practice.

Strategic Outreach and Internal/External Relationship Management

• Plan and implement strategic outreach to organizations, school systems, government agencies, and/or donors to build robust participant pools for programs in the portfolio.
• Conduct sector outreach (webinars, conferences, direct relationship-building with clients), engagement, and program alumni relations activities, ensuring that prospective and past participants have ongoing connection to each other, HIHE, and HGSE.
• Initiate and steward relationships with internal and external stakeholders and expand our network to advance potential new partnerships and programs.
• Develop custom engagements for learners and organizations within and outside the U.S. as applicable, with a particular focus on international universities.
• Identify subject areas where HGSE and Harvard faculty bring unique value to the field.

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a relevant field;
• 5 years of college or university administrative or other directly related experience.
• Night and weekend hours required during peak periods.
• Some travel required.
• Any candidate wishing to be considered must supply a cover letter in addition to their resume.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Prior leadership experience in higher education strongly desired. A strong candidate has a deep understanding of and experience with the challenges, opportunities, and leadership context of higher education administrators and faculty, preferably from multiple institutions.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating successfully with senior faculty is highly desirable.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage competing deadlines or priorities.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and experience developing partnerships to achieve strategic goals.
• Experience working as both a team player and leader across departments.
• Proven ability to prepare, work within, and manage budgets and deadlines.
• Experience in B2B business development a plus.
• Proven ability to problem-solve and respond effectively to shifting team needs.
• Experience developing and delivering professional/executive education programs with a leadership or education focus a plus.

Additional Information

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Compensation Range/Rate (including Shift Differential if applicable): $90,000 - 100,000 commensurate with experience
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity and Education

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 058. 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.