Program Director, Practicing Democracy Project

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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

Few questions are more timely, urgent and challenging than how to make democracy work, really work. Learning why this is so, what to do about, and doing it is what the Practicing Democracy Project (PDP) is all about. Led by Faculty Director Marshall Ganz and housed at the Center for Public Leadership (CPL), PDP organizes people to enable the governed to govern. We organize educators, researchers, and practitioners across the world into a community of practice anchored in leadership development, pedagogical development, and organizational capacity development.

The Program Director works with the Faculty Director to develop the PDP story, strategy, and structure; develops the leadership of the PDP staff; and holds responsibility for the programmatic, administrative, and financial management of PDP and its projects. A strong candidate will bring commitment to shared values; a drive to develop, grow and adapt PDP to meet the intense challenges and unique opportunity of this moment to renew our troubled democracy; genuine curiosity, humor, and creativity; commitment to excellence of craft; and dedication to the development of the students, teachers, and practitioners with whom we work.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Internal Organizational Development
  • Shape and steward the strategic direction of PDP in close collaboration with the Faculty Director, ensuring alignment with its mission and strategic objectives.
  • Work with staff, volunteers, community leaders and allies to achieve consequential outcomes, based on timely delivery, strategic coherence, and measurable impact.
  • Lead the growth of PDP programmatically, pedagogically, structurally, and financially to fulfill its mission.
  • Lead a team of 3–10 people, including facilitating weekly team meetings, bringing clarity to priorities, troubleshooting issues, and enabling collective learning, accountability, and growth.
  • Support sustained development of PDP’s leadership cascade of coaches, teaching fellows, trainers, and organizers.
• Administration, Finance, and Communication
  • Accept responsibility for the leadership of PDP’s administrative, financial, and communication requirements as outlined below:
  • Financial
    • Lead quarterly budget assessments and annual budget planning for PDP
    • Work with CPL staff to manage grant and funding processes, including proposal writing and submission, contract negotiation, and reporting.
  • People
    • Recruit, hire, orient, and supervise staff, research assistants, temporary employees, and fellows.
    • Coach and manage staff, ensuring high administrative proficiency and capacity to provide coverage as needed, including scheduling, correspondence, and coordination of technical and communication systems.
    • Provide oversight on database structure, management, and maintenance.
  • Public
    • In partnership with HKS/CPL administration, liaise with donors and other supporters to communicate the vision and value of this work to sustain and renew effective democratic practice worldwide.
    • Develop and maintain relationships within and outside Harvard to ensure PDP’s work aligns with overall institutional objectives.
• Pedagogy and Research Development
  • Support sustained development, adaptation, and diffusion of PDP’s unique pedagogy of practice within HKS, Harvard, and beyond.
  • Support PDP’s practice-oriented research program exploring effective pedagogy of democratic leadership and democratically governed organizations.
• Organizational Democratic Capacity Development
  • Develop, assess, and launch collaborations with external practice partners, including consultations, speaking, training, and research-practice partnerships.
  • Initiate, develop and sustain collaborative relationships with organizations and campaigns active within and adjacent to the PDP domain of practice.
• Public Democratic Narrative Development:
  • Support for development, adaptation and diffusion of a fresh, authentic, inclusive story of democratic renewal.

Qualifications

• Basic Qualifications:
  • Master’s degree required
  • 7 or more years of management or team leadership experience
• Additional Qualifications and Skills:
  • 8 or more years of experience in social movement organizing, democratic practice, leadership development, and/or community development
  • Experience using the People, Power, Change framework
  • Experience practicing leadership: good judgment, initiative, problem-solving skills, and deep respect for details
  • Able to practice responsible, creative, and caring leadership with staff, leaders and constituents across teams and with multiple projects/constituencies

Additional Information

• Appointment End Date: This position is a fully benefits eligible term appointment, ending one year from date of hire with the possibility of renewal.
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• Work Format Details: This is a position that is based at a Harvard campus location with some remote work options available. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States.
• 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 including generous paid time off, medical insurance, retirement plans, and more.