Staff Assistant, Division of Academic and Public Programs

Posting date: January 20, 2026

002072SR

• Job Type: Full-time
• Location: Cambridge
• School/Unit: Harvard University Central Administration
• Department: Harvard Art Museums
• Salary Grade: 053
• Job Function: General Administration
• FLSA Status: Non-exempt
• Term Appointment: No
• Union: 55 - Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers

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 Art Museums?

The Harvard Art Museums is part of Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM). At the intersection of public access and higher education, the Harvard Art Museums invite everyone to embrace inquiry, dialogue, and new perspectives on art and ideas. The museums’ global collections encompass a broad range of time periods and geographies.

Job Description

The Division of Academic and Public Programs (DAPP) drives the creative and practical conversations that make academic and public programs at the Harvard Art Museums possible. Working closely with staff across the museums, faculty, students, and other members of our campus and broader community, the Division creates a diverse array of opportunities for learning and engagement with the museum and its collections.

Reporting to the Director of Academic and Public Programs, the Staff Assistant for DAPP provides essential administrative support and plays a key role in facilitating the wide range of public and campus-facing programs and activities offered by the Harvard Art Museums. DAPP, a highly collaborative and team-oriented department, works to achieve shared goals and deliver meaningful experiences to the public and campus community. This position helps ensure the smooth production and presentation of public, community, campus, and curricular programming through logistical, administrative, and promotional support. Some evening and weekend hours are required.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

As a Staff Assistant you will:

• Support the production and logistics for public, community, and campus programs, assisting with content and format planning design, program set-up, and on-the-ground production needs in collaboration with DAPP and other team members.
• Serve as on-site staff for a range of programs, including during evenings and weekends; provide a welcoming and helpful presence to our audiences as part of a collaborative team.
• Distribute, collect, and collate post-program surveys for DAPP programs to support ongoing evaluation and improvement.
• Assist with outreach, promotion, and targeted marketing efforts for DAPP public and academic programs, including identifying relevant university departments, courses, and student organizations, updating web listings, and supporting email announcements.
• Schedule and reserve gallery and Art Study Center (ASC) spaces for university class visits, curricular programs, and faculty workshops; monitor gallery availability and communicate updates as needed. Monitor DAPP email account regularly and manage communications related to scheduling class visits and activities in a professional and timely manner.
• Provide administrative support for the curricular galleries program, including circulating object lists and tombstone label drafts to internal stakeholders, and coordinating object reviews in the ASC.
• Foster a positive, team-oriented environment by supporting colleagues, sharing knowledge, and contributing to shared departmental priorities.
• May help assign tasks and help with training of temporary, on-site support staff such as student Program Assistants and various student training initiatives.
• Works closely with other departmental and student assistants to ensure the smooth operation of the programs.
• Contributes to divisional goals by performing other related duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to move throughout the museum galleries and event spaces as needed.
• Capability to lift and carry up to 15 pounds (e.g., for setting up chairs, tables, and program materials).
• May involve periods of standing, walking, bending, and reaching during event setup and breakdown.
• Ability to use a computer and other office equipment regularly for extended periods.

Qualifications

Candidates MUST meet the following basic qualifications to be considered for this role:

Three or more years of related experience. Education beyond high school may count toward experience.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team, demonstrating patience and focus in a fast-moving environment
• Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends
• Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks
• Customer service or public-facing experience preferred
• Interest in museums, art, or education
• Proficiency with email, scheduling, and basic data entry tools (MS Office, Google Workspace, etc.)
• Experience with TMS Collections a plus

Additional Information

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Harvard University requires pre-employment reference and background screenings: Identity
• Other Information:
  • This position has a 3-month orientation and review period.
  • Position requires flexibility to work outside standard university business hours (evenings/weekends).

The Harvard Art Museums

Ever since their founding, the Harvard Art Museums—the Fogg Museum, Busch-Reisinger Museum and Arthur M. Sackler Museum—have been dedicated to advancing and supporting learning at Harvard University, in the local community, and around the world. Displayed in galleries that mix not only media but schools of art, the collection at Harvard is celebrated and interrogated within a larger story of artistic expression and historical and contemporary issues. The diverse collection is among the largest in the United States. Through research, teaching, professional training, and public education, the museums strive to advance the understanding and appreciation of art.

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that all duties and responsibilities must be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 053. 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.