Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education, Academic Program Planning

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics and the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.

Job Summary: Oversee academic affairs operations including faculty support, curriculum management and training.
Job-Specific Responsibilities: Reporting to the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, Academic Programs and Policy in the Office of Undergraduate Education, the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education, Academic Program Planning will work across the FAS and the College to support cross-departmental academic planning and curricular initiatives, including placement exams, first-year gateway and foundational course planning, and initiatives to support departments, such as course innovation funds oversight.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum of 8 years’ relevant work experience

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in relevant field preferred
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, advanced Excel skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong commitment to continuous process improvement
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively with faculty, administrators, and students.
• Experience with data management and analysis.
• Knowledge of the curriculum and ongoing curricular changes in Harvard College.

Responsibilities

• First-year and gateway course planning. Serves as primary OUE liaison with departments and programs on first-year course planning and existing and new gateway courses to ensure academic rigor, accessibility for students from any background, and that courses are serving their intended purpose.
• Cross-departmental curricular planning. Under OUE senior leadership’s direction, serves as liaison with departments, the College, and the FAS on overall curricular planning and course review to ensure academic pathways for students are clear and meaningful.
• Rising Scholars Program Oversees the Rising Scholars Program, a pre-matriculation academic transition initiative designed to support students from under-resourced educational backgrounds
• Placement Exams: Works with departments on an ongoing basis to review existing placement exams and to develop new instruments to ensure that exam content aligns with course content.
• Course Innovation Funds: Oversees the administration of course innovation funds, including promoting, selecting, and distributing funds to improve the quality of pedagogy, course design, and undergraduate education at the College. Assesses the success of funding initiatives.

Benefits

• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree