Assistant Director, RC Curricular Programs, MBA Registrar’s Office

Harvard University • Boston, MA

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Required Curriculum, provides operational leadership for the Required Curriculum (RC) within the MBA Registrar’s Office. Reporting to the Associate Director, RC Program, the position translates program strategy and academic priorities into coordinated, reliable operations across the RC academic cycle. It manages complex curricular processes, exercises independent judgment on operational and policy-related issues, and ensures that academic systems, schedules, faculty assignments, exams, and grading are delivered accurately and consistently.

The role leads RC academic operations and infrastructure, including term start-up, course and section setup, enrollment, scheduling, exams, grading, and related processes. It manages development of academic calendars and course schedules, coordinates faculty and administrative inputs, and oversees the confidential faculty-grid process. The Assistant Director also administers exams, grading, academic policy processes, and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for the Summer Work Experience requirement.

The Assistant Director balances day-to-day workload across the RC team, serves as a senior operational resource and escalation point for Unit Coordinators and other partners, and leads monthly RC Course Support meetings. The role contributes to departmental planning and process improvement, represents MBA Registrar Services on committees and projects, supports term start-up and graduation, and performs additional duties and special projects as assigned.

This is a hybrid position based at Harvard Business School’s Boston campus. Staff are expected to be onsite at least three days per week, with onsite coverage provided Monday through Friday. The department sets the schedule and location based on operational needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least five years of experience in higher education administration, academic program operations, curriculum management, or registrar services.
• Familiarity with student information systems, course scheduling, enrollment, grading, or academic records management.
• Experience coordinating complex academic calendars, examinations, or other deadline-driven program processes.
• Knowledge of academic policies and procedures, with the ability to apply them consistently and exercise sound judgment.
• Experience advising or supporting students, faculty, or academic staff.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills, including managing data, identifying discrepancies, and maintaining accurate records.
• Ability to coordinate work across teams, manage competing priorities, and communicate clearly with varied stakeholders.
• Experience documenting processes, improving workflows, and supporting cross-training or continuity planning.
• Ability to work onsite at least three days per week at the Boston campus, with onsite coverage Monday through Friday; hybrid work must comply with Harvard’s work-location requirements.
• A cover letter is required for consideration.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a higher education academic administration environment.
• Familiarity with Curricular Practical Training (CPT), international student processes, or collaboration with an international student office.

Responsibilities

• Lead integrated operational planning and delivery of the RC academic cycle, including term start-up, course infrastructure, sectioning, discussion groups, seating, exams, grading, and recurring curricular processes.
• Oversee RC academic infrastructure in SIS and related systems, ensuring accurate course, section, enrollment, faculty, schedule, and grade-reporting data; resolve complex data, system, and process issues.
• Monitor readiness across RC workstreams and major events, escalating significant operational challenges and program-level policy decisions to the Associate Director.
• Establish and maintain process controls, documentation standards, backup coverage, and cross-training for critical RC workflows.
• Develop and produce detailed RC academic calendars and course schedules within strategic parameters established by the Associate Director and MBA program leadership.
• Coordinate collection and analysis of course, faculty, and administrative inputs; assess constraints, identify conflicts, and develop schedule options and recommendations.
• Lead the confidential faculty-grid process from data collection and teaching-group inputs through draft production, validation, and readiness for final review.
• Handle sensitive faculty information discreetly, resolve routine scheduling issues, and elevate matters involving significant policy, resource, or relationship considerations.
• Partner with Unit Coordinators, Course Heads, Faculty Support Specialists, Operations, Program Delivery, and other stakeholders to implement the course schedule accurately.
• Coordinate implementation of new or changing RC courses and curricular structures, identifying impacts on systems, schedules, staffing, communications, and student records.
• Oversee end-to-end administration of RC midterm and final exams, including planning, timelines, materials, exam-tool configuration, accommodations, alternate-exam arrangements, communications, and coordination with relevant partners.
• Manage student exam absence and petition processes, applying policies consistently, exercising judgment on cases, and escalating sensitive or precedent-setting matters as appropriate.
• Manage RC grade submission and release, including communications, faculty reminders and follow-up, deadline monitoring, exception tracking, quality checks, and timely and accurate completion.
• Assess operational challenges related to exams and grading and bring significant issues, policy questions, and matters requiring decisions to the Associate Director with context and recommended next steps.
• Lead Registrar administration of Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for the Summer Work Experience requirement and related experiential-learning processes in accordance with MBA Program policy.
• Partner with the Harvard International Office to advise students on requirements, policies, and procedures; review applications and records, assess policy fit, and elevate ambiguous or exception cases.
• Ensure processes and student-facing information remain accurate, consistent, documented, and responsive to changing program requirements.
• Plan and balance day-to-day RC team workload with the Associate Director, adjusting assignments during peak periods and ensuring deadlines and service expectations are met.
• Serve as a senior operational resource and primary escalation point for Unit Coordinators and other RC course-support partners; lead monthly RC Course Support meetings and act as the main contact for Unit Coordinators.
• Contribute to departmental planning, process improvement, and assessment of operational outcomes; develop or maintain reports and analyses supporting curricular administration and decisions.
• Represent MBA Registrar Services on program-wide committees, working groups, and special projects requiring RC operational expertise.
• Support all-hands-on-deck activities, including term start-up and graduation.
• Build trust and collaboration through an on-site presence and direct engagement with colleagues and constituents.
• Perform additional duties and assume responsibility for special projects as assigned.

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: Manager