HGSU and HAW Contract Manager

Harvard University • Boston, MA

55d • Hybrid

About The Position

Harvard Medical School (HMS) seeks a Contract Manager to support administration, interpretation, implementation, and compliance related to collective bargaining agreements covering members of the Harvard Graduate Students Union (HGSU-UAW) and Harvard Academic Workers (HAW-UAW). Reporting to senior leadership within the Office for Faculty Affairs (OFA) the Contract Manager serves as a key institutional resource to departments, faculty, and administrators on union contract provisions affecting student workers, postdoctoral fellows, teaching fellows, teaching assistants, and other academic employees. This role ensures consistent application of negotiated agreements across HMS departments and works closely with central Harvard offices to support compliant hiring, appointment management, compensation administration, grievance processes, and labor-management collaboration. The Contract Manager plays a critical role in supporting HMS’s academic mission by enabling compliant and effective engagement of graduate student and academic workers across research and educational environments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required.
• Minimum of 8 years’ relevant work experience.
• Experience in higher education or research environments preferred.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Demonstrated ability in analysis, negotiation, and problem resolution.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret policy and translate into operational guidance.
• Extensive knowledge of labor contracts, personnel policies, mediation, and negotiating.
• Advanced knowledge of federal labor and employment law preferred, including the NLRA, FLSA, FMLA, and ADA.
• Strong judgment and discretion when handling sensitive employment matters.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder consultation skills.
• Experience working in complex matrixed organizations strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance to HMS faculty members who supervise HGSU-UAW and HAW-UAW student workers and employees on contract provisions, expectations, and compliant supervisory practices.
• Design, adapt, and deliver training programs for managers and administrators on collective bargaining agreement requirements.
• Develop tools, guidance materials, and implementation resources to support consistent contract interpretation across departments.
• Promote best practices that support effective and constructive management-union relationships across HMS units.
• In partnership with the Office of Labor and Employee Relations (OLER), HMS Office for Faculty Affairs (OFA), the Office of Graduate Education (OGE), and the Office of Human Resources (OHR), advise and support Department Chairs, Deans, faculty supervisors, and administrators in fulfilling their roles within contractual grievance procedures.
• Assist with preparation of documentation, coordination of responses, and tracking of grievance-related activity.
• Support consistent institutional approaches to grievance handling aligned with University guidance.
• Facilitate contract-related disciplinary reviews and investigations involving union-represented employees, in coordination with OLER.
• Coordinate responses to union requests for information and data, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with contractual obligations.
• Partner closely with OLER staff to support timely and appropriate institutional responses.
• Actively participate in preparation for and support of collective bargaining negotiations involving HGSU-UAW and HAW-UAW.
• Recommend clarifications and operational improvements to contract language based on HMS implementation experience.
• Support rollout and operationalization of new or revised contract provisions following negotiations.
• Represent HMS in University-wide committees, working groups, and forums related to contract administration and implementation.
• Support the work of committees and advisory bodies where HGSU-UAW and HAW-UAW representatives participate or hold contractual roles.
• Serve as a liaison between HMS departments and central offices on contract-related topics.
• Provide a forum for administrators and faculty leaders to raise implementation questions and share emerging practices.
• Identify institutional needs related to contract interpretation and operational consistency.
• Promote alignment of contract administration practices across HMS departments and programs.

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: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree