Coordinator for Academic Programs

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs, the Coordinator for Academic Programs provides high-level administrative, programmatic, and project coordination support for the Academic Programs Office. The role manages complex and confidential administrative responsibilities while coordinating academic initiatives and cross-functional projects that advance Radcliffe’s mission and strategic priorities.

In a setting with multiple and competing priorities, the Coordinator anticipates needs, organizes information, monitors deadlines, supports decision-making, and facilitates communication among faculty, students, staff, Institute offices, and University partners. The position requires sound judgment, organization, attention to detail, discretion, and collaborative project follow-through.

The work is performed primarily in a professional academic and administrative office environment. It is a high-profile, collaborative, deadline-driven role involving frequent meetings, communication, interruptions, and confidential information. Regular onsite work at Harvard’s Cambridge campus is required as part of a hybrid arrangement; the specific schedule will be determined with the hiring manager. Occasional work outside standard business hours may be required to support meetings, programs, events, or time-sensitive initiatives. The schedule may need to be adjusted, and any remote work must be performed from a state where Harvard is registered to do business.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.
• Three or more years of relevant experience in administrative support, program coordination, project coordination, higher education, or a related office environment; education beyond high school may count toward relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating multiple priorities, deadlines, meetings, or projects.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability and willingness to learn and use additional administrative, project-management, financial, and information-management systems.
• Strong customer service orientation and ability to respond to inquiries, anticipate needs, build positive relationships, and provide timely, professional, solutions-oriented support to internal and external constituents.
• Ability to work with multiple groups across the Harvard Radcliffe Institute campus and provide administrative and project-management support with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to coordinate work across multiple departments, programs, offices, or stakeholder groups.
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and sound judgment.
• Flexibility to adjust the work schedule as required.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with project-management practices, including maintaining timelines, action-item trackers, work plans, status updates, or related tools.
• Experience supporting budgets, expense reporting, purchasing, grants, or financial documentation.
• Experience working with faculty, students, senior leaders, external partners, or advisory groups.
• Experience with Salesforce, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, or comparable database, collaboration, or project-management systems.
• Interest in and ability to learn new technologies and administrative systems quickly.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive administrative support to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs, including calendar management, meeting coordination, travel arrangements, briefing materials, and follow-up on commitments.
• Coordinate meetings and activities for faculty advisory councils, working groups, student engagement groups, and academic committees; prepare agendas and materials, record minutes, and track follow-up items.
• Serve as a key point of contact for the Academic Programs Office and support communication among faculty, students, staff, Institute offices, and University partners.
• Maintain office systems, records, calendars, faculty appointment information, shared files, and the Academic Programs Office SharePoint site.
• Support routine financial and administrative operations, including expense reporting, purchasing card transactions, budget monitoring, and account reconciliation.
• Draft correspondence, memoranda, reports, presentations, and other materials; handle confidential information with discretion and perform related administrative duties.
• Support the Associate Dean and program directors in planning and coordinating academic priorities, strategic initiatives, and cross-programmatic projects.
• Organize and maintain project plans, timelines, deliverables, action-item trackers, and other tools for assigned initiatives.
• Coordinate projects and workflows across academic departments, programs, Institute offices, and University partners, ensuring information, decisions, and materials move forward in a timely manner.
• Monitor project progress, deadlines, dependencies, risks, resource needs, and outstanding issues; provide updates and identify matters requiring attention or escalation.
• Support annual and multi-year planning, faculty and student engagement initiatives, evaluations, and reporting by gathering information, conducting research, and preparing analyses, briefings, and recommendations.
• Assist with project and program communications, assessment, documentation, and continuous improvement for Academic Programs Office 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