Director, Custom and Partner Programs

Harvard University • Boston, MA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Custom and Partner Programs leads the strategy, development, and growth of the Office for External Education’s custom client and partner program portfolio. The role aligns Harvard Medical School expertise with evolving client, learner, and market needs, serving as a key decision-maker for the unit and balancing mission, academic quality, market opportunity, and financial goals. The Director leads and develops a team and delivers innovative, high-impact programs.

The position oversees program strategy and development, executive-level client and partner relationships, academic and general administration, financial management, and marketing and growth. It works closely with faculty and internal teams to create and deliver high-quality learning experiences, uphold Harvard standards, assess outcomes, and achieve revenue and contribution margin goals. The role may involve international travel and evening or weekend work as required. The position is hybrid, with schedule and location determined by the department based on operational needs; when working away from a Harvard-designated location, employees must work in a Harvard-registered state.

The standard schedule is 35 hours per week. Harvard is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• At least 8 years of relevant work experience.
• Supervisory experience.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal abilities.
• Professionalism, diplomacy, a client-centric mindset, and strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated success managing complex educational programs or projects involving multiple stakeholders, client relationships, financial operations, timelines, and deliverables.
• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to work collaboratively across functions and with diverse audiences.
• Strong organization, time management, and attention to detail.
• Experience engaging with senior executives and other high-level stakeholders in client-facing roles.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience in budgeting, pricing, and/or financial reporting.
• Adaptability and ability to lead others through change and work effectively with internal teams and external partners.
• Ability to anticipate client, program, and team needs and proactively identify opportunities and challenges.
• Consultative approach to client interactions and ability to develop tailored solutions and long-term partnership value.
• Ability to coordinate resources and align cross-functional efforts to meet program goals.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to travel internationally and work evenings and weekends as required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in executive or professional education, or related fields.
• Familiarity with instructional design principles and online learning platforms.
• Experience with Salesforce, learning management systems, or project management tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute long-term business and growth strategies in collaboration with OEE senior leaders, identifying opportunities for program expansion, portfolio diversification, client retention, and new revenue.
• Direct portfolio design, pedagogy, delivery strategy, evaluation, and lifecycle management for custom and third-party partner programs.
• Partner with Business Development, faculty, and Program Delivery to translate client needs into high-quality learning experiences with defined outcomes.
• Lead program refinement and post-program follow-up using learner feedback, outcomes, and market insights.
• Provide strategic consultation on incorporating digital products, including HMX and HealthXcelerate, into programming.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the team; establish performance expectations, coach staff, and foster excellence, innovation, and collaboration.
• Anticipate trends and risks, resolve complex and high-impact issues using independent judgment, and represent the unit in university-wide external leadership forums.
• Build and sustain executive-level relationships with clients, external partners, and senior faculty, serving as strategic lead and primary liaison throughout the custom program lifecycle.
• Represent HMS in client consultations, proposal development, and negotiations in partnership with Business Development.
• Oversee faculty contracts and compensation, and identify opportunities to streamline contracting processes.
• Ensure academic integrity, excellence, and consistency across learning formats and compliance with internal policies, contractual obligations, and Harvard standards.
• Oversee program planning, faculty engagement, curriculum, pedagogy, scheduling, and delivery in collaboration with faculty, academic leadership, and internal teams.
• Partner with Program Delivery to ensure clear communication, high-quality execution, and alignment of resources, staff coverage, and workflows.
• Monitor program outcomes and learner feedback, lead After Action Reviews, and apply findings to future offerings.
• Manage multi-million-dollar budget, revenue, and contribution margin targets; lead financial planning, budget development, pipeline management, margin optimization, and resource planning.
• Monitor financial performance against targets and contribute to program pricing strategy and financial modeling.
• Maintain a growth-focused program pipeline with Business Development and identify opportunities to retain, expand, and diversify the portfolio.
• Collaborate with Marketing and AES on outreach, positioning, and consistent messaging and branding, including for third-party partnerships.
• Identify opportunities to adapt programs to market and geopolitical shifts while protecting revenue, program quality, and learner journeys.
• Travel internationally and work evenings or weekends as required.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision 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: Director