Director, Educational Development and Scholarship

Harvard University • Boston, MA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Office for Graduate Education (OGE) is seeking a dynamic and experienced educator and leader as the Director of Educational Development and Scholarship. The Director will lead a portfolio of educational training initiatives that support graduate students and postdoctoral curriculum fellows in developing expertise in evidence-based curriculum development and instructional practices, while simultaneously advancing pedagogy/curriculum innovation and educational scholarship across OGE PhD programs. These initiatives include oversight of the Curriculum Fellows postdoctoral training program (CFP) and leadership of a new graduate education certificate program, among other emerging educational programs aligned with institutional priorities. The Director mentors trainees engaged in these programs, supporting their work and development as educators. The Director must have deep knowledge of best practices in instructional design and pedagogy for adult learners, demonstrated experience mentoring trainees, and the ability to foster professional growth across diverse career trajectories. The Director must be able to work collaboratively within a complex academic environment to develop and advance strategic educational priorities, including initiatives related to GenAI and open inquiry. The Director serves as an essential member of the HMS Office for Graduate Education (OGE) Educational Innovation and Scholarship (EIS) team, reporting to the Assistant Dean for EIS, and contributes to strategic decision making and implementation of educational initiatives within the EIS portfolio.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required.
• Minimum of 7 years’ relevant work experience.
• PhD in the life sciences or related field.
• At least 8 years of teaching and/or administrative leadership experience in higher education.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience managing in a complex matrix organization and collaborating with faculty.
• Experience mentoring graduate students and/or postdoctoral fellows around career and professional development.
• Highest level of integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality in work.
• Deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas of work.
• Demonstrated expertise in evidence-based instructional design and inclusive teaching practices.
• Demonstrated record of educational scholarship and publications.
• Demonstrated interest in or experience with emerging areas in education, including generative AI and open inquiry.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and refinement of educational training and faculty development programs aligned with institutional priorities.
• Oversee the re-envisioned postdoctoral CFP and lead a graduate education certificate program.
• Collaborate with the EIS team to deliver faculty development in evidence-based teaching and educational scholarship.
• Ensure alignment with the mission to enhance teaching and learning across PhD programs.
• Identify opportunities to adapt programming in response to evolving priorities, including GenAI, open inquiry, and inclusive teaching.
• Partner with faculty and leadership to engage trainees in curricular innovation and coordinate these efforts with existing review processes.
• Mentor trainees (e.g., CFs, certificate participants) to support OGE priorities and career goals.
• Provide guidance in teaching, instructional design, educational scholarship, and career development.
• Support OGE projects, teaching portfolios, and education research.
• Foster a community of practice within OGE, creating opportunities for peer learning, reflection, and feedback.
• Support trainee contributions to graduate education initiatives.
• Develop and/or teach courses, workshops, and “nanocourses” addressing priority areas in graduate education.
• Serve as Co-Course Director (with the Dean for Grad Ed) for the Responsible Conduct of Science course.
• May teach foundational courses in teaching and learning.
• Partner with faculty and program leadership, including T32 programs, to enhance curricula and teaching.
• Support convening stakeholders to share best practices and implement innovations.
• Work with EIS and OGE staff to ensure effective program operations, including logistics, communications, and tracking participation.
• Contribute to program evaluation and continuous improvement using data to assess impact.

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: Director