Executive Director of the Fellowship Program

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

74d • Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs (Associate Dean), the Executive Director provides intellectual and administrative leadership for Harvard Radcliffe Institute’s renowned residential fellowship program. Each year, the program brings approximately 50 leading scholars, scientists, artists, and practitioners from around the world to pursue ambitious, original projects within Radcliffe’s uniquely vibrant interdisciplinary community. The Executive Director sets the strategic direction of the fellowship program; ensures the rigor, fairness, and visibility of its selection processes; and stewards the fellows’ experience from recruitment through selection, residency, and alumni engagement. In close collaboration with the Associate Dean, the Dean of the Harvard Radcliffe Institute, and program partners, the Executive Director ensures that the fellowship program advances the Institute’s mission as a leading center for cross-disciplinary exploration and public engagement. The ideal candidate is an intellectually curious and highly collaborative academic leader who is energized by Radcliffe’s cross-disciplinary mission. They have substantial experience building and leading scholarly programs and are skilled at both designing ambitious initiatives and managing the details that make them succeed. They are adept at cultivating diverse, international communities, and leading and developing a high-performing professional staff. They are comfortable serving as a visible ambassador to faculty, alumni, and donors. They are also committed to creating an inclusive, supportive environment—for both fellows and staff—in which people can take risks, grow in their roles, and pursue path‑breaking work.

Requirements

• Post-graduate degree required; doctoral degree is strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in academic administration, program leadership, or a closely related field in higher education or a comparable scholarly setting.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and overseeing complex academic, research, or fellowship programs (e.g., institutes, centers, residencies, or large-scale academic initiatives).
• Proven experience managing professional staff, including hiring, supervising, and developing individuals and/or teams.
• Effective collaboration with faculty, scholars, artists, and/or practitioners across disciplines.
• Strategic planning and budgetary responsibility for a program or department.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, as reflected in professional roles that involve writing for diverse audiences (e.g., reports, proposals) and institutional representation.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading or playing a central role in a fellowship program or an institute for advanced study.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing inclusion and belonging in academic programs, particularly through recruitment and support of diverse cohorts.
• Experience working with alumni, advisory councils, and/or donors, and collaborating with communications and development/advancement professionals.
• Familiarity with Harvard University and/or the Harvard Radcliffe Institute is highly desirable.
• Comfort working with data and digital platforms for application, review, and assessment processes.
• Ability to thrive in a complex, matrixed environment, and juggling multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide intellectual and administrative leadership for the Radcliffe Fellowship Program as a whole, encompassing the core academic-year fellowships and related components such as the Radcliffe Research Partners Program (with undergraduates), a summer program of visiting fellows, and other affiliated initiatives.
• Formulate and implement short- and long-term strategic plans that sustain Radcliffe’s position as an innovative, field-leading residential fellowship program and align the program with the Institute’s mission, strategic plan, and evolving academic and public landscapes.
• Collaborate with the Associate Dean, Dean and other Institute leadership to integrate the fellowship program with related efforts across the Institute.
• Develop and implement application guidelines and outreach strategies that attract a diverse, multidisciplinary, and international applicant pool across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
• Lead the annual selection process for approximately 50 fellows, working closely with external reviewers, the Associate Dean and Dean, and other senior colleagues to ensure a rigorous, equitable, and transparent review.
• In collaboration with External Relations, design and implement a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy that maintains fellows’ connection to Radcliffe and Harvard and supports ongoing intellectual, professional, and institutional relationships.
• Oversee the design and delivery of the year-round fellowship experience, including orientation, weekly lunches and colloquia, seminars and workshops, and the culminating annual fellowship event; identify and develop additional programs and events that deepen intellectual community and engagement.
• Ensure effective administrative structures and processes for all stages of the fellowship lifecycle, from application and review through residency and alumni engagement.
• Lead ongoing assessment and continuous improvement of the program, including annual surveys of academic-year fellows and periodic surveys of alumni, and incorporate findings into program design.
• Work with Communications and External Relations to develop strategies and materials that effectively present fellows and their projects to internal and external audiences, including Institute supporters, alumni, and the general public; prepare regular reports and presentations for the Dean’s Advisory Council and other stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain relationships with peer leaders at other institutes for advanced study and related organizations and monitor emerging models and best practices in fellowship programs.
• Actively support fellows in establishing connections across Harvard to maximize their residency experience, serving as a trusted advisor, advocating and providing introductions and/or recommendations as appropriate.
• Lead and manage the Fellowship Program staff responsible for administering the annual selection cycle and operating the year-round program; set goals and expectations, provide regular feedback, and support staff development in a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.
• Direct the department’s multiyear financial planning and annual budgeting processes; monitor expenditures to ensure sound stewardship of resources and adherence to approved budgets.

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: Executive