Manager, Project on Impact Investing

Harvard University • Boston, MA

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

Harvard Business School seeks a Manager, Project on Impact Investing to work closely with Professors Shawn Cole and Josh Lerner in advancing the Harvard Business School Project on Impact Investing. The Project on Impact Investing combines rigorous academic research with close engagement with investors, policymakers, and practitioners to deepen understanding of sustainable and impact investing and inform practice in the field.

Reporting directly to the faculty supervisors, and administratively to the Research Staff Services (RSS) office, the Manager, Project on Impact Investing will play an integral role across all aspects of the Project's work: from designing and executing research, to building and maintaining novel datasets, to supporting practitioner engagement and research dissemination.

This position is well suited to candidates with experience in consulting, finance, economic research, or mission-driven financial services who are looking to deepen their research skills while contributing to high-impact academic work. Previous individuals in this role have gone on to leading PhD programs in economics and finance, as well as careers in impact investing, financial services, and social enterprise. The role offers exceptional exposure to cutting-edge research and leading practitioners in sustainable and impact investing.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of three years of relevant professional experience in consulting, economic research, finance, investment management, impact investing, nonprofit financial services, public policy, or another analytically rigorous field required.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Proven ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and proactively advance complex projects.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information into clear, well-structured written products for diverse audiences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in economics, finance, business, public policy, or a related discipline preferred.
• Experience conducting rigorous quantitative and/or qualitative research, including collecting, cleaning, analyzing, and interpreting complex data.
• Strong interest in impact investing, sustainable finance, financial markets, or economic development.
• Experience working in consulting, finance, investment management, economic research, nonprofit financial services, or another research-intensive environment.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build productive relationships with faculty, researchers, practitioners, investors, and organizational partners.
• Experience with statistical or programming software such as R, Python, or STATA is preferred.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled research tools, large language models, and modern research workflows is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity, initiative, and enthusiasm for learning new research methods and analytical techniques.
• Exceptionally high standards for quality, accuracy, and attention to detail, along with a genuine enthusiasm for collaborative research.
• Thrive in an environment that values initiative, continuous learning, and thoughtful engagement with complex questions at the intersection of finance and social impact.

Responsibilities

• Conduct quantitative and qualitative research in support of faculty research projects on sustainable and impact investing.
• Use AI-enabled research tools, large language models (LLMs), machine learning techniques, and traditional research methods to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret complex datasets.
• Develop and maintain novel datasets that support ongoing academic research.
• Perform data analysis, literature reviews, and other analytical work supporting research published in leading academic journals and practitioner outlets.
• Conduct interviews and code qualitative research data.
• Draft research memoranda, presentations, reports, and other written materials that synthesize findings for academic and practitioner audiences.
• Produce case studies, teaching notes, course materials, and other educational content for Harvard Business School courses.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen research methodologies, improve data collection processes, and apply emerging analytical tools.
• Coordinate multiple concurrent research projects, ensuring milestones, deliverables, and timelines are met.
• Manage relationships with external collaborators, research partners, and practitioners, serving as a representative of the faculty and the Project on Impact Investing.
• Support the collection of research documentation and data through outreach to participating organizations and stakeholders.
• Coordinate research operations, including project budgets, research agreements (e.g., NDAs and DUAs), meetings, and project logistics.
• Plan and support conferences, research convenings, webinars, and other events that advance the Project's research and practitioner engagement.
• Support dissemination of research findings through presentations, publications, digital platforms, and practitioner outreach.
• Maintain Project websites and digital resources in collaboration with HBS Marketing & Communications.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Harvard Business School, including the Dean's Office, Career & Professional Development, Alumni Relations, and student organizations to support research-related programming and communications.
• Represent the Project professionally in interactions with investors, company executives, policymakers, researchers, alumni, and other external stakeholders.
• Build trust and collaboration by being present on-site and engaging directly with colleagues and various constituents.
• Responsible for other duties as assigned.

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