Program Manager (Government)

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

12h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Program Manager is responsible for the strategy, design, and hands-on management of programs within the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences Department of Government. The position plans, develops, and carries out the programs of the Center for American Political Studies (CAPS), a research center within the Department, and exercises independent judgment in program strategy, planning, design, and implementation under the leadership of the Faculty Director and Director of Administration. Responsibilities include designing, managing, and executing the full portfolio of CAPS programs, outreach and development activities, strategic communications, events, and student and faculty services, as well as supervising a number of staff positions. The position is split 0.70 FTE — Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) and 0.30 FTE — Program Management for the Department of Government. 4 days of in-person work required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Previous experience in project/relationship management required.
• Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in program or project management, preferably in higher education or a research setting.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree preferred
• Prior experience supervising full-time staff, including coaching, providing feedback, and managing day to day workload and priorities
• Experience designing and launching new academic or public-facing programs
• Management experience within a development or similarly complex environment strongly preferred.
• Experience managing graduate studies programs
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to produce polished, high-level communications for varied audiences.
• Development experience, including donor cultivation, fundraising, or grants strategy.
• Ability to manage and prioritize competing demands across a split appointment serving two units.
• Strategic thinking and sound independent judgment in ambiguous situations.
• Initiative and self-direction—able to carry out the substantive work of the role with minimal supervision.
• Discretion and professionalism in handling confidential and sensitive matters.
• Strong client relationship management skills
• Experience operating comfortably in a fast-paced, high-visibility academic program environment
• Strengths in moving fluidly between external client conversations, internal Harvard administrative processes, faculty and student coordination, and detailed program execution.
• Experience leading strategic communications across web, email, and social media.
• Interest in or familiarity with American politics or the social sciences.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements strategic plans, establishing priorities, timelines, deliverables, and measures of success based on leadership’s academic and research vision for the Center and the Department.
• Translates research, academic, and institutional needs into clearly scoped programs, projects, and administrative requirements, adjusting plans as needed based on ongoing assessment and emerging priorities.
• Designs, launches, and manages new programs and initiatives from concept through implementation, including cross-disciplinary, public-facing, and other strategic programming.
• Evaluates and revises program policies, procedures, and offerings to strengthen effectiveness, sustainability, and alignment with the Center’s and Department’s mission.
• Researches and recommends new opportunities for funding, partnerships, and program development in collaboration with CAPS Faculty Director and the Director of Administration.
• Leads the Center’s and the Department’s data and analytics function to support evidence-based planning, program evaluation, and more effective decision-making.
• Manages day-to-day program operations, including logistics design, coordination, implementation, follow-through, and issue resolution.
• Sets priorities, manages competing demands, and advances program and operational work with minimal supervision.
• Manages student grants, fellowships, and faculty grants programs, including developing guidelines, managing faculty review and selection processes, administering awards, and overseeing funds disbursement.
• Oversees annual and rolling funding processes, including student seed grants, graduate dissertation fellowships, undergraduate summer research grants, and faculty grants.
• Develops and executes events and programs, managing logistics directly and with support from student workers.
• Manages cross-functional projects and initiatives from planning through delivery, coordinating stakeholders, timelines, and deliverables.
• Prepares regular progress reports for leadership, faculty committees, and other stakeholders.
• Partners with the Faculty Director and Director of Administration on strategy, operations, compliance, reporting, and program priorities.
• Supports affiliated students and faculty, connecting them with resources, funding, and opportunities, serving as their liaison with other centers/programs.
• Develops and executes communications and outreach strategies, ensuring clear messaging, consistent voice, and alignment with academic and programmatic priorities.
• Serves as a liaison to the centralized communications team by gathering and coordinating unit-specific content, updates, calendars, contact information, and other materials needed to support timely and accurate communications.
• Represents the Center to internal and external Center constituents across the University and beyond, serving as a primary point of contact for program inquiries and external engagement opportunities.
• Conceptualizes program and partnership inquiries by clarifying faculty and student priorities, assessing alignment with pre-determined priorities, and determining programmatic feasibility.
• Manages constituent cultivation and stewardship efforts, including developing outreach and solicitation strategies, identifying prospective funding sources, and supporting targeted fundraising opportunities in collaboration with the leadership.
• Identifies, adapts, and uses technical tools to improve outreach, communications, constituent management, and engagement tracking.
• May supervise and develop support staff and contingent workers.
• Establishes and promotes consistent practices, processes, and reporting standards.

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