Research Community Lead

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Shorenstein Center seeks a highly organized, thoughtful, and experienced full-time Research Community Lead to provide maternity leave coverage for a senior role overseeing fellows program management and research community engagement. This fixed-term position will steward the Center’s fellows program during a key period of onboarding, convening, and community-building, while serving as a central connector across fellows, Center leadership, communications, finance, and administrative teams. The role requires excellent judgment, strong relationship management skills, and the ability to independently manage complex operational and programmatic workflows. The position will begin in mid-July 2026 and continue through February 1, 2027, with flexibility on exact start and end dates. The role is based on the Harvard Kennedy School campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with an expectation of working on campus 2–3 days per week. The Research Community Lead will oversee fellows program coordination and help sustain a vibrant, connected research community across the Center. This includes managing fellows onboarding and project planning processes, facilitating fellow communications and convenings, coordinating key events, maintaining program tracking systems, and ensuring strong continuity across multiple cross-functional initiatives. This role is well suited for a senior program manager or academic/community leader who brings both operational rigor and thoughtful interpersonal judgment.

Requirements

• 3 or more years of work experience in a related role.
• Demonstrated experience in program management, academic administration, higher education, research community engagement, nonprofit leadership support, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple complex workstreams.
• Excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong judgment and discretion in managing nuanced stakeholder relationships.
• Experience planning and executing professional events and convenings.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Nice To Haves

• Interest or expertise in journalism or media sectors is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead onboarding for incoming fellows, including hosting virtual orientation sessions using established materials
• Manage collection, review, tracking, and dissemination of fellows’ project plans
• Coordinate and attend project planning meetings between fellows and internal stakeholders; capture notes and follow-up actions
• Communicate finalized project timelines, expectations, and next steps to fellows
• Serve as a primary point of contact for fellows throughout the term, coordinating follow-up across Center teams as needed
• Coordinate monthly virtual fellows meetings
• Share timely Center updates, reminders, and relevant communications with fellows
• Coordinate fellow travel stipend logistics in partnership with finance and administrative teams
• Manage year-end fellow offboarding communications and transition planning for incoming cohorts
• Help foster strong engagement across the Center’s research community
• Support strategic relationship management with fellows and affiliated stakeholders
• Thoughtfully navigate evolving fellow project plans and occasional sensitive or complex situations
• Keep Center leadership informed of important developments affecting fellows and broader community dynamics
• Host the Center’s September Open House among other broader research community events
• Complete planning and execution of the Fall Fellows Convening on-campus
• Coordinate recurring research community meetings and related scheduling
• Support continuity for all-center community programming as assigned
• Participate in recurring coordination meetings across leadership, communications, finance, administration, and institutional partners
• Maintain fellows and affiliate tracking systems with accuracy and consistency
• Ensure strong internal communication and operational continuity across research community initiatives
• Identify and proactively address logistical, communication, or coordination challenges

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: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed