Senior Manager of Administration

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

This role serves as a senior administrative leader and strategic partner to the Faculty Chair/s, focusing on local staff operations and the overall management of the administrative grouping (AG). The objective is to ensure the AG has coordinated, effective administrative support within Harvard's federated service model, enabling each unit to fulfill its teaching and research mission.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent experience
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible administrative or operational experience
• Experience in higher education or similar organizations
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy and attention to detail
• Professional written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and escalate issues appropriately
• Stakeholder coordination and customer-service orientation
• Executive-level judgment with the courage to speak candidly & constructively to senior leadership in service of the institution's long-term interests
• Will require completion of internal financial, procurement, or research compliance training

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading a complex performing arts program
• Demonstrated experience partnering with senior leaders

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Chair(s), translating academic priorities into operational plans and advising on organizational, administrative, and resource-related decisions that support each unit's long-term teaching and research mission.
• Coordinate and oversee support from FAS functional teams to ensure the AG receives aligned, responsive administrative support and can successfully advance its academic, research, and operational priorities.
• Manage, develop, and direct local administrative staff, establishing priorities, allocating work, and ensuring the AG has the administrative capacity and infrastructure needed to support faculty, students, and academic programs.
• Lead and execute departmental administrative projects, coordinate responses to requests and priorities from the division, FAS, and the broader University, and represent the department on committees and working groups, as needed.
• Provide strategic resource stewardship (space, trade-offs, grants, donor funds/reporting, delegated contracts, locally managed endowment funds, etc.) to Department Chair and functional team members.

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: Manager