Social Sciences Director of Divisional Strategy and Programs

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

18h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Social Sciences Division spans a broad range of disciplines, departments, and scholarly traditions. The Director of Divisional Strategy and Programs brings coherence to that complexity, tracking the full landscape of divisional initiatives, analyzing what's working and where opportunity exists, and ensuring that the Dean and departmental leaders have the information and support they need to make good decisions. Working in close partnership with the Dean, the Director combines the analytical rigor of a researcher with the relationship skills of a seasoned institutional leader. They are equally comfortable running statistical analyses and managing difficult conversations. They lead some initiatives directly, coordinate others, and know how to calibrate their involvement so that existing relationships across the division continue to function as they should. This is a role that calls for candor, curiosity, discretion, and a genuine interest in people and the institutions they build.

Requirements

• Master's degree required
• Minimum 10 years of experience in strategy and administration
• Experience applying quantitative methods to support institutional or organizational decision-making

Nice To Haves

• Higher education or similarly complex organizational experience strongly preferred
• Strong quantitative and data analysis skills, including fluency with statistical methods such as multiple regression
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills; approachable and effective across a wide range of disciplines and personalities
• Willingness and ability to provide direct, candid feedback to senior leadership
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to track and manage a large, multifaceted project portfolio
• Skilled at calibrating involvement: leading when needed, coordinating when appropriate, and preserving existing relationships and structures where they work well
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and persuasively to a range of audiences
• Self-directed and autonomous, with the drive to initiate and follow through independently while maintaining close and consistent alignment with the Dean and divisional leadership
• Transparent and collaborative working style, with a commitment to keeping the Dean and all relevant stakeholders well-informed and engaged at every stage
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitive organizational, financial, and institutional matters

Responsibilities

• Serve as chief of staff to the Divisional Dean, maintaining broad situational awareness across the division and ensuring priorities, projects, and problems receive appropriate and timely attention
• Work closely with the dean’s office and others in FAS to develop and maintain a comprehensive view of divisional projects and initiatives, building systems for tracking progress, surfacing risks, and communicating status to leadership
• Design and facilitate regular divisional review sessions that surface emerging challenges, assess departmental performance, and track outcomes across the division over time
• Conduct rigorous quantitative analysis to identify patterns in enrollment, student outcomes, and course evaluations, and to help the division understand how departments and programs can improve their effectiveness in teaching and other dimensions
• Partner with departments to develop realistic short- and long-term plans for growth and capacity-building, particularly where departmental ambitions and current resources are not yet fully aligned
• Lead select strategic initiatives directly while coordinating or providing oversight on others, calibrating involvement to what each workstream requires
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Dean, providing well-framed decision support on complex issues, emerging opportunities, and time-sensitive matters; frame options clearly, identify trade-offs, and drive toward alignment
• Provide candid, direct counsel to the Dean, including honest assessments of divisional challenges and constructive perspectives on the Dean’s leadership decisions and approaches
• Track and communicate progress against strategic priorities, surfacing risks early, recommending course corrections, and ensuring the Dean and key stakeholders have a clear and current picture of divisional initiatives
• Provides direct management and supervision of the Executive Assistant to the Divisional Dean, including setting priorities, providing ongoing guidance and feedback, and supporting professional development and performance.

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: Director