Associate Director, Student Funding & Systems

Harvard University FAS Human Resources; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Parental leave

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Wellbeing resources

Family support

Tuition assistance

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Harvard University is seeking an Associate Director of Student Funding within the Office for Graduate Education (OGE) to provide strategic leadership and oversee administration of PhD and master’s student funding. You will shape policies, implement new funding workflows, and modernize systems in partnership with University Information Systems and affiliated hospitals.

Responsibilities include leading policy design, reporting, stakeholder coordination, and supervision of the Student Funding

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required.
• A minimum of 7 years relevant work experience.
• Supervisory experience.
• MBA or Master’s degree in relevant field.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, advanced excel skills.
• Knowledge of advanced financial principles, budget management, financial analysis.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve policies, procedures, and internal controls governing student funding administration.
• Lead operational planning to support changing institutional priorities and evolving funding models.
• Primary subject matter expert on student funding policies, funding mechanisms, and business processes.
• Analyze funding trends and develop recommendations.
• Prepare analyses, dashboards, and executive reports that support leadership decision-making and long-range planning.
• Coordinate fundraising efforts for student fellowships with the Development office and OGE leadership.
• Oversee administration of all student funding, including tuition, stipends, fellowships, and other student support for PhD and master’s students.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant processing of funding transactions across multiple funding sources.
• Oversee maintenance of the student funding database and ensure integrity of funding records.
• Review complex funding situations and resolve issues requiring interpretation of university policies and funding guidelines.
• Develop reporting and reconciliation processes.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex funding questions.
• Oversee HGSU-compliant funding.
• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of business processes for the PhD funding model.
• Map current and future-state workflows, identify operational risks, and implement scalable solutions.
• Develop standardized procedures across programs and affiliates.
• Establish performance metrics and KPIs.
• Own the assessment, selection, implementation, and ongoing optimization of a modern student funding system.
• Develop functional and business requirements for new software solutions.
• Lead business process design, UAT, data validation, and implementation for new systems.
• Develop reporting capabilities and dashboards.
• Collaborate with GSAS, HMS Finance, affiliate hospitals, program leadership, and other offices to coordinate activities.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Advanced Excel

Budget management

Financial analysis

MS Office

Sponsored research regs

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

MBA

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

Job description

Harvard University is seeking an Associate Director of Student Funding within the Office for Graduate Education (OGE) to provide strategic leadership and oversee administration of PhD and master’s student funding. You will shape policies, implement new funding workflows, and modernize systems in partnership with University Information Systems and affiliated hospitals.

Responsibilities include leading policy design, reporting, stakeholder coordination, and supervision of the Student Funding