Chief Research Enablement & Strategy

Harvard Kennedy School; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plans

Wellbeing resources

Family support

Tuition assistance

Commuter benefits

Campus perks

Job summary

Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, MA seeks a senior leader to provide strategic, operational leadership for the full research enterprise, including research administration, computing, data services, and library programs. The CREO oversees a cohesive ecosystem aligning research objectives with policy and governance.

The role partners with faculty and university offices to advance data security, compliance, and responsible AI use in research, while championing service-oriented operations and

Qualifications

• Advanced degree required.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in research operations, enablement, or support.
• Experience managing complex organizations, programs, or administrative functions, including direct supervision of managers and professional staff.
• Demonstrated experience leading change and growth in a highly decentralized, matrixed organization.
• Demonstrated experience implementing and managing compliance functions.
• Experience integrating multiple operational units into a unified, service-oriented organization with shared goals, processes, and performance measures.
• Design thinking mindset with demonstrated success leading large-scale organizational change, process improvement, or service transformation initiatives with a focus on the end-user.
• Demonstrated commitment to service excellence and creating researcher-centered support environments that balance innovation, compliance, and operational effectiveness.
• Experience serving as a senior advisor to executive leadership on research strategy, compliance, organizational design, or institutional risk management.
• Experience leading organizational units responsible for research enablement functions such as research computing, data services, library services, compliance, externally sponsored funding, and/or related areas.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing policies, procedures, or operational frameworks in environments subject to regulatory, legal, or sponsor requirements.
• Experience collaborating with senior leaders, faculty, researchers, or other subject matter experts in a complex organizational environment.
• Deep knowledge of the evolving research landscape, including federal funding requirements, research security, data governance, open science initiatives, and responsible use of artificial intelligence in research.
• Experience supporting interdisciplinary research programs and large, complex funding opportunities involving multiple stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of research integrity frameworks and compliance requirements.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-management skills, with the ability to influence and build consensus among stakeholders with differing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Integration: Provide executive leadership for HKS research and library services, align data and research efforts across interdisciplinary teams.
• Innovation & Organizational Design: Streamline research compliance and resource access, deepen partnership with Harvard Library.
• Research Computing, Data & Governance: Oversee data warehousing, security, and compliance with FERPA, HIPAA, data regulations, and privacy laws.
• Research Compliance & Sponsored Awards: Lead compliance and sponsor functions; serve as Research Integrity Officer (RIO).
• Teaching & Learning: Coordinate course support and academic integrity with relevant offices; ensure library services across spaces.
• Operational Management: Oversee staffing, budgeting, and licensing; manage project timelines and quality across data/research functions.
• Community Engagement & Communication: Build partnerships with research centers and diverse stakeholders; represent HKS in committees.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Change management

Communication

Policy/regulatory

Stakeholder management

Collaboration

Education

Advanced degree

Job description

Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, MA seeks a senior leader to provide strategic, operational leadership for the full research enterprise, including research administration, computing, data services, and library programs. The CREO oversees a cohesive ecosystem aligning research objectives with policy and governance.

The role partners with faculty and university offices to advance data security, compliance, and responsible AI use in research, while championing service-oriented operations and