Director of Program Operations, Data, & Systems, MBA Program

Harvard University; Massachusetts; Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off including Paren

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plans with universityContri

Wellbeing resources

Tuition assistance and reimbursement

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Harvard Business School in Boston seeks a Director of Program Operations, Data, & Systems to lead an integrated portfolio of academic program operations, data and analytics, and business systems. Reporting to the Managing Director, Registrar, this role aligns MBA Program priorities with cross-team plans and ensures strong execution and performance.

The Director connects people, processes, data, and technology to improve delivery of the MBA program and the student and faculty experience.

Qualifications

• Basic Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience and 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in complex program operations, data and analytics, or related environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading managers and multidisciplinary teams in a highly collaborative organization.
• Additional qualifications emphasize leadership, systems thinking, data-driven decision making, and transformation experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Program Operations, Data, and Systems team through senior functional leaders, setting priorities and expectations.
• Translate strategy into coordinated priorities, work plans, and resource decisions while managing dependencies and risks.
• Drive continuous improvement, accountability, and timely decision-making across the portfolio.
• Oversee core academic program operations, ensuring reliable, student- and faculty-centered service delivery.
• Lead business transformation initiatives, aligning technology, processes, and operating models.
• Provide strategic direction for data and analytics to support planning and decision-making.
• Foster partnerships across MBA and HBS to align priorities and resources.

Skills

Leadership

Data analytics

Strategic thinking

Communication

Change management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join Harvard Business School?

Harvard Business School, located on a 40-acre campus in Boston, was founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University. It is among the world's most trusted sources of management education and thought leadership. For more than a century, the School's faculty has combined a passion for teaching with rigorous research conducted alongside practitioners at world-leading organizations to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. Through a dynamic ecosystem of research, learning, and entrepreneurship that includes MBA, Doctoral, Executive Education, and Online programs, as well as numerous initiatives, centers, institutes, and labs, Harvard Business School fosters bold new ideas and collaborative learning networks that shape the future of business.

Job Summary:

The Director of Program Operations, Data, & Systems provides leadership for an integrated portfolio of academic program operations, data and analytics, and business systems supporting the Harvard Business School MBA Program. Reporting to the Managing Director, Registrar, this role leads through senior functional managers and is responsible for translating MBA Program and Registrar's Office priorities into coordinated plans, aligning resources and work across teams, and ensuring strong execution and operational performance.

The Director is a systems-oriented leader who connects people, processes, data, and technology to improve delivery of the MBA academic program and the student and faculty experience. The role provides senior business-side leadership for systems transformation and serves as a key representative of MBA academic program priorities in partnership with HBS IT and School leadership. The Director leads continuous improvement and transformation across the portfolio and develops the organizational and analytical capabilities required to support increasingly data-informed operations and decision-making.

As a member of the Registrar's Office leadership team, the Director builds and develops a high-performing, collaborative organization capable of delivering reliable core operations while adapting to changing program needs and advancing strategic priorities.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Team Leadership & Execution

• Lead and develop the Program Operations, Data, and Systems team through two senior functional leaders, establishing clear priorities, accountability, and expectations for performance while strengthening leadership and organizational capability.
• Translate MBA Program and Registrar's Office strategy into coordinated priorities, work plans, and resource decisions; align work across teams and actively manage dependencies, competing priorities, and execution risks.
• Foster a culture of strong execution, collaboration, continuous improvement, and accountability; exercise judgment and provide leadership on complex issues, ensuring timely decision-making, escalation, and resolution.

Academic Program Operations & Continuous Improvement

• Provide leadership and oversight for core academic program and course operations, ensuring reliable, efficient, and student- and faculty-centered delivery of critical MBA services and processes.
• Lead ongoing evaluation and redesign of business processes, workflows, service models, and organizational practices to improve quality, efficiency, scalability, and stakeholder experience.
• Apply a systems perspective to identify connections and opportunities across operations, policy, data, technology, and organizational processes, leading improvements from problem definition through implementation and assessment.

Business Systems & Transformation

• Provide senior business-side leadership for major systems and digitally enabled transformation initiatives affecting the MBA academic program, translating program strategy and priorities into future-state capabilities, business requirements, and implementation priorities.
• Represent Registrar's Office and MBA academic program priorities in senior-level technology and transformation planning, partnering with HBS IT to evaluate opportunities and tradeoffs, shape priorities and recommendations, and ensure alignment among MBA needs, user experience, and broader HBS technology direction.
• Lead the business transformation required to realize the value of technology investments, integrating systems implementation with process and operating-model redesign, organizational readiness, change management, adoption, and measures of success.

Data, Analytics & Decision Support

• Provide strategic direction and leadership for the academic data and analytics function, ensuring the team delivers high-quality, accessible, and actionable information to support program operations, curricular and faculty planning, academic policy, and strategic decision-making.
• Establish priorities and expectations for data quality, stewardship, reporting, analytics, and access; develop the team's capabilities and ensure effective partnership with functional stakeholders and HBS technology and data partners.
• Enable the team to advance real-time data, analytics, automation, and emerging capabilities that improve operational management, identify trends and opportunities, support timely interventions, and strengthen data-informed planning and decision-making.

Strategic Partnership & Integrated Planning

• Serve as a member of the Registrar's Office leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy, resource planning, priority setting, and development of capabilities required to support the evolving MBA Program.
• Build strong partnerships across MBA and HBS to anticipate needs, coordinate initiatives, resolve cross-functional issues, and align program operations, data, and systems priorities.
• Represent the Registrar's Office in appropriate cross-functional planning and transformation efforts and maintain effective partnerships with HBS IT, University colleagues, and other stakeholders.
• Build trust and collaboration by being present on-site and engaging directly with colleagues and various constituents.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in complex program operations, data and analytics, business systems, or a related environment, including significant management experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading managers and multidisciplinary teams and delivering results in a complex, highly collaborative organization.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Exceptional people leader with demonstrated success developing managers and teams, establishing clear accountability, managing competing priorities, and creating a high-performing and collaborative culture.
• Strong systems thinker and problem solver, with demonstrated ability to understand and improve relationships among organizational strategy, operations, processes, data, technology, and stakeholder experience.
• Significant experience using data and analytics to improve operations, evaluate performance, identify opportunities, and support strategic decision-making.
• Demonstrated success leading complex process, systems, or organizational transformation and associated change management.
• Ability to translate business and program needs into capabilities and requirements and to partner effectively with technology, data, and functional experts; direct technical development experience is not required.
• Strong judgment and demonstrated ability to make decisions, resolve complex issues, manage risk, and appropriately escalating matters with broader organizational implications.
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and stakeholder-management skills, including the ability to influence and lead effectively across organizational boundaries.
• Experience in higher education or another complex, mission-driven organization preferred.

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 40 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• Other Information:
  • This is a hybrid position which we consider to be a combination of remote
    and onsite work at our Boston, MA based campus. HBS expects allstaff to be
    onsite a minimum of 3 days per week and departments provide onsite
    coverage Monday - Friday. Specific hours and days onsite will be
    determined by business needs and are subject to change with appropriate
    advanced notice.
  • We may conduct candidate interviews virtually (phone and/or via Zoom) and/or in-person for this role.
  • A cover letter is required to be considered for this opportunity.

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 059. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• 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

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.