Director of Research – AI & Society Leader

Harvard University; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Parental leave

Health insurance

Tuition assistance

Retirement plans

Wellbeing resources

Campus perks

Job summary

Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society seeks a Director of Research to set the research agenda, oversee diverse research areas including agentic AI, and recruit researchers from multiple disciplines for real-world impact.

The senior, autonomous role requires leadership of a broad faculty and staff team, collaboration with executives, and strategic partnership building to advance the Center’s mission across academia, industry, and civil society.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience building and leading complex research organizations.
• Broad expertise across technical and non-technical disciplines with leadership of interdisciplinary teams.
• Experience integrating diverse cultural perspectives, languages, and governance models.
• Strong familiarity with research methods ensuring methodological rigor.
• Exceptional writing and communication skills translating complex concepts for diverse stakeholders.
• Experience cultivating relationships with philanthropic donors and funding institutions.

Responsibilities

• Set the Center's research agenda to define ambitious, original programs that advance BKC's mission, align with its theory of change and priorities.
• Lead and develop the research team across disciplines, oversee multiple research tracks and coordinate across project teams.
• Help shape the Center’s strategic direction and design of its research function, including hiring strategy and resource allocation.
• Identify major opportunities and new funders, steward funder relationships, and represent the Center with funders.
• Foster and execute research partnerships across Harvard, academia, industry and civil society.
• Engage with stakeholders to contribute to BKC's intellectual community and public-facing outputs.
• Ensure production of rigorous, high-quality, impactful research outputs across forms.
• Lead recruitment of talent to lead PI-ed research projects and maintain diverse perspectives.
• Ensure research reaches beyond academia; collaborate with communications to maximize real-world impact.

Skills

Demonstrated leadership

Cross-disciplinary expertise

Interdisciplinary research

Methodological rigor

Excellent writing & communication

Donor relations & fundraising

Education

Bachelor’s degree + 10 years experience

Advanced degree with 7 years experience considered

Job description

Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society seeks a Director of Research to set the research agenda, oversee diverse research areas including agentic AI, and recruit researchers from multiple disciplines for real-world impact.

The senior, autonomous role requires leadership of a broad faculty and staff team, collaboration with executives, and strategic partnership building to advance the Center’s mission across academia, industry, and civil society.