Director of Strategy and Programs (A&H)

Harvard University, Faculty of Arts & Sciences; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts & Sciences seeks a Director of Divisional Strategy and Programs to shape and advance a forward-looking arts and humanities agenda. You will partner with the Divisional Dean to grow student engagement, increase course enrollment, and attract concentrators across the division.

The role requires a deep commitment to the arts and humanities and a proven ability to translate vision into implementable plans, while building relationships with faculty, staff, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in strategy and administration.
• Experience developing and executing multi-year strategic plans.
• Advanced degree in arts, humanities, or related field preferred.
• Higher education or similarly complex organizational experience strongly preferred.
• Genuine passion for the arts and humanities and belief in their central role in a rigorous education.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to move from vision to action and build implementable plans.
• Strong written and oral communication, across diverse audiences.
• Autonomous, self-directed with alignment to Dean and divisional leadership.
• Transparent, collaborative working style with stakeholders.
• Sound judgment and discretion in sensitive organizational matters.

Responsibilities

• Serve as chief of staff to the Divisional Dean, maintaining broad situational awareness across the division.
• Partner with the Dean to define the division's strategic direction and initiatives that grow student enrollment and concentrations in arts and humanities.
• Lead annual and multi-year strategic planning, translating priorities into a divisional roadmap with concrete goals and timelines.
• Design and implement policies, programs, and operational frameworks embedding new directions.
• Build alignment across faculty, partners, and leadership around divisional priorities.
• Advise the Dean, providing well-framed decision support on complex issues and opportunities.
• Cultivate working relationships with faculty and staff leaders to foster collaboration.
• Track progress against strategic priorities, surface risks, and propose course corrections.
• Articulate the value of arts and humanities education for student career readiness and impact.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Relationship-building

Communication skills

Self-directed

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Company Description

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

Why join the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences?

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart ofHarvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduateprogram (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all ofHarvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin GraduateSchool of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athleticsand the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academicdepartments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a communityunparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest rangeof liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeksto foster an environmentof ambition, curiosity and sharedcommitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from allmembers of our community and prepares the next generation ofleaders through a transformative educational experience.

Job Description

Job Summary

The Division of Arts & Humanities is entering an ambitious newchapter, and the Director of Divisional Strategy and Programs willplay a critical role in it. Working in close partnership with theDivisional Dean, the Director will help shape and advance aforward-looking agenda focused on growing student engagement withthe arts and humanities by increasing course enrollment, attractingconcentrators, and making a compelling, evidence-based case thathumanistic inquiry is among the most valuable offerings atHarvard.

This is a role for someone who combines genuine intellectualcommitment to the arts and humanities with the strategic andoperational skills to turn vision into reality. The Director willbe a thought partner to the Dean, an architect of implementableplans, and a relationship-builder who can bring faculty, staff, andinstitutional partners along on a shared journey.

Job-Specific Responsibilities

• Serve as chief of staff to the Divisional Dean, maintainingbroad situational awareness across the division and ensuringpriorities, projects, and problems receive appropriate and timelyattention
• Partner with the Dean to define the division’s strategicdirection, with particular focus on initiatives that grow studentenrollment in arts and humanities courses and increase the numberof students concentrating in fields across A&H
• Lead the annual and multi-year strategic planning process,translating priorities into a clear divisional roadmap withconcrete goals, timelines, and accountabilities
• Design and implement policies, programs, and operationalframeworks that embed new directions into sustainable divisionalpractice
• Build alignment across faculty, functional partners, andinstitutional leadership around shared divisional priorities,facilitating communication and sustaining momentum
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Dean, providing well-frameddecision support on complex issues, emerging opportunities, andtime-sensitive matters; frame options clearly, identify trade-offs,and drive toward alignment
• Cultivate strong working relationships with faculty and staffleaders across the division, fostering a collaborative andtransparent culture
• Track and communicate progress against strategic priorities,surfacing risks early, recommending course corrections, andensuring the Dean and key stakeholders have a clear and currentpicture of divisional initiatives
• Articulate and champion the professional value of arts andhumanities education, connecting disciplinary depth to studentcareer readiness and long-term impact

Working Conditions

Physical Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• Minimum 10 years of experience in strategy andadministration
• Experience developing and executing multi-year strategicplans

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Advanced degree in arts, humanities, or a related fieldpreferred
• Higher education or similarly complex organizational experiencestrongly preferred
• Genuine passion for the arts and humanities and a deep beliefin their place at the center of a rigorous education
• Strategic thinker with the ability to move fluidly from visionto action, building implementable plans from complex, long-rangegoals
• Skilled relationship-builder, effective across faculty,administrative leaders, and senior institutional partners
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the abilityto convey complex information clearly and persuasively to a rangeof audiences
• Self-directed and autonomous, with the drive to initiate andfollow through independently while maintaining close and consistentalignment with the Dean and divisional leadership
• Transparent and collaborative working style, with a commitmentto keeping the Dean and all relevant stakeholders well-informed andengaged at every stage
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitiveorganizational, financial, and institutional matters

Additional Information

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University isunable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal,Credit

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders thatsome of the duties and responsibilities can be effectivelyperformed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and locationwill be set by the department at its discretion and based uponoperational needs. When not working at a Harvard orHarvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions mustwork in a Harvard registered state in compliance with theUniversity’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 priorto employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 060. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view thecorresponding salary range and related information.

Benefits

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

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage startingon day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuitionassistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

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

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination . We seek talentfrom all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensureeveryone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our communityadvance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on thebasis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexualorientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability,or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in theuniversity's non-discrimination policy . Harvard'sequal employment opportunity policyand non-discrimination policy help allcommunity members participate fully in work and campus life freefrom harassment and discrimination.