Laboratory Coordinator

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Generous paid time off

Tuition assistance

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences seeks a Laboratory Coordinator to enable teaching and research through administrative leadership. You will act as primary contact for faculty, manage calendars, travel, and purchases, and support events and onboarding for lab members.

The role emphasizes strong organizational skills and the ability to coordinate across teams while maintaining confidentiality. Hybrid work options are available; on-campus presence is valued.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of administrative or customer service experience.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Professional written and verbal communication abilities.
• Discretion and sound judgment in handling confidential information.
• Ability to work independently and coordinate multiple projects.
• Familiarity with higher education, research administration, or academic operations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage calendars, travel, expenses, and daily administrative needs of up to 10 faculty members.
• Prepare correspondence, reports, and meeting materials.
• Serve as primary administrative support for faculty activities (e.g., events, visitors, purchasing).
• Route faculty requests to proper functional partner; act as main point of contact.
• Provide support for teaching and research portfolios and onboarding of lab members.
• Assist with purchasing and vendor coordination and grant documentation.
• May lead a small team of Faculty Assistants when required.

Skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Communication skills

Discretion

Independent work

Stakeholder coordination

Customer-service orientation

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Canvas

Concur

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Canvas

Concur

Job description

• Salary Grade: 055
• Department: Sciences - Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
• FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Company 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 the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences?

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics and the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.

Job Description

Job Summary:

The Laboratory Coordinator (LC) provides administrative and operational support to faculty to enable effective teaching and research. The LC serves as the primary point of contact for administrative matters and coordinates day-to-day activities. Strong in-person presence required.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Manage calendars, travel, expenses, and daily administrative needs of up to 10 faculty members
• Prepare correspondence, reports, and meeting materials
• Serve as primary administrative support for faculty activities (e.g., events, visitors, purchasing)
• Route faculty requests to proper functional partner, serving as their main point-of-contact to functional partners and shared service centers.
• Provide support for faculty members directly related to their teaching and research portfolio
• Provide support for events led by faculty
• When applicable, act as team lead for a small group of Faculty Assistants through a player-coach model
• Provide administrative support to all lab members
• Assist with purchasing and vendor coordination
• Support proposal preparation and grant documentation
• Support lab members orientation and onboarding
• May perform other related duties as assigned, including sharing responsibility for general administrative coverage such as reception and event support

Working Conditions:

May be expected to work on campus up to 4 days per week.

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.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

Minimum of five years of administrative or customer service experience.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy and attention to detail
• Professional written and verbal communication skills
• Discretion and sound judgment
• Ability to work independently and elevate issues appropriately
• Stakeholder coordination
• Ability to directly support multiple faculty simultaneously with a customer-service orientation
• Familiarity with higher education, research administration, or academic operations preferred
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to work across teams and with a variety of projects and constituencies.
• Strong skills in Word, Excel and PowerPoint required. Experience with Canvas and Concur a plus.

Certificates and Licenses:

Will require completion of internal financial, procurement, or research compliance training

Additional Information

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity
• Other Information:
  • All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

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 055. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.

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

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.