Lead Analyst (Two year term position)

Harvard Central Administration (CADM) Talent Acquisition; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Tuition assistance

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Harvard University Central Administration (CADM) Talent Acquisition seeks a Lead Analyst for HR Systems to drive university‑wide HR applications, including LMS and PeopleSoft Payroll, with a focus on requirements, integrations, and stakeholder engagement.

Reporting to the Associate Director, HR Systems, you will mentor analysts, lead complex projects, and coordinate resources across Harvard to deliver robust HR solutions in a collaborative, hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years’ post‑secondary education or relevant work experience.
• Supervisory experience.
• Experience with running large IT projects in cross‑functional agile teams.
• Strong ability to build relationships with administrators, HR, faculty affairs and finance.

Responsibilities

• Lead requirements gathering, business process analysis, testing, implementation, and change management activities.
• Coordinate system integrations and business processes across HR applications, as well as other Harvard systems, third‑party vendors and IT teams.
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and work coordination for other analysts on the HR Systems team working on the same project.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and escalation point.
• Partner with the Associate Director, HR Systems to support portfolio planning, project prioritization, and resource coordination.
• Manage multiple initiatives simultaneously while ensuring high‑quality service and support.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Agile project management

Communication skills

Mentoring others

Strategic thinking

Education

Seven years post-secondary education or relevant work experience

Supervisory experience

Job description

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 Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high‑quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT) is a community of Information Technology professionals committed to understanding our users and devoted to making it easier for faculty, students, and staff to teach, research, learn, and work through the effective use of information technology. We are recruiting an IT workforce that has both breadth in their ability to collaborate and innovate across disciplines – and depth in specific areas of expertise. HUIT offers opportunities for IT professionals to learn and work in a unique technology landscape and service‑focused environment. If you are a technically proficient, nimble, user‑focused and accountable IT professional who also connects with the importance of collaborating well in a team environment we are looking for you!

More About HUIT

Our Mission: huit.harvard.edu/about

We empower the Harvard community with essential and transformative technologies to advance education, knowledge, and discovery.

• Human‑centered
• University‑focused
• Innovation‑driven
• Team‑oriented

IT Academy (designed for IT Staff)

HUIT’s IT Academy aims to enable each IT staff person to grow professionally and become a trusted partner to her or his team. The IT Academy is built on the belief that every IT staff member across the University (including technology employees at each school and campus) can grow in her or his area of expertise as well as building strong people and project management skills. Learn more here: https://itacademy.harvard.edu/.

Job Description

Reporting to the Associate Director, HR Systems, the Lead Analyst serves as one of the functional leads for a portfolio of university‑wide HR systems, which may include Harvard's Learning Management System (LMS) environment, PeopleSoft Payroll, and related HR applications.

The Lead Analyst partners with stakeholders across Harvard to lead projects, analyze business needs, drive system enhancements, and ensure applications effectively support HR initiatives and operations. This role provides functional leadership for complex projects, mentors other analysts, and serves as a key liaison between business stakeholders and technical teams.

Job‑Specific Responsibilities

• Lead requirements gathering, business process analysis, testing, implementation, and change management activities.
• Coordinate system integrations and business processes across HR applications, as well as other Harvard systems, third‑party vendors and IT teams.
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and work coordination for other analysts on the HR Systems team working on the same project.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and escalation point.
• Partner with the Associate Director, HR Systems to support portfolio planning, project prioritization, and resource coordination.
• Manage multiple initiatives simultaneously while ensuring high‑quality service and support.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years’ post‑secondary education or relevant work experience
• Supervisory experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• 10+ years of experience in business systems analysis and/or product management with progressive responsibility of managing complex IT environments.
• Experience with running and managing large IT projects, with a cross‑functional agile team.
• Demonstrated ability to build and foster a broad range of business relationships with administrators, human resources, faculty affairs, and finance professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop and mentor teams.
• Must be passionate about delivering great service and driving on products and projects in the public interest.
• Strong organizational skills, communication skills (written, oral and presentation) with a concern for accuracy, details and quality to cross‑functional and non‑technical business owners.
• Strong knowledge about the business processes and related technologies that support HR, finance, and faculty affairs teams.
• Ability to think strategically while working through tactical short‑term priorities.
• Experience working with the Agile methodology.

Certificates and Licenses

• Completion of Harvard IT Academy specified foundational courses (or external equivalent) preferred.

Additional Information

• Working Conditions: Onsite work is performed in an office setting.
• Appointment End Date: This is a fully benefited, full‑time Harvard University position that has been funded for two years from date of hire. There is the possibility of renewal, contingent upon your work performance meeting the needs of the department and the continued availability of funding designed to support the position.
• 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: Please provide a cover letter and resume as one document with your application. This position has a 180‑day orientation and review period.

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

• 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.

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.