Program Manager

Harvard University FAS Human Resources; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Health insurance (medical, dental, and

Retirement plans with university 1Con

Job summary

Harvard University is seeking a Program Manager within Faculty Support Services to oversee two Program Coordinators. You will lead centralized event support and financial processing, ensuring timely execution and post-event reviews across the Division.

Hybrid role with campus days and on-site coordination. The position requires a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience and at least five years in academic administration, including staff supervision and financial management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible administrative management experience, including staff supervision and financial management in an academic setting.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with leadership, negotiation, and consensus-building abilities; experience with financial systems and data query tools.

Responsibilities

• Planning & Strategy: Consult clients, define event scope/themes, and build timelines and run-of-shows.
• Budget Management: Create and track budgets, process invoices, and manage expenses.
• Vendor & Venue Sourcing: Research, visit, and book venues; hire and coordinate caterers, AV techs, entertainers, and staff.
• Logistics & Marketing: Handle registration, permits, travel/accommodation, signage, and promotional campaigns.
• On-Site Execution: Oversee setup, run live operations, manage guest flow and speakers, troubleshoot issues.
• Post-Event Review: Evaluate success metrics, gather feedback, and reconcile final bills.
• Financial transactions: Reconcile accounts and manage Buy2Pay and Concur processing per policy.

Skills

Organization

Communication

Negotiation

Problem-Solving

Technical proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Cvent

Spreadsheets

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.

Job Description

Job Summary:

Faculty Support Services provides comprehensive administrative support to departments and centers within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Division. Reporting directly to the Director of Faculty Support Services, the Program Manager oversees and manages two Program Coordinators.

As a member of a collaborative administrative team, the Program Manager and their direct reports will assume an expanding role in providing centralized event support and financial administrative services to units across the Division. The Program Manager will also provide interim coverage, as needed, during short- and long-term absences or vacancies among department administrators.

Faculty Support Services provides support to departments and centers in the Faculty of Arts & Science Division. This position is responsible for oversight and management of two Program Coordinators who will increasingly take on centralized event support and financial administrative processing for the units in the Divisions, provide interim floater coverage as needed during short and long-term absences or vacancies of department administrators. This position also performs day-to-day departmental administration transactions, including processing Concur transactions for non-ladder faculty within the Divisions and Buy2Pay payments using Harvard’s financial policies.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities:

• Planning & Strategy: Consult clients, define event scope/themes, and build comprehensive timelines and run-of-shows.
• Budget Management: Create and track budgets, process invoices, and manage expenses.
• Vendor & Venue Sourcing: Research, visit, and book venues; hire and coordinate caterers, AV techs, entertainers, and staff.
• Logistics & Marketing: Handle registration, permits, travel/accommodation, signage, and promotional/social campaigns.
• On-Site Execution: Oversee setup, run live operations, manage guest flow/speakers, and troubleshoot last-minute issues.
• Post-Event Review: Evaluate success metrics, gather feedback, and reconcile final bills.
• Financial transactions: Reconcile accounts and balances funds at year-end. Develops and submits budgets for events to comply with FAS policy. Processes high volume of Buy2Pay transactions and Concur expenses.

In conjunction with the Director for Faculty Support Services, develops and implements procedures for work assignments and workflows to better support the needs of faculty and staff across the division. Manages daily performance of Faculty Support Services staff in their onsite and offsite responsibilities to ensure smooth completion of ongoing work and projects and additional assignments.

Required Skills:

• Organization: Multi-tasking complex, overlapping timelines, and vendor details.
• Communication & Negotiation: Securing vendor rates, client relations, and team alignment.
• Problem-Solving: Calmly pivoting and fixing unexpected vendor/logistical failures on-site.
• Technical Proficiency: Experience with event/registration software (e.g., Cvent) and spreadsheets.

Working Conditions:

This is a hybrid position with an expectation of working on campus three days per week. Exact schedule will be determined in conjunction with your managerand may adjust based on operational and/or business needs.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible administrative management experience, including staff supervision and financial management in an academic setting.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

Strong interpersonal and communication skills essential, including the ability to deal diplomatically with a wide range of people. Strong leadership, negotiation, consensus building skills. Demonstrated experience with a service-oriented unit, and experience with financial systems and data query tools.

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, Education, Criminal
• Other Information: All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

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 057. 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.