Programs, Communications, & Engagement Manager

Harvard University; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences is hiring a Programs, Communications and Engagement Manager (PCEM) to oversee a portfolio of departmental programs, communications, events, and strategic initiatives within the department. You will partner with faculty, students, alumni, donors, visitors, and central University offices to ensure impactful engagement and effective operations.

Reporting to the Director of Administration, the PCEM will lead communications, manage internal grants,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 5+ years in academic administration or related field.
• Experience managing complex programs, events, or academic initiatives.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and independently.
• Experience with faculty, students, and senior administrators in higher education.
• Strong writing, editing, and communication skills.
• Experience with website content management systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage internal grants and funding programs from launch through award administration and reporting.
• Coordinate submissions, faculty review committees, award notifications, and applicant communications.
• Prepare committee materials and maintain records of applications, awards, and funding activity.
• Partner with department leadership on award setup, fund distribution, and donor restrictions compliance.
• Analyze funding trends and improve grant administration processes, workflows, and communications, optimizing with AI workflows.
• Lead donor stewardship and reporting with departmental leadership.
• Gather project outcomes for donor reports, briefings, and communications.
• Develop and oversee departmental communications and external engagement strategies.
• Plan and execute events, conferences, and academic programming; manage budgets.
• Administer the Department’s predoctoral research program and onboarding for fellows.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Project management

Web content management

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree or 5+ years 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.

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:

Reporting to the Director of Administration, our Programs, Communications and Engagement Manager (PCEM), is responsible for managing a portfolio of departmental programs, communications, events, and strategic initiatives that support the academic mission of the Department. The position serves as a key partner to departmental leadership in the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of programs and services that engage faculty, students, alumni, donors, visitors, and external stakeholders. The PCEM provides leadership for departmental communications and outreach activities, oversees internal grant and funding programs, manages major events and academic programming, administers the Department’s predoctoral research program, and develops systems and processes that improve the effectiveness of departmental operations. The role works closely with faculty, students, staff, alumni, donors, and central University offices to ensure the successful execution of high-profile initiatives and the effective stewardship of departmental resources. The position exercises substantial independent judgment in managing multiple programs and projects simultaneously, developing administrative processes, integrates AI processes and workflows into daily tasks and program management, analyzing program outcomes, and advising departmental leadership on opportunities to strengthen engagement, communications, and program effectiveness.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Internal Grants & Funding Programs

• Manage internal grant and funding programs from application launch through award administration and reporting.
• Coordinate application submissions, faculty review committees, award notifications, and applicant communications regarding eligibility, requirements, deadlines, and funding opportunities.
• Prepare committee materials and maintain complete records of applications, recommendations, awards, and funding activity.
• Partner with department leadership, faculty awards committee, finance staff on award setup, fund distribution, and compliance with donor restrictions and University policies.
• Analyze funding trends and program outcomes; prepare reports for leadership and improve internal grant administration processes, workflows, and communications, optimizing as needed with AI workflows.

Donor Stewardship & Reporting

• Partner with development staff and departmental leadership on donor stewardship and reporting.
• Gather and prepare information on funded projects, outcomes, and program impact for donor reports, briefings, presentations, and related communications.
• Track funding sources and support alignment between funded activities and donor intent.

Communications & External Engagement

• Lead departmental communications and outreach activities.
• Serve as liaison to the centralized communications team, gathering and providing timely, accurate departmental content, updates, calendars, and contact information for the website, newsletters, and other communications; identify needed website updates to keep information current and aligned with departmental priorities.
• May coordinate departmental publications, newsletters, annual reports, alumni communications, and other public-facing materials.
• Work with FAS Comms to develop content highlighting faculty achievements, student accomplishments, research initiatives, and departmental activities.
• Coordinate with FAS Comms, Harvard Public Affairs & Comms, Harvard Web Publishing, alumni relations, development offices, freelance writers, designers, and other external partners.
• Oversee the department’s social media presence and public-facing communications strategy.
• Lead departmental programming and partner with leadership on long-term use of the new facility to foster collaboration, community building, and intellectual engagement.

Events & Academic Programming

• Plan and execute events, conferences, department lectures, workshops, programmatic support for faculty meetings and campus search visits, and community-building activities.
• Develop event communications, invitations, and related content; support faculty and leadership in developing programming and related initiatives.
• Monitor event budgets and oversee event-related financial transactions.
• Serve as the primary contact for departmental event inquiries, sponsorship requests, and co-sponsored programming opportunities.

Predoctoral Program Administration

• Manage administrative operations for the Department’s predoctoral research program and related academic initiatives.
• Coordinate recruitment, application review, selection, and appointment processes with faculty leadership, faculty support staff, and central researcher services.
• Plan and deliver onboarding for incoming predoctoral fellows, including orientation and training coordination; serve as their primary administrative resource throughout their appointments.
• Coordinate program communications, workshops, professional development, and community-building activities.
• Partner with faculty, departmental staff, and University offices to ensure a high-quality fellow experience and compliance with applicable policies and procedures.

Working Conditions:

• This position will require some on-site presence ranging from 2-3 days per week.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in academic administration, program management, communications, events, development, higher education administration, or a related field.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Experience managing complex programs, events, or academic initiatives.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and independently.
• Experience working with faculty, students, and senior administrators in a higher education environment.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with website content management systems, communications

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
• 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.