Senior Associate Director, Predegree Advising and Admissions Policy Management

Harvard University; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition assistance

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Harvard University’s Division of Continuing Education in Cambridge, MA, is seeking a Senior Associate Director to lead admissions operations, planning, and policy development. You will supervise the advising team, interpret admissions policies, and drive data-informed decision making.

This role requires strong leadership, experience in higher education administration, and the ability to manage complex student matters while partnering across schools and departments in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required.
• Minimum of 7 years’ relevant work experience.
• Master's degree in higher education administration, business administration, or a related field strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success supervising, coaching, and developing professional staff.
• Experience interpreting, applying, and communicating complex policies and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee interpretation and administration of predegree advising and admissions policies.
• Supervise advising team and provide coaching and performance guidance.
• Lead data-informed policy, planning, and decision-making across the department.
• Identify and mitigate admissions-related risks to institutional operations and reputation.
• Collaborate with OPA&A leadership and cross-functional partners on policy changes and reporting.

Skills

Policy interpretation

Data analysis

Staff supervision

Cross-functional collaboration

Advanced Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Banner

Salesforce

JIRA/Confluence

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 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

Lead admissions operations and planning that may include applicant recruitment and evaluation, event planning, data analysis and policy and workflow development.

Job-Specific Responsibilities

The Senior Associate Director oversees the consistent interpretation and administration of predegree advising and admissions policies and processes and supervises the advising team. The role provides leadership on complex student matters and institutional risk; manages key departmental operations; and uses data to inform policy, planning, decision-making, and continuous improvement.

Other duties and responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with School and University admissions and academic policies and applicable legal requirements.
• Research, analyze, interpret, and resolve policy questions, providing accurate and timely guidance to department, School, and University staff and leadership.
• Identify, monitor, and mitigate potential risks to School and University administration, operations, community, and reputation arising from admissions-related policies, practices, and student matters.
• Maintain departmental procedural resources, records, and databases to support consistent practices, informed decision-making, and continuous improvement to policy understanding and administration.
• Ensure the consistent and appropriate application of policy by the advising team through initial and ongoing training, guidance, and quality oversight.
• Manage and administer the policy petition process for all predegree students, including evaluating complex requests, issuing communications, and preparing materials for escalation to the Administrative Policy Committee and Administrative Board.
• Evaluate and resolve complicated predegree student concerns and complaints, engaging with students in a helpful, respectful, and accessible manner.
• Directly manage predegree and admissions advisors and the Assistant Director of Predegree Advising and Admissions Policy Management, providing coaching, performance management, professional development, and operational guidance; model and reinforce departmental values to support a collaborative, accountable, and student-centered work environment.
• Participate as a member of the OPA&A leadership team in annual and seasonal departmental processes for managing degree program changes, application and admission eligibility reviews and reporting, and student communications.
• Integrate, extract, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data from multiple HES systems and external sources, developing clear and concise reports, dashboards, presentations, and other data visualizations that communicate findings, trends, implications, and recommendations to stakeholders in an accessible and actionable manner.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to OPA&A leadership and a policy and operational resource for peer and senior DCE colleagues, informing stakeholders and participating in relevant meetings and cross-functional initiatives as needed.

Working Conditions

This position will be based in Cambridge, MA. Hybrid workplace models in place at DCE with a minimum of 2 days per week on campus. DCE or department may adjust these as necessary or appropriate.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum of 7 years’ relevant work experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Master's degree in higher education administration, business administration, or a related field strongly preferred
• Significant experience in admissions, advising, student services, higher education administration, or a related field
• Demonstrated success supervising, coaching, and developing professional staff
• Experience interpreting, applying, and communicating complex policies and regulations
• Experience managing sensitive or high-risk situations using sound judgment, discretion, and diplomacy
• Demonstrated analytical skills with experience interpreting quantitative and qualitative data to inform operational and strategic decisions
• Experience improving business processes and implementing operational efficiencies
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and build effective working relationships across diverse stakeholder groups
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Experience with enterprise student information systems, CRM platforms, and reporting tools (Banner, Salesforce, JIRA/Confluence, or comparable systems) preferred
• Excellent interpersonal, written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize competing demands, manage multiple initiatives, and perform effectively in a fast-paced environment

Additional Information

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Compensation Range/Rate (including Shift Differential if applicable): $90K-$110K/annual
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• Other Information:
  • A cover letter is highly encouraged for consideration.
  • All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

About Us

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) comprises four academic units serving about 30,000 domestic and international students annually, which allow Harvard to meet the learning needs of intellectually curious and highly motivated students from high school through retirement. Established in 1910, the Harvard Extension School (HES) offers access to Harvard faculty for a diverse community of adult learners, enrolling about 15,000 students. HES offers over 1,000 open enrollment courses — 85 percent of which are accessible online — and provides flexibility through noncredit, undergraduate, and graduate courses, including degrees, certificates, and a premedical program. The Harvard Summer School, founded in 1871, offers around 450 credit and noncredit courses both on the Harvard Campus and online, catering to 9,000 high school, college, and adult learners. Additionally, it offers up to 15 international study abroad programs, hosting up to 300 students each summer. Harvard DCE Professional & Executive Development delivers over 140 noncredit programs annually, reaching more than 3,600 participants through online platforms and its executive development center in Cambridge. The Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement offers about 140 peer-taught courses to approximately 550 active members.

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 058. 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.