Strategic Programs Director – Science Division

Harvard University; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plans

Tuition assistance / reimbursement

Parental leave

Job summary

Harvard University is seeking a Director of Divisional Strategy and Programs to partner with the Divisional Dean, shaping and executing strategic priorities across the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. You will translate ambitious goals into actionable plans, align departments, and manage high-stakes initiatives with disciplined governance.

The role requires a sophisticated understanding of higher education, strong leadership, and the ability to coordinate across finance, HR, and operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in strategy and administration;
• Experience developing and executing multi-year strategic plans.
• MBA or equivalent graduate degree preferred.
• Higher education or similarly complex organizational experience strongly preferred.
• Exceptional business acumen, including ability to assess financial implications, operational trade-offs, and institutional dynamics.
• Highly collaborative, with ability to build trust and work with academic and administrative partners.
• Skilled at establishing credibility quickly and providing structure within complex, fast-moving workstreams.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Dean to shape and advance the division's strategic priorities, translating long-range goals into actionable plans with clear owners, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
• Lead the annual and multi-year strategic planning process, translating priorities into a clear divisional roadmap with concrete goals, timelines, and accountabilities.
• Serve as the Dean's delegate on high-priority projects and workstreams, including organizational reviews of departments, major capital and facilities initiatives, and significant financial or operational efforts.
• Assess departmental structures, workflows, and resource alignment, developing practical recommendations to strengthen organizational effectiveness across the division.
• Identify opportunities to improve cross-functional coordination and streamline workflows without adding layers or complexity.
• Partner with leaders across the division and FAS to ensure workstreams are well-integrated and the right expertise is engaged at the right time.
• Provide well-framed decision support on complex issues, frame options clearly, and drive toward alignment.
• Track and communicate progress against strategic priorities, surfacing risks early and recommending course corrections.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Collaboration

Project leadership

Communication (written and oral)

Self-directed

Trust and credibility

Cross-functional coordination

Decision support

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or equivalent graduate degree

Job description

Harvard University is seeking a Director of Divisional Strategy and Programs to partner with the Divisional Dean, shaping and executing strategic priorities across the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. You will translate ambitious goals into actionable plans, align departments, and manage high-stakes initiatives with disciplined governance.

The role requires a sophisticated understanding of higher education, strong leadership, and the ability to coordinate across finance, HR, and operations.