Director of Fellows and Study Groups

24-Apr-2024

Harvard Kennedy School

65362BR

Job Summary

The Director of Fellows and Study Groups will develop a strategic plan for targeting potential fellows candidates, including researching and utilizing the Institute of Politics (IOP) networks to identify and recruit candidates for the IOP’s resident and visiting fellows’ programs.

The successful candidate will possess:

• A demonstrated deep knowledge of political issues and experience working in politics and government. 
• Strong program management experience, ideally some experience in higher education or academic institution.
• A desire to work with students to encourage involvement in both public service and the political process required.   
• An ability to synthesize and integrate complex policy issues and ideas into effective discussion topics required.

The Fellows and Study Groups (FSG) program has been a core element of the IOP since its founding and is a unique opportunity for political practitioners with diverse experiences and viewpoints to spend a semester at the IOP.  IOP Fellows fully immerse themselves in the Harvard community and campus life by engaging with students, faculty and staff. They are also encouraged to pursue their own individual studies and interests around campus. The IOP Fellows program is central to the Institute's dual commitment to encourage student interest in public life and to develop ways for the academic and political communities to learn from each other.

Position Description

Reporting to the IOP Executive Director and working closely with the IOP Director and student leadership team, the Director of Fellows and Study Groups is responsible for the entirety of the Fellows program, including but not limited to, the following:

• Developing and managing an annual budget along with the Director of Finance and Administration. 
• Oversight of residential life for fellows including the management and upkeep needs of 6 residential housing units. 
• Developing an international plan for outreach and recruitment of potential fellows and oversight of their engagement, interviewing, and selection process. 
• Overseeing fellows’ orientation into the IOP and Harvard community, including connecting fellows with students, faculty, and staff. 
• Creating opportunities for fellows to partner with HKS research centers and programs making connections between academia and politics. 
• Working with student groups and facilitating students’ (graduate and undergraduate) interaction with fellows.
• Working with fellows to develop curriculum for weekly study groups (8 sessions), contributing to the topics and content development of the study groups. 

The Director is responsible for supervising a Fellows Coordinator who provides administrative and on-boarding support to the fellows, oversees all program logistics including outreach and offers extended, transportation and housing for fellows and their guests and, together with the Director, mentors and guides numerous student liaisons in their work.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of program management experience in academia, politics, or government required.  Previous experience managing or supervising staff. 

Additional Qualifications and Skills

If you possess some, but not all of the following, you are encouraged to apply; we value employees with a willingness to learn:

• Master’s degree in public policy, public administration, higher education administration or other directly related area and 7+ years of experience in academia, politics, or government preferred.
• Experience with long term strategic planning, student engagement, and running selection committees preferred. 
• Experience planning and organizing public events.
• The Director must possess supervisory skills, a high level of detail orientation, and exceptional oral and written communication skills. 
• Ability to work in a team required.
• An ability to communicate effectively with individuals from elected public office, journalism, and other associated fields. 
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality. 
• Ability to set priorities and work collaboratively with a high degree of initiative and ability to handle multiple responsibilities simultaneously required.  
• Previous experience and familiarity with an academic setting preferred.   

Additional Information

Learn more about our work culture and see yourself at Harvard Kennedy School.

We regret that the Harvard Kennedy School does not provide visa sponsorship.
Harvard University requires pre-employment reference and background checks. 
Harvard University is committed to supporting a healthy, sustainable learning and working environment.

This is a hybrid position based on our campus in Cambridge, MA.  As a campus-based institution, we place a high value on the in-person experience, cross-team collaboration, and strong community building in order to create a vibrant campus for our students, faculty, staff, and research fellows. The position is required to work in-person on campus a minimum of three days per week during the academic year. Specific days and schedule will be determined between you and your manager.

The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up-to-date on CDC-recommended vaccines.

Salary Range: $85,100 - $146,500
Note: Starting salaries typically fall in the lower half of the salary range; however, they are ultimately determined by the scope of the position, the candidate's relevant experience, and internal equity. 

Work Format Details

This is a hybrid position that is based in Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

About Us

The Institute of Politics (IOP) at the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) has a proud history as the first institution of its kind with a mission to inspire students, particularly Harvard undergraduates, towards politics and public service. Established in 1966 as a living memorial to President Kennedy, the IOP seeks to bridge practical politics with academic work. Through 15 student and staff led programs, the IOP engages with Harvard students in a variety of ways, including weekly study groups with Fellows, the JFK Jr. Forum, civic education programming in local schools, public service internships, the Harvard Political Review, and the Politics of Race and Ethnicity program among others. To find out more about the IOP, visit https://iop.harvard.edu/ .

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards ) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Job Function

General Administration

Department Office Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Code

361058 Administrative Manager

Work Format

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Department

Institute of Politics

Annual Salary Range

$90,000-$120,000

Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Pre-Employment Screening

Education, Identity

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Harvard Kennedy School’s Mission and Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism

At Harvard Kennedy School, fostering a diverse and inclusive community where everyone feels they belong is a matter of basic fairness consistent with our core values as an institution. It is also essential to our mission of improving public policy and leadership—because recruiting the best people and creating an environment where they can thrive make us better at what we do, because we learn more from people with different perspectives, and because we work in diverse groups and serve diverse societies.

Learn more about Harvard Kennedy School’s commitment to Diversity Equity, and Anti-Racism.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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