Project Coordinator for Student Engagement

10-Mar-2022

Harvard Kennedy School

55417BR

Job Summary

The Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative is an ambitious joint effort of Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School in close collaboration with and funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies to advance leadership, management, and innovation in cities. As part of the newly announced Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, the Initiative equips mayors and senior city officials with the skills, tools, and techniques to tackle the leadership and management challenges they face in their cities.

The City Support and Student Engagement team within the Initiative leads relationship management with the Initiative’s growing network of cities and student opportunities across that network. The team’s primary focus is to ensure effective and transferable learning for each cohort of city leaders and experiential learning opportunities for students (through student fellowships,

Job-Specific Responsibilities

Reporting to the Program Manager for Student Engagement and working closely with Initiative leadership and staff, students across Harvard, and cities, the Project Coordinator will serve an integral role in ensuring outstanding execution of administrative, programmatic, and operational services for student programming and events.

Key responsibilities include:
Coordinate Activities with City Officials, Students, and Key Stakeholders:

• Manage logistics, communications, and follow-up with senior city officials, graduate students, and key stakeholders for activities such as progress check-ins, interviews, and scoping conversations for key student opportunities (student fellowships, field courses, capstone thesis projects, research, etc.). Lead preparation (including background research), maintain records and notes, and conduct critical follow-up.
• Coordinate hiring and onboarding processes for student fellows, research assistants, and summer associates. Edit project scopes/job descriptions, candidate requirements, and background information from cities.
• Track student progress, flag and help address challenges, and surface needs.
• Create and manage work plans, with keen attention to deadlines, interdependencies, and risks. Develop standard operating procedures and process improvements.
• Initiate and maintain partnerships across Harvard graduate student programs.
• Draft and assist in production of high-quality reports, presentations, memos, and materials.
• Coordinate outreach to student groups across Harvard to ensure wide reach of information about student opportunities.
• Support the development, launch, and execution of new postgraduate fellowships.

Convenings and events:

•  Manage key student events. Coordinate and produce key student events across Harvard graduate schools, such as an annual Meet and Greet, Summer Fellowship Overview,
• Onboarding for Research Assistants, and Fellowship Kick-Off events. Prepare convening materials, coordinate with speakers and guests.

Program Impact:

• Track and document progress. Organize, manage, analyze, and track via CRM and other means ongoing progress and impact of student work with cities.
• Track equity metrics for student programming.

Team Advancement:

• Foster and contribute to a culture of excellence grounded in learning, problem solving, and teamwork.
• Collaborate with colleagues to identify recommendations for improvements.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 4 years of progressively responsible experience inclusive of supporting students, cities, or some similar organization.
• Advanced experience with Microsoft Suite, Salesforce, Zoom, and project management tools.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Track record of consistently exceeding expectations, delivering on time, and producing high-quality output
• Strong organizational skills with an ability to build productive relationships, secure information, and accomplish work across all levels of a diverse organization
• Excellent presentation and writing skills
• Skill in managing multiple diverse activities simultaneously, delivering on commitments, and operating with speed, accuracy, and strong judgment
• A passion for cities and public sector innovation
• An appetite for trying and testing new ideas
• Extraordinary diligence and thoroughness, with the ability to drive to big picture goals
• A strong customer service orientation coupled with persistent follow up
• A strong work ethic and resolute integrity
• Excellent interpersonal skills that resonate with diverse audiences
• We are committed to building and fostering a diverse and inclusive team of staff, students, and faculty and we seek candidates who share our commitment and values.
• Experience working with administrators, faculty, and students a plus.

Additional Information

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

Please note:This is an in-person/on campus position based in Cambridge, MA, with possible flexible work options.

The University requires all Harvard community members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccine boosters, as detailed in Harvard’s Vaccine & Booster Requirements . Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University’s COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University’s “COVID-19 Vaccine Information” webpage: http://www.harvard.edu/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-information/ . 

Salary Range: $62,641 - 102,491
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. 

Harvard Kennedy School’s Mission and Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

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, inclusion, and belonging.
Harvard Kennedy School’s mission is to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. Our teaching, research, and engagement with practitioners focus on these priorities:

• Protecting security, freedom, and human rights
• Strengthening democracy
• Advancing social justice
• Increasing economic well-being
• Enhancing sustainability
• Improving public leadership and management

You can be part of this endeavor. Explore and learn more about Harvard Kennedy School .

Harvard offers a generous benefits package including:

• Time Off: 3- 4 weeks paid vacation, paid holiday break, 12 paid sick days, 11.5 paid holidays, and 3 paid personal days per year.
• Medical/Dental/Vision: We offer a variety of excellent medical plans, dental & vision plans, all coverage begins as of your start date.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive tuition assistance program, $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and discounted options through participating Harvard grad schools. 
• Transportation: Harvard offers a 50% discounted MBTA pass as well as additional options to assist employees in their daily commute.
• Wellness Options: Harvard offers programs and classes at little or no cost, including stress management, massages, nutrition, meditation and complimentary health services.
  Harvard access to athletic facilities, libraries, campus events and many discounts throughout metro Boston.

Job Function

General Administration

Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Code

405013 Administrator (N)

Department

Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation

Union

55 - Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers

Pre-Employment Screening

Education, Identity

Schedule

9-5 Monday through Friday

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Harvard Kennedy School’s Mission and Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

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, inclusion, and belonging.
Harvard Kennedy School’s mission is to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. Our teaching, research, and engagement with practitioners focus on these priorities:

• Protecting security, freedom, and human rights
• Strengthening democracy
• Advancing social justice
• Increasing economic well-being
• Enhancing sustainability
• Improving public leadership and management

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.