Explore Harvard

The Academic job function consists of non-faculty (staff) research roles that support both faculty and scholarly research across the University, including research associates, fellows, and scribes. Positions within this job function often require specialized expertise but are not traditional academic appointments. If you are interested in a faculty/academic appointment, please apply through ARieS.

Alumni Affairs and Development professionals foster and strengthen lifelong relationships and networks with alumni, parents, and friends of Harvard to advance the University’s educational and research goals. Roles within this job function can range from frontline fundraising and event planning to donor relations and volunteer engagement to gift stewardship and prospect research, and more.

Roles in the Arts job function contribute to Harvard’s vibrant artistic community through a range of creative, technical, and educational responsibilities. They may plan and produce artistic performances, exhibitions, and events, including technical and production design and support. They may also deliver arts programming on campus and in the community, and support logistics, budgeting, marketing, and audience engagement for artistic initiatives and departments.

Coaches, trainers, lifeguards, and others in the Athletics job function manage and support University athletic programs. They foster teamwork, sportsmanship, and school spirit, while also helping student-athletes balance academic and athletic commitments. Staff in this function may also handle event coordination, facilities management, and administrative duties to ensure the smooth and safe operation of Harvard's extensive athletic offerings and facilities.

The Communications job function encompasses roles that involve shaping and sharing the University’s voice both internally and externally. Communications professionals’ responsibilities can include strategic communications, media and public relations, content creation and website management, social media, digital and email marketing, and more. These professionals play a key role in informing, inspiring, and connecting Harvard’s global community.

Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) professionals are responsible for creating and maintaining a safe, compliant, and healthy campus environment. From lab safety and hazardous materials management to emergency preparedness and environmental compliance to fire, residential, and workplace safety, EH&S professionals ensure safe and sustainable environments across the University, where students, faculty, and staff can thrive.

The Facilities job function is essential for the daily operation and long-term goals of Harvard’s world-class campus, ensuring safe, efficient, and sustainable spaces for learning, research, and campus life. From historic preservation to energy management, professionals such as facilities managers, custodians, electricians, plumbers, technicians, landscapers, project managers, and others help uphold Harvard’s commitment to excellence and sustainability across its physical footprint.

The Faculty and Student Services job function shapes the academic experience at Harvard by facilitating both academic operations and the student experience. Professionals in this job function provide expertise in areas such as student recruitment, admissions, enrollment, course registration, academic advising, financial aid, and student affairs. Others offer exceptional faculty support through course planning, development, and scheduling, faculty recruitment and orientation, research support, and more.

The Finance job function plays a vital role in advancing the University’s mission by ensuring strong financial stewardship and long-term sustainability. Through budgeting and analysis, strategic financial planning, payroll and accounting, managing grants and research administration, and much more, finance professionals ensure effective financial management, compliance, and strategic resource use across the University.

The General Administration job function provides essential operational support to ensure efficient day-to-day operations across all of Harvard’s schools and units. Roles within this broad job function handle a wide range of responsibilities, such as maintaining office operations, coordinating events, overseeing budgets, leading and managing programs and projects, and supporting departments, offices, and roles at all levels, including senior leadership. Specialized roles such as attorneys and police officers may also fall within this job function.

Harvard’s health care professionals support and maintain the physical and mental wellbeing of students, faculty, and staff through high-quality medical, dental, mental health, and wellness services. Professionals in this job function provide clinical care, health education, and public health guidance. By promoting a healthy community, they help ensure that all members of the Harvard community can thrive and grow.

Hospitality and Dining Services workers support campus life at Harvard by preparing and serving high-quality food across residential, retail, and catering operations in residential dining halls, cafés, or at special events. They plan and execute catered events, assist with menu creation, cook and present meals, maintain food safety standards, manage kitchen operations, and ensure a professional and welcoming dining experience for students, faculty, staff, and guests.

Human Resources (HR) professionals manage and support the full employee experience—from hiring to retirement. Embedded across the University, HR specialists ensure employees have the resources, support, and environment they need to thrive. They lead talent acquisition, develop competitive compensation and benefits programs, support employee career growth, ensure compliance with both University policies and employment laws, and above all, foster a welcoming and inclusive working environment.

The Information Technology (IT) job function supports Harvard’s mission by providing reliable, innovative, and secure technology services. IT professionals encompass a wide range of roles and provide a multitude of technological services, including help desk support, data protection and compliance, website development, research computing, software development and architecture, multimedia support, and much more. Together, these professionals enable academic and administrative functions, fostering an innovative, connected learning and working environment.

The Library job function manages the University's extensive library system, one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Library staff may include librarians, archivists, digital collection specialists, and access services staff, among many others. These professionals work collaboratively to ensure that Harvard’s vast resources are accessible, well-maintained, and responsive to the evolving needs of the University community.

The Museum job function at Harvard supports the stewardship, research, and public presentation of the University's diverse collections across its many museums. Curators, conservators, educators, collection managers, and others are responsible for preserving and restoring cultural and historical artifacts, developing exhibitions, supporting scholarly research, engaging the community through educational programs, and promoting a broad public appreciation of art, history, and science.

The Research job function plays a vital role in supporting discovery, innovation, and scholarship across all disciplines, enabling groundbreaking research that impacts the world and educates future leaders. Research professionals support faculty-led projects through data collection and analysis, running lab experiments, conducting literature reviews, managing grants and research protocols, maintaining lab equipment, ensuring compliance with ethical standards, and much more.

The Technical job function supports the design, implementation, and maintenance of specialized systems, equipment, and infrastructure, playing a crucial part in the innovative and collaborative environment that drives Harvard’s mission. Engineers and technicians in this job function work across all campus facilities, ensuring critical tools and technologies run smoothly, managing data and control systems, and supporting research instrumentation.