Dean of Administration and Finance for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences

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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.

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), the largest unit and historic heart of Harvard University, seeks a strategic and visionary change leader to serve as its Dean of Administration and Finance (Dean of A&F). The next Dean of A&F will have the opportunity to serve in a key leadership role at a deeply important and influential School with a rich history and spirit of imagination, experimentation, and purpose. The FAS finds itself at a pivotal moment as it takes on a forward-thinking administrative transformation initiative to best align resources with core mission functions, amplify impact, and ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the academic center of America’s oldest university. To actualize this vision, the FAS requires a Dean of A&F who is bold, strategic, and creative and will build strong relationships and inclusive processes that enable equally bold and creative change across the FAS’ highly complex operation.

The Dean of A&F is the chief administrative officer of the FAS and is a direct report to Dr. Hopi Hoekstra, the Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The FAS encompasses Harvard College (including Admissions and Financial Aid), the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the Academic Divisions of Science, Social Science, and the Arts & Humanities, as well as Harvard Athletics, the Division of Continuing Education, and many academic centers and institutes, museums, and libraries. The FAS Dean of A&F has oversight of financial matters, including the $1.8 billion operating budget, physical resources and capital planning, human resources, IT, research administration, and other business operations.

The Dean of A&F will serve as a key strategic partner of the Dean and is a critical member of the FAS leadership team. The Dean of A&F will facilitate the integration of academic and administrative operations and planning, ensuring long-term financial sustainability and alignment of resources with research and teaching missions. Leveraging a data-driven approach, the Dean of A&F will provide the Dean and leadership with the information and analysis needed for strategic decision-making and planning. Operating as a problem-solver and change leader, the Dean of A&F will ensure administrative excellence by leading the implementation of reimagined administrative structures and modernized business systems that best serve students, faculty, and staff. Given the complex, decentralized organizational structure of Harvard and how critical the success of the FAS is to the University, the Dean of A&F must build constructive, productive relationships with colleagues within and beyond the FAS, particularly with the University’s central financial and operational leaders. The Dean of A&F must be an excellent communicator and collaborator who is committed to transparency and accessibility. They must also be a strong and visible team leader, capable of igniting excitement in the face of change. Lastly, the Dean of A&F will have an unwavering commitment to and understanding of the value of a liberal arts and sciences education and the groundbreaking research that FAS offers in a rapidly evolving world.

Basic Qualifications:

Track Record of Experience: At least 15 years of senior leadership experience in complex organizations, preferably across both the private sector and non-profit/higher education sectors.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Degree Requirement: Advanced degree in business administration, public administration, higher education management, or related field preferred.
• Adaptive and Data-Driven Strategist: Adept at using analytics and data to inform action and understanding; excels at setting priorities and charting a course in uncertain or rapidly evolving environments.
• Transformative Leadership: Experience leading and implementing administrative transformation, including experience in complex and best-in-class business and accounting systems and processes across an organization.
• Strong Analytical Acumen: Strong grounding in finance, budgeting, and decision support analytics; a data-driven and systems thinker.
• Financial Background: Demonstrated success managing organizations with $1B+ budgets and leading large, multidisciplinary teams.
• Strategic Thinker: Experience serving as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to a senior leader and working effectively as part of a senior leadership team characterized by trust, open communication, and shared goals.
• Visionary Change Leader: Track record of leading and successfully delivering operational transformation in large, complex institutions; capable of building alignment and momentum around change by translating complexity into clear, compelling narratives.
• Mission-Driven: A deep commitment to and a clear affinity for the teaching and research missions of Harvard University.
• Accomplished Operator: A demonstrated ability to lead and oversee operations across a range of functions, including facilities, human resources, research administration, and others.
• Innovator: Brings experience in process and operating model redesign across administrative functions such as AI and tech enablement or shared services implementation.
• Inclusive Leader: Builds trust and fosters collaboration across teams and stakeholder groups. A proven track record as a manager, leader, and developer of large and diverse teams made up of highly skilled professionals.
• Problem Solver: Brings creativity and pragmatism to complex, ambiguous challenges; skilled at breaking down barriers and finding actionable solutions.
• Resilient & Adaptive: Thrives in ambiguity, balances competing demands, and models calm decision-making in times of change.

• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal, Credit

Other Information:  Dean Hopi Hoekstra of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences has initiated this search for the Dean of Administration and Finance and engaged the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller, to assist in the recruitment. All inquiries, applications, and nominations, which will remain confidential, should be directed to the search firm as indicated below.

https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/harvard-university-faculty-arts-sciences/dean-administration-and-finance

Dan Rodas, Partner
Amble Ryan, Managing Associate
Stephanie Simon, Senior Associate
Nicole Sancilio, Managing Search Coordinator
Isaacson, Miller

All formal written offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

#LI-RK1

Work Format Details

This is a position that is based at a Harvard campus location with some remote work options available. 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. 

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 064. 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.