Director of Strategic Initiatives & Engagement

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

The Director of Campus Services Strategic Initiatives & Engagement leads and supports cross-functional efforts to achieve short- and long-term goals that enhance how Campus Services operates, how we serve students, faculty, and researchers, and how our teams positively experience their work. This role weaves together people strategy, business improvement, internal communications, and data-informed decision-making to drive meaningful, measurable change across a diverse and increasingly aligned Campus Services portfolio.

Partnering closely with Campus Services leadership, Human Resources, and departmental leaders, the Director: (1) advances a coordinated strategy to ensure Campus Services is a workplace where everyone can thrive, (2) drives high-impact operational improvements aligned with key performance indicators (KPIs), and (3) strengthens communication and connection across teams and throughout Campus Services.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

People Strategy & Workforce Engagement (~30%)

In partnership with the Senior Director for Human Resources, lead continued development and execution of the Campus Services people strategy, informed by engagement surveys and employee feedback

• Facilitate data collection and translate survey results (e.g., Pulse Survey), focus groups, and other feedback into clear priorities and action plans.
• Partner with HR to integrate engagement priorities into goal setting, performance reviews, and leadership expectations.
• In collaboration with HR, design and facilitate leadership and manager engagements and learning experiences, in partnership with HR, CWD and leaders.
• Provide thought partnership to leaders and managers on workforce engagement, change, and recognition practices.

Business Improvement & Strategic Initiatives (~20%)

In partnership with the Associate Vice President for Finance, Strategy and Technology, lead cross-functional initiatives that simplify and improve Campus Services wide business processes in ways that improve organizational performance and individual team member job satisfaction, with emphasis on:

• Jettisoning low/no-value work.
• Identifying opportunities to use automation tools to simplify processes.
• Standardizing and simplifying recurring processes where possible.
• Connect Campus Services business units with the appropriate partners, tools, and resources in support of larger, unit specific projects.
• Establish and manage an intake and prioritization approach for improvement efforts aligned with Campus Services strategy, financial realities, and capacity.
• Coordinate design, planning, and disciplined execution of high-impact initiatives that span multiple departments or functions.
• Support leaders in building “stop / simplify / automate” practices into department-level planning and operations.

KPI, Analytics & Data-Informed Decisions (~25%)

In partnership with the Campus Services leadership team, HR and finance partners, leverage the existing KPI foundation with a focus on people, customer satisfaction and financial performance to support leaders in using KPIs as tools for improvement, not just reporting.

• Translate complex data into clear narratives, insights, and options for decision-makers.
• Works with business units to design evaluation approaches for major initiatives (people, financial performance, customer satisfaction) and communicate findings with recommendations for action plans, pivots or pilots/scaling.
• Serve as the lead support resource to business unit leads in executing the customer satisfaction data collection framework.
• Advise department leaders on aligning local initiatives with Campus Services-wide priorities, minimizing duplicative efforts, and ensuring that changes are sustainable in a leaner environment.

Internal Communications & Cross-CS Convening (~25%)

Build strong working relationships with Campus Services administrators and communications professionals and Harvard Public Affairs and Communications (HPAC) to share opportunities, align and organize information, and distill complex updates into clear, actionable communications.

• Coordinate internal communications related to engagement, change, and key strategic initiatives.
• Connect Campus Services business units with the appropriate partners, tools, and resources.
• Design and facilitate cross-Campus Services convenings (e.g., Senior leadership team, extended leadership team, peer learning groups, community of practice) that encourage transparency, shared learning, and alignment.
• Develop tools, templates, and guides that help leaders communicate consistently and effectively with their teams.
• Create communications collateral that are rooted in Campus Services’ mission and guiding principles and advance a culture of grounded optimism, shared purpose, recognition, and continuous improvement.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in one or more of the following areas: organizational effectiveness, strategy execution, employee engagement, operations or business improvement, or related work.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Demonstrated success employing project management techniques to: 1) define the problem, 2) analyze the current state, 3) design the future state work plan, 4) execute and manage the project/change, 5) evaluate, learn and adjust.
• Ability to lead through influence rather than direct authority.
• Strong skills in data analysis, interpretation, and storytelling to inform decisions and drive change.
• Proven ability to design and facilitate effective meetings, workshops, and engagements for leaders and staff.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and empathetically.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Experience in a large, complex organization; higher education or mission-driven/nonprofit context strongly preferred.
• Experience with engagement or customer satisfaction surveys, change management, and leadership/manager/organizational development.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement, service design, or similar methodologies (e.g., Lean, process improvement).
• Self-directed and resourceful. Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, manage through change, and maintain focus on mission and people.
• Sense of humor.

Standard Hours/Schedule: 40 hours per week

Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position

Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal, CORI, References

Other Information: 

This is a hybrid position with an onsite requirement of 3 days per week. 

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Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. 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 059. 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.