Executive Director, Center for Public Leadership

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Why join the Harvard Kennedy School?

The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is one of 12 graduate and professional schools at the university. 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. By combining cutting-edge research, the teaching of outstanding students, and direct interaction with practitioners, we have an impact on solving public problems that no other institution can match. When you work at Harvard Kennedy School, you make a difference.

The Center for Public Leadership (CPL) at the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) seeks a highly effective and experienced leader to serve as Executive Director (ED). The ED must be able to mobilize a highly motivated and talented staff to deliver on the Center’s vision and promote a workplace grounded in respect and excellence. In addition to successful experience in management, strategic leadership, and implementation the ED must share a dedication to nurturing a rising generation of public leaders, a capacity to collaborate across a wide spectrum of senior leaders and faculty across the Harvard community and beyond, and an ability to serve as a visible, effective advocate for the Center’s mission to inspire and enhance the capacity for principled, effective public leadership.

Reporting to the Faculty Director (Director), the ED will manage CPL’s core staff, operations, and programs and work with the Kennedy School’s leadership, faculty, students, donors, and other key stakeholders to ensure that the Center’s initiatives move forward and are integrated into the larger mission of HKS.

With the Director, the ED will develop the overall strategy, building on a recently completed Strategic Plan, and goals of the Center and will then be responsible for overseeing day-to-day implementation to ensure the Center delivers its priorities. The ED will help to build and grow a sustainable fundraising framework for the Center. In addition to working closely with students and staff, the ED will support faculty affiliated with the Center. 

The ED is a strategic thought partner to the Director who leads the execution of plans for moving the Center forward; a collaborative relationship builder who can work effectively with faculty, staff, university leaders as well as internal and external stakeholders; a strong manager and leader who will engage, motivate, and mentor staff; and a creative problem solver who will anticipate issues and roadblocks along the way. The ED represents the Center with a strong command of where the organization is and is heading. We believe in fostering a collaborative, diverse and inclusive community of staff, students, and faculty; we seek applications from candidates who can demonstrate through their work and service, a commitment to collaboration, diversity, inclusion and belonging. 

The Center for Public Leadership has three primary workstreams: student education (e.g., fellowships, programming); faculty scholarship and faculty-led programs (e.g., research, pedagogical innovation); and on-campus and broader community and global engagement (e.g., events, communications, resource development). These workstreams are supported by the Center’s administrative, finance, engagement, and program functions. The Executive Director will contribute to the content of these activities and serve as overall manager. In the performance of this work, the ED, along with the Director, acts as the key liaison between the Center, HKS leadership, and the broader HKS and Harvard Community, in addition to organizations and leaders beyond the University. 

About CPL:

The mission of the Center for Public Leadership is to inspire and enhance the capacity for principled, effective public leadership in government, politics, civil society, and business. We pursue our mission in a learning community of students, scholars and educators, practitioners, staff, and alumni, to bridge theory and practice in three interwoven streams of work: scholarship, education, and community engagement. Learn more About CPL at this link.

Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Strategy Development and Implementation: Advises the Director on the Center’s established strategic vision and priorities. Leads implementation, ensuring Center’s staff, budget, and other resources are used effectively in alignment with the Center’s mission-oriented culture and priorities. 
• Operational Excellence: Ensures a high level of professionalism, teamwork, and focus on excellence by overseeing clear, effective structures and processes; directly manages, supports, and empowers a Director-level management team; fosters a culture that is both accountable and collaborative, demonstrates a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging; oversees Human Resources, including organizational development and employee relations. 
• Fundraising: Works with the Center Director to build a sustainable fundraising framework for the Center, including building and fostering relationships with donors, foundations, other potential partners, and CPL’s Leadership Council. Works with HKS and University Development offices to develop these relationships.
• Institutional Alignment: Serves as a key liaison between the Center and the Kennedy School, other centers across Harvard and the wider Harvard community, ensuring that the Center’s work is aligned with and complements the broader institutional priorities. 
• Finance: Oversees financial management of Center. Provides financial oversight for the Center’s research programs and initiatives, including oversight of gifts, endowments, and sponsored funding.
• Engagement: Oversees the Center’s overall engagement with stakeholders including students, alumni, faculty, and the broader community. Oversees communications, events, and practitioner programs.
• Students: Oversees the CPL Programs team, and in coordination with the Director, faculty, and staff, ensures that the Center’s student fellowships and student programs deliver excellence in leadership development. Acts as a resource for student networking and collaboration.  

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 8 or more years of increasingly progressive senior management experience in the private, public, or non-profit sectors. 
• Demonstrated experience with fundraising, donor relations, donor engagement, and/or board management.
• Demonstrated experience, interest, or education in the areas of leadership, public policy, and/or education.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management experience.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to translate strategic vision into concrete actions with measurable results. 
• Superior strategy, fundraising, organizational, and financial management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and lead in academic or related organizations including foundations, university research and development centers, government, impact-oriented private sector, and consulting. 
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including faculty and students, colleagues and constituents, donors and board members, and cross-sectoral leaders in practice.
• Commitment to a culture of respect and excellence. 
• Passion for education, public leadership, and public policy.
• Experience working across large organizations to prioritize, balance multiple tasks, problem solve, and work effectively within a bureaucratic structure. 
• Experience in foundations and higher education is a plus, particularly an understanding of how research is translated into practice through collaborations, training, and outreach.
• Master’s degree is a plus, though not a requirement.
• Ability to travel is required.

• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal, Credit
• Other Information: This position is an in-person position, based on our campus in Cambridge, MA

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that all duties and responsibilities must be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 060. 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

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