Program Manager, Fellowships - Military veterans preferred

2025-07-03
Harvard University
Other

/yr

  employee   contract


Cambridge
Massachusetts
02138
United States

Program Manager, Fellowships


ID: 68230BR
JOB FUNCTION: General Administration
LOCATION: Cambridge
WORK FORMAT: Hybrid
JOB TYPE: Full-time
BRAND: Harvard Kennedy School

Company Description

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 the Harvard Kennedy School?

The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is one 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.


Job Description

The Program Manager will oversee the programming and engagement for two prestigious fellowships: the Wolk Israeli Graduate Fellowship, which supports emerging Israeli leaders, and the Gleitsman Fellowship in Social Activism which cultivates students committed to social change. We are particularly interested in candidates who bring familiarity with the Jewish community and Hebrew language skills would be a plus, as one of the fellowships engages deeply with Jewish leadership and culture. That said, both fellowships benefit from a thoughtful, inclusive, and community centered approach to leadership development.

At the heart of the Center for Public Leadership’s (CPL) mission are our graduate student fellowships, which provide robust leadership development and training to rising public leaders each year. The fellowships offer students an intensive, cohort-based co-curricular program grounded in servant leadership and experiential learning that supplement students’ time in the classroom. The programming speaks to the core of CPL’s and Harvard Kennedy School’s (HKS) commitments to improving public leadership across the globe.

Co-curricular Planning, Implementation, & Evaluation: Oversee the fellowship portfolio, which includes:

  • Support, implement, and deliver co-curricular programs focused on the unique context of each fellowship and track student progress
  • Coach graduate students one-on-one each semester to create individualized learning plans and develop core leadership competencies during the academic year
  • Facilitate cohort sessions skillfully during the academic year
  • Support fellows in planning and leading an annual field experience to a U.S. city focused on a policy issue of interest within the context of their cohort
  • Partner in designing and evaluating outcomes
  • Propose innovative programs in response to fellows’ feedback
  • Strategize ways to build community within and across fellowships
  • Manage operational tasks and budgets responsibly to ensure compliance

Recruitment & Selection:

  • Lead the reading, interview, and selection process for the cohorts
  • Partner with HKS admissions to identify and target outreach to recruit promising students at HKS
  • Serve as an internal point of contact for prospective Harvard students interested in the fellowships

Alumni Engagement:

  • Support the Engagement team to cultivate alumni relations and donor engagement
  • Collaborate with the Engagement team to inform stewardship reports and organize donor meetings
  • Participate in cohort-level alumni activities
  • Connect fellowship alumni to current fellows as mentors and informal supports

Professional Culture:

  • Promote the learning and growth of staff and students through ethical, culturally proficient, skilled, and collaborative practice:
  • Demonstrate capacity to reflect and improve one’s own practice, analyze data, examine issues, set relevant goals, and develop approaches to improve teaching and learning
  • Communicate professionally and work collaboratively with all stakeholders and colleagues
  • Give and receive actionable feedback to inform program growth and development
  • Actively pursue professional development to improve the quality of practice or build the expertise and experience to assume different instructional and leadership roles
  • Adhere to all Harvard and CPL administrative policies, procedures, and protocols
  • Contribute to cross-fellow programming design and implementation

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
  • 5+ years’ related experience in program or project management

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

  • Master’s degree preferred
  • Proficiency in Hebrew preferred
  • Experience coaching or mentoring students
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, and strong attention to detail
  • Demonstrated organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and work independently
  • Proven ability to work with diverse international communities
  • Ability to work with diverse stakeholders to achieve shared goals
  • Proven ability to manage a budget

Additional Information

  • Standard Hours/Schedule:35 hours per week
  • Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
  • Pre-Employment Screening:Education,Identity
  • Other Information:

    This position is a fully benefits-eligible term appointment ending one year from date of hire, with possibility of renewal.

    Requires the ability to work a flexible schedule with regular evening hours, occasional weekends, and some travel.

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 056. 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, sex, ethnicity, color, national origin, 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.





Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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