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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.

Job Summary:

The Special Projects Manager will work with Opportunity Insights’ founding Director and Executive Director to lead the development and launch of a new Opportunity Evaluation and Markets Initiative that uses newly developed big data matching methods to systematically evaluate social programs and scale successful programs. This is a rapidly expanding area of work that requires skilled leadership and decision-making with internal and external stakeholders. The role requires advanced project management skills, relationship development and coordination, and the ability to lead through ambiguous and dynamic work conditions and responsibilities.

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Position Description:

• Partner with leadership on all elements of the Opportunity Evaluation and Markets Initiative, including developing project scope and structure, managing collaborations, and monitoring and managing progress.Â
• Conduct detailed ecosystem mapping and analysis within academic, practice, and policy fields to identify opportunities and partners.
• Develop processes and tools to enable efficient project management across the Initiative.
• Manage regular communication with internal and external cross-sector partners, including agenda setting, and tracking and execution of follow-up items.
• Develop communications about the Initiative for varied audiences, including concept notes, theory of change summaries, progress updates, and other materials.
• Work with internal and external partners to operationalize and execute pilot activities pertaining to research administration and compliance, partner identification and engagement, and the development of necessary legal, financial, and policy support structures.

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Basic Qualifications:

7+ years of progressive project management

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Advanced degree highly preferred (MBA, MPP)Â
• Strong project management skills. Entrepreneurial experience in launching and scaling pilots Ability to effectively manage projects and operationalize new and emerging ideas.
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills. Ability to engage and manage cross-sector stakeholders and to communicate effectively (orally and in writing).
• Strategic thinking. Ability to align projects with organizational goals and make strategic decisions. Ability to learn new content quickly and to identify connections.
• Adaptability and flexibility. Ability to work in dynamic environments and manage projects with varying requirements. Comfortable with highly unstructured and ambiguous situations; ability to proactively identify solutions in such situations and execute those approaches.
• Subject matter expertise. Understanding of social science research and evaluation as well as how evidence is used for resourcing and scaling social programs. Ideal candidates with have experience and expertise in social impact investing and capital markets.

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• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity
• Other Information:Â
  Please include your most up to date resume and cover letter for full consideration.
  This is a 12-month term position with strong possibility of renewal.
  All formal written offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

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About Us:

Opportunity Insights (OI) is a nonpartisan research and policy institute focused on improving economic opportunity. Founded in 2018, OI has become a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the science of economic mobility and in the use of large administrative data to understand and address inequality. OI has published seminal work on national trends inÂupward mobility;Âracial disparities;Âthe role ofÂneighborhoods,ÂsocialÂcapital, andÂhigher educationÂinÂupward mobility; and the use of private-sector data to understand disparate impacts in theÂrecent economic recession and recovery.ÂMuch of the team’s ongoing research uses quasi-experimental methods to identify causal effects and test the predictions of economic and sociological models. Examples of current research projects include: long-term impacts of neighborhoods and place-based policies, the role of colleges in upward mobility, using big data to address health disparities, and measuring how social networks affect mobility. OI’s work has shaped policy discussions at the national and local level, with nearly a dozen of its studies covered on the front pages ofÂmajor media outlets,Âsuch as theÂNew York Times,ÂThe Economist,ÂThe Washington Post, and theÂWall Street Journal,Âand have been widely cited in policy discussions.
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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.Â

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 058. Please visit ÂHarvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information.Â

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:Â

• Generous paid time off including parental leaveÂ
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day oneÂ
• Retirement plans with university contributionsÂ
• Wellbeing and mental health resourcesÂ
• Support for families and caregiversÂ
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursementÂ
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perksÂ

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.Â

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.Â

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment toÂprohibiting 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.Â