Faculty Assistant & Project Coordinator

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 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.

Harvard Kennedy School has an immediate opening for a benefits‑eligible, 35 hours/week Faculty and Executive Assistant to support a renowned academic, serving as a liaison to faculty, fellows, staff, students and important external contacts.

The ideal candidate will perform a wide range of complex administrative and support duties in a timely and accurate manner. This candidate must be proactive in problem‑solving; able to multitask; and have high‑level communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills. This candidate must have the ability to interact with a variety of stakeholders including students, faculty, donors and prominent individuals and organizations with tact and diplomacy.

A high level of maturity and good judgment are essential to this role. The position requires working independently and performing a wide range of complex and confidential administrative and clerical support duties. The position also requires knowledge of University and departmental policies and procedures.

Responsibilities for this position will include (but are not limited to):

• Providing a wide range of complex office administration and support to a renowned faculty member
• Managing complex calendars, coordinating high‑level meetings and international travel arrangements; reviewing, assessing, routing, answering, and monitoring follow‑up action steps on correspondence
• Serving as the main public representative of the professor and handling general inquiries by email and over the telephone
• Managing logistics for occasional small events and conferences, including sending invitations, booking rooms, creating agendas, coordinating schedules, and arranging catering
• Booking travel, processing reimbursements, paying invoices; monitoring budgets including tracking expenditures and providing reports. May prepare spreadsheets for budgets, grants or contracts, including tracking and maintaining expenditures and reconciling accounts
• Providing complete course support, working with Faculty and Teaching Assistants, creating course Canvas websites, procuring readings, printing hand‑outs
• Providing other office support including: composing and editing letters, memoranda, and reports, answering correspondences, maintaining office supplies, coordinating maintenance of physical space and equipment

The successful candidate will be part of a collaborative faculty support environment and be involved in the broader Harvard Kennedy School community.

Basic Qualifications:

• A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in program coordination and/or office administration
• Demonstrated prior experience providing high level administrative support and complex project coordination responsibilities

Additional

Qualifications and Skills:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Ability to meet tight deadlines in a fast paced, high‑energy and constantly changing environment
• Demonstrated intermediate skill level with Word, Excel, and Power Point
• Position requires adaptability, flexibility and the ability to multitask while maintaining excellent attention to detail
• Successful candidate must be highly motivated, detail‑oriented with strong organizational skills and a positive attitude
• Bachelor’s degree, ideally with a…