Director of Strategic Operations, GPL

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.

Job Description

The Director of Strategic Operations will work closely with the GPL’s Executive Director in a Chief of Staff-type role to translate the GPL’s strategic vision throughout the organization’s operations-- designing and implementing systems to improve GPL core functions in order to drive greater organizational impact. To this end, the Director of Strategic Operations will work closely with the Senior Director of Operations in leading a team overseeing the strategic direction of critical central functions including human capital, training, and staff and manager supports. This includes directly managing the Senior Operations Coordinator. The Director of Strategic Operations will also work closely with the GPL’s senior Policy Leads for each program area at the GPL to support translation from strategy to action.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement strategy: Work with the GPL Executive Director and leadership team to refine GPL’s strategy by leading special projects that may include: assessing and advancing the GPL’s impact in the field, improving the GPL’s strategic knowledge management and impact framework, and supporting development. Support the Executive Director in integrating strategic direction across GPL policy areas and strategic capabilities.
  • Strategic knowledge management: Work closely with GPL Policy Leads and staff to translate strategic decisions into action, providing resources and support, and facilitating efficient engagement with the GPL Executive Director. Lead improvements to the GPL’s knowledge management for key policy areas and tools, including processes to generate, organize, and document insights from project work across the GPL, facilitate cross-project and cross-jurisdiction learning, update GPL tools to reflect new insights, create and deliver trainings that move GPL staff to the cutting edge of knowledge in that area.
  • Development: Identify, conceptualize, and lead special projects that support the GPL’s leadership team in developing and pitching effective funding proposals that express the GPL’s strategic vision and direction.
  • Analytics to inform performance improvement efforts: Update and manage internal and external performance and impact measurement processes, including surveys and measures of staff engagement and performance and creation and testing of an impact framework and survey with GPL governments.
• Oversee strategic operations: Connect GPL strategy to the direction and execution of central functions, including hiring, events (such as all-staff convenings), training, and overall staff experience. Continually review current practices for needed improvements to increase GPL’s impact. Design and lead special projects that increase the efficiency, efficacy, and equity of the GPL’s practices in the following areas:
  • Hiring and retention: Help the GPL maintain and improve its ability to attract and retain diverse, talented staff. Lead ongoing assessment and improvement of hiring, promotion, and retention practices. Work with the Senior Director of Operations to execute changes to these processes.
  • Onboarding and ongoing professional development: Ensure that staff are given support and training to successfully execute high-impact work. Strengthen staff training in core GPL capabilities (e.g., through all-staff meetings and convenings, new hire trainings). Lead the ongoing refinement of the GPL’s systems designed to assess and manage performance, promote growth of team members, and create transparent and equitable growth pathways. Administer the team’s performance management system, including its annual review process.
  • Manager supports: Lead improvements to manager supports and resources, including assembling and deploying management resources and supports for GPL managers. Help the GPL’s managers and leaders move forward key decisions.
• Staff, alumni, and government engagement: Support, create, and manage processes for improving GPL’s impact through staff, alumni, and government engagement. Foster the GPL’s alumni network to increase the impact of GPL staff after they leave the organization and to increase opportunities for current staff to learn more about careers in public service. Regularly maintain and update core organizational resources to ensure staff have access to current policies and procedures. Coordinate with staff affinity groups and external contractor.
• Team culture: Contribute to an inclusive and supportive team culture, within which team members feel supported, included, and valued.

The mission of the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab is to accelerate progress on difficult social problems by improving how state and local governments across the country function. Our team collaborates closely with government innovators in developing and testing ways to create more just and effective service systems in areas including child and family wellbeing, safety and justice, and homelessness and housing. To date, the GPL has engaged with 112 jurisdictions across 38 states and has conducted more than 278 projects shifting more than $7B in government spending toward results.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 6 years of professional experience.
• Candidates should submit a cover letter, current CV, writing samples, and list of 3 references.
• Writing samples should include both 1. a memo or a slide deck used to advance a decision with senior stakeholders; and 2. a tool or support created by the candidate to assist with project management (such as a GANNT chart, project workplan, tracker, outline of new process, etc.)

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

Many kinds of experiences could prepare an individual to thrive in this role. We expect the strongest candidates will have many, but likely not all, of the qualifications listed below:

• Demonstrated commitment to supporting the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations, and the ability to apply that to their work.
• Experience conceptualizing, structuring, and delivering projects and programs that result in meaningful improvements to an organization's operations or impact.
• Experience in a rapid-growth, entrepreneurial organization or team.
• Proven capacity to solve problems and identify key strategic insights that advanced the goals of the organization.
• Track record of building, maintaining, and navigating complex relationships, such as with senior executives, clients, peer organizations, or funders. Experience balancing priorities across multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive information and decisions with discretion and sound judgement.
• Experience with hiring, training, and retention processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communications, including memos, slide decks, and public speaking.
• Strong project management capabilities, with a demonstrated ability to independently manage projects to completion, establish priorities among multiple simultaneous deadlines, and sustain timely responses to deadlines and requests.
• Flexible and able to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and highly interactive environment.

Additional Information

• Appointment End Date: This is a fully benefits eligible term appointment, ending one year from date of hire with the possibility of renewal.
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• Other Information:
  • Candidates should submit a cover letter, current CV, writing samples, and list of 3 references.
  • Writing samples should include both 1. a memo or a slide deck used to advance a decision with senior stakeholders; and 2. a tool or support created by the candidate to assist with project management (such as a GANNT chart, project workplan, tracker, outline of new process, etc.)
  • Location can be flexible.
  • Position requires access to a major U.S. airport for occasional travel.
  • 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).

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 058. 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.