Impact Assessment & Knowledge Management Specialist
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.
Founded in 2021 with Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University serves a global community committed to improving public management, leadership, and governance. The Center’s cross-Harvard collaboration unites expertise focused on cities across disciplines and schools to produce research, train leaders, and develop resources for global use. The Center is designed to have practical impact on the future of cities, where more than half of the world’s people now live, by informing and inspiring local government leaders, scholars, students, and others who work to improve the lives of residents around the world.
Job Description
The Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University serves a global community committed to improving public management, leadership, and governance. The Center’s cross-Harvard collaboration unites expertise focused on cities across disciplines and schools to produce research, train leaders, and develop resources for global use. The Center is designed to have practical impact on the future of cities, where more than half of the world’s people now live, by informing and inspiring local government leaders, scholars, students, and others who work to improve the lives of residents around the world.
The Center’s Strategy and Impact team provides thought partnership, evaluative analysis, and insights to guide strategy, identify impact, and continuously improve programs, support offerings, curriculum, and broader Center work. Going beyond satisfaction surveys, the team measures impact by assessing how ideas are adopted in practice. It also leads recruitment of mayors into the Center’s Program for New Mayors and the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, provides insights about cities to internal and external stakeholders to facilitate connections, partnerships and action, and serves as steward of Initiative data. In collaboration with the Communications team, the team showcases and amplifies impact for our donor, Harvard, and global audiences.
The Center is seeking an Impact Assessment and Knowledge Management Specialist to help us understand, communicate, and strengthen our impact on the next generation of city leaders. As a member of the Center’s Strategy and Impact team, they will evaluate how the Center’s student offerings—spanning fellowships, internships, research assistantships, and real-world learning in city government—shape student learning, career pathways, and city capacity. They will also build and manage systems that make impact data accessible, reliable, and actionable across the Center.
This role combines rigorous evaluation with knowledge management, translating data into insights that inform strategy, improve programming and support, and tell a compelling story of impact to stakeholders at Harvard and beyond.
Reporting to the Director for Impact Assessment and Evaluation, the specialist will be responsible for:
Impact Assessment & Evaluation (~60%)
- Designing and implementing evaluations of student offerings in line with theories of change and vision for impact, and in collaboration with the Center Student Engagement team.
- Developing data collection instruments including surveys and interview guides, conducting surveys, interviews, and focus groups, and analyzing data using quantitative and qualitative methods, including thematic coding.
- Tracking student outcomes, alumni trajectories, and progress on and impact of projects in cities.
- Synthesizing findings into visuals, reports, and presentations for diverse audiences.
- Recommending improvements based on evidence and contributing to new assessment tools.
Knowledge Management & Data Systems (~40%)
- Developing, maintaining, and managing systems and processes (including in Salesforce and Airtable) for organizing, curating, and making data and analyses accessible and useful.
- Maintaining and strengthening infrastructure for systematic data collection and analysis in close collaboration with the Center’s operations team.
- Providing timely analyses and data in response to stakeholder needs.
- Ensuring data and knowledge repositories are accurate, accessible, and useful for decision-making.
- Supporting cross-team use of impact data for learning and strategy.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of progressive experience in evaluation in Higher Education or Government, Education, Economics, Public Policy, Anthropology, Sociology, or another relevant field. Relevant graduate study may count toward experience.
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
- Evaluation & Analysis: Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills (experience with R, Excel Macros, qualitative analysis software a plus); experience with surveys, interviews, and thematic analysis; ability to translate data into actionable insights.
- Knowledge Management: Demonstrated ability to design and maintain data systems, repositories, or dashboards that support organizational learning.
- Communication & Storytelling: Skilled at presenting findings to diverse audiences (academics, city leaders, funders); ability to distill complex ideas into clear narratives and visuals.
- Collaboration & Project Management: Experience managing multi-stakeholder projects; ability to build trust, align teams, and bring others into the evaluation process.
- Mindset: Meticulous, organized, and detail-oriented; entrepreneurial and adaptable.
- Interests: Assessing student learning, growth, and career pathways; building public sector capacity.
Additional Information
- Appointment End Date: This is a fully benefits eligible term appointment through June 30, 2026 with a strong possibility of renewal.
- Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
- Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
Work Format Details
This position is based on-site at a Harvard campus location. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. 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 057. 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.