Senior Director, City Talent and Student Engagement, Bloomberg Center for Cities
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About the Bloomberg Center for Cities
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 seeks a senior leader to connect city government needs with emerging talent, creating opportunities for Harvard students to gain exposure to city government and meaningful, hands-on work with cities during their time at Harvard, and supporting more of those students to go on to careers in city government after.
This role reflects the Center’s conviction that more Harvard students should go on to serve in city government. Success will be measured by how many do.
The role sits at the intersection of cities, students, and the Bloomberg Center for Cities’ capabilities. The Senior Director will lead work with city leaders to understand priorities and talent needs; work closely with students to expose them to city government, hands-on work, and fellowships; and use the Center’s platform to move Harvard students from interest to careers in city government.
This is not a traditional higher education role. It is an externally oriented leadership position grounded in execution and partnerships. The Senior Director will identify opportunity, knit together the Center’s fellowships and student-facing efforts, and develop collaborative relationships throughout Harvard and beyond to create meaningful opportunities for students who want to learn and serve.
The ideal candidate understands city government from the inside or adjacent to it. They understand how the Bloomberg Center for Cities can be leveraged, practically and strategically, to convene partners, attract talent, and deliver results. They are both strategic and entrepreneurial: able to set direction and build systems, lead a team, and dive into the work to make things happen.
Job-Specific Responsibilities:
Lead the Center’s strategy for connecting cities and students
- Set and drive the Center’s strategy for connecting students to cities and careers in city government.
- Serve as a thought partner to Center and Initiative leadership on issues related to talent, fellowships, and the future of the local government workforce.
- This work is ultimately accountable for increasing the number of Harvard students who go on to serve in city government.
Partner with cities
- Work directly with mayors, city managers, and senior city leaders to understand priorities, and ensure high-quality scoping of meaningful projects and roles that align with city needs and are appropriate for students and fellows.
- Build long-term, trust-based relationships that position the Center as a reliable partner to cities.
Partner across Harvard
- Shape and maintain strong working relationships across Harvard schools, centers, and administrative units to expand student access to city-focused opportunities.
- Build sustained student engagement across Harvard through events, co-curricular programming, student groups, study groups, and other community-building strategies, drawing students into exposure to city government, hands-on work with cities, and careers in city government.
- Partner with faculty to advance student involvement in field courses, thesis projects, and research that support city hall priorities.
Deliver and continuously strengthen high-profile fellowship programs
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellowship and the Center’s summer fellowship programs.
- The Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellowship for graduating Harvard masters’ students, which places talented early-career professionals in two-year, full-time positions within city halls to advance mayoral priorities and build organizational capacity.
- Graduate Summer Fellowships and undergraduate internships, which place Harvard students in 10-week roles in cities to work on high-impact, city-identified projects—providing applied learning opportunities, exposure to city leadership, and meaningful contributions to solving civic challenges.
- Set high standards for recruitment, project scoping, fellow experience, and city satisfaction.
- Ensure programs are well-run, well-supported, and continually improved based on feedback and outcomes.
Lead and grow a high-performing team
- Lead a team (currently 4 staff reports) responsible for a portfolio of student-facing opportunities, including fellowships, internships, research assistant recruitments, field-based learning, student engagement events, alumni connections, and other co-curriculars that connect students to public service in cities.
- Develop and steward systems and partnerships with collaborators across Harvard schools and externally to enhance the Center’s student-facing efforts.
- Foster a culture of high standards, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of progressively responsible experience in program leadership, student engagement, public service, or related fields.
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
- Experience working in or closely with city government strongly preferred.
- Master’s degree preferred.
- Strong leadership experience and people management skills, with a track record of building and managing high-performing teams and delivering outcomes.
- Demonstrated success building and leading initiatives that involve applied experience, mentorship, professional development, and/or career growth.
- Comfort operating in complex and/or matrixed environments and working across institutional boundaries.
- Ability to move between strategic thinking and hands-on execution.
- Knowledge of the ecosystem of public service, city governance, and urban innovation; strong grasp of the challenges and opportunities cities face.
- Ability to work with senior city executives to scope and shape meaningful projects and roles, translating needs into well-defined, achievable opportunities.
- Entrepreneurial orientation, with experience building and sustaining work in fast-paced, evolving settings.
- Skilled communicator with experience presenting to diverse audiences, such as city officials, university officials, faculty, students, and donors.
- Energized by working with students and early-career professionals.
Additional Information
- Appointment End Date: This is a fully benefits eligible term appointment through June 30, 2027, with the strong possibility of renewal.
- Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
- Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
- Other Information: This is a full-time, on-campus position based in Cambridge, MA.
Work Format Details
This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that all duties and responsibilities must be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location. 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 059. 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.