Manager, Project on Impact Investing

Project on Impact Investing

Harvard Business School seeks a Manager, Project on Impact Investing to work closely with Professors Shawn Cole and Josh Lerner in advancing the Harvard Business School Project on Impact Investing. The Project on Impact Investing combines rigorous academic research with close engagement with investors, policymakers, and practitioners to deepen understanding of sustainable and impact investing and inform practice in the field.

Reporting directly to the faculty supervisors, and administratively to the Research Staff Services (RSS) office, the Manager, Project on Impact Investing will play an integral role across all aspects of the Project's work: from designing and executing research, to building and maintaining novel datasets, to supporting practitioner engagement and research dissemination.

This position is well suited to candidates with experience in consulting, finance, economic research, or mission-driven financial services who are looking to deepen their research skills while contributing to high-impact academic work. Previous individuals in this role have gone on to leading PhD programs in economics and finance, as well as careers in impact investing, financial services, and social enterprise. The role offers exceptional exposure to cutting-edge research and leading practitioners in sustainable and impact investing.

Primary Responsibilities

Research and Analysis

• Conduct quantitative and qualitative research in support of faculty research projects on sustainable and impact investing.

• Use AI-enabled research tools, large language models (LLMs), machine learning techniques, and traditional research methods to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret complex datasets.

• Develop and maintain novel datasets that support ongoing academic research.

• Perform data analysis, literature reviews, and other analytical work supporting research published in leading academic journals and practitioner outlets.

• Conduct interviews and code qualitative research data.

• Draft research memoranda, presentations, reports, and other written materials that synthesize findings for academic and practitioner audiences.

• Produce case studies, teaching notes, course materials, and other educational content for Harvard Business School courses.

• Identify opportunities to strengthen research methodologies, improve data collection processes, and apply emerging analytical tools.

Project Management

• Coordinate multiple concurrent research projects, ensuring milestones, deliverables, and timelines are met.

• Manage relationships with external collaborators, research partners, and practitioners, serving as a representative of the faculty and the Project on Impact Investing.

• Support the collection of research documentation and data through outreach to participating organizations and stakeholders.

• Coordinate research operations, including project budgets, research agreements (e.g., NDAs and DUAs), meetings, and project logistics.

• Plan and support conferences, research convenings, webinars, and other events that advance the Project's research and practitioner engagement.

Research Dissemination and External Engagement

• Support dissemination of research findings through presentations, publications, digital platforms, and practitioner outreach.

• Maintain Project websites and digital resources in collaboration with HBS Marketing & Communications.

• Collaborate with colleagues across Harvard Business School, including the Dean's Office, Career & Professional Development, Alumni Relations, and student organizations to support research-related programming and communications.

• Represent the Project professionally in interactions with investors, company executives, policymakers, researchers, alumni, and other external stakeholders.

Other Responsibilities

• Build trust and collaboration by being present on-site and engaging directly with colleagues and various constituents.

• Responsible for other duties as assigned.

Scope of the Role

Working closely with faculty, the Manager, Project on Impact Investing will have significant responsibility for advancing multiple research initiatives simultaneously. The role requires intellectual curiosity, strong analytical judgment, and the ability to independently translate complex research questions into actionable work plans.

The Manager, Project on Impact Investing will have opportunities to contribute meaningfully to academic research, case development, and practitioner publications, including potential co-authorship on selected projects. This role also offers opportunities to learn new research methodologies, develop expertise in emerging analytical technologies, and take advanced coursework at Harvard.

Because the Project regularly collaborates with senior leaders across finance, investing, academia, and the nonprofit sector, the successful candidate must demonstrate professionalism, sound judgment, and excellent interpersonal skills in representing Harvard Business School externally.

The Manager, Project on Impact Investing is expected to work independently with general guidance from faculty while ensuring compliance with University policies and applicable research requirements.

Please note the internal and official job title for this role is Project Manager, Project on Impact Investing. If you are hired for the role, your title will be Project Manager, Project on Impact Investing.