Assistant Director of Academic Affairs

Job Summary:

The Department of Biostatistics is a busy and diverse academic department focused on research and teaching. Our faculty are leaders in the development of statistical methods for clinical trials and observational studies, studies on the environment, computational biology, infectious disease, and genomics/genetics. We offer degree programs in biostatistics, computational biology, and data science. Currently, ~250 PhD and Master’s students are enrolled in these programs.

This position will join a team of 17 other administrative and financial professionals. The position reports to the Director of Administration, who reports to the Department Chair. The Assistant Director of Academic Affairs will manage and oversee the Senior Program Manager and the Graduate Program Coordinator as part of the broader academic team. The position will also work closely with the Associate Chair, the Directors of Graduate Studies, and the Co-Directors of the department’s Master’s programs.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Admissions• Create and manage all department policies and procedures for admissions review, tracking, targets, decisions, and reporting, working closely with the Director of Graduate Studies, the Student Admissions Committee, and the Graduate School’s Admissions Office for the Department's PhD Program. 

• Create and manage all department policies and procedures for admissions review, tracking, targets, decisions, and reporting, working closely with the Program Directors, their Executive Committees and the Harvard Chan Admissions Office for the Department's three Master's Programs.

• Develop and maintain systems and for compiling, tracking, and reporting of up-to-date admissions data as well as repositories of admissions decisions and longitudinal data.

• Curriculum• Lead annual course offering process and instructor assignments working with the Associate Department Chair and associated Registrar's offices for both GSAS vs. HSPH course offerings

• Manage TF assignment process, working with the Office of Educational Programs (OEP).

• Provide guidance to faculty on course development and new course proposals.

• Review data from course evaluations, student exit surveys, enrollment reports, semester grades, etc. to understand student, faculty, and department needs.

• Policy Development• Coordinate departmental degree program policy in conjunction with program directors.

• Work with department leadership and the Registrar’s Offices at both Harvard's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) and the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH) to manage and update policies and requirements in student handbooks.

• Financial Management• Lead overall funding strategy and appointment assignments for PhD students; Coordinate and communicate with program leadership, faculty PIs, and students.

• Oversee and approve financial aid allocations and department fellowship budget.

• Oversee student-related budgets (student committees and activities, prospective student open house, commencement celebrations, etc.).

• Lead administrative components of NIH T32 training grants and other fellowship applications and renewals.

• Data Management• Maintain accurate records and databases related to students’ academic progress, program requirements, and alumni outcomes.

• Maintain course archives and provide information and statistical data as needed.

• Maintain accurate records for NIH T32 applications and renewals, including information for data tables.

• Track lab rotation requirements for NIH T32 grants.

• Committee Membership & Leadership• Staff lead on departmental and school level education-focused committees (e.g. qualifying exam committee, degree program/academic standing committee, curriculum committees,  etc.).

• Works with the heads of other student service offices (Registrar, Admissions, Student Affairs, Financial Aid, Disability Access Office, etc. ) at both HSPH and GSAS to insure both compliance and overall success of the student experience.

• Other duties as required.