Program Director, Executive Education

Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education (HKS Exec Ed) is the premier worldwide source for executive-level leadership development focused on public service.  Exec Ed operates as a department within HKS and provides 80+ programs ranging from 1 to 4 weeks in length to 4500+ participants each year. Programs are delivered online, in-person, or a combination of both, and are offered as open enrollment via an admissions process or as custom programs focused on the needs of public service or government organizations, sponsors, or donors.  Exec Ed is a critical piece of the HKS mission to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. Programs are led by faculty and attract accomplished public leaders from around the world, with roles in the government, nonprofit, multilateral, and corporate sectors.

Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) seeks a Program Director to join our Executive Education team. Reporting to the Senior Director, Program Management, the Program Director manages an assigned portfolio of 6-8 executive education programs with budget responsibilities of approx. $3M.  Programs include both new and existing. The Program Director is responsible for leading all aspects of assigned programs, including coordinating faculty effort, ensuring participant satisfaction, managing operational staff, grant/gift submission and reporting as needed and achieving financial targets, to ensure that Executive Education programs are delivered with excellence. We seek collaborative, adaptable candidates who love the details of programs and events, are driven by working with others on a fast-paced team and are excited about having an impact on our world by supporting leaders from around the country and the world. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive team culture and seek candidates who share our values and commitment. 

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

As a Program Director, you will represent HKS, Executive Education to faculty and program participants in your portfolio of programs as well as external partners/vendors.  In this capacity, you will manage:

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Manage all aspects of admissions and enrollment process, including admission decisions and fellowship/tuition assistance award decisions.

• Review, enhance and implement existing marketing and outreach strategies, in coordination with the Executive Education marketing team and Senior Director. Strategy may include direct mail, conference participation, third party funding relationships, recruiting meetings, and/or sales visits to target groups.

• Key contributor during the launch process of new programming. 

• Manages communication strategy and processes with prospective participants. 

• Organize reports and data for faculty chair(s) and Senior Director of program management. 

PROGRAM DELIVERY 

• Lead a delivery team in 6-8 new and existing programs, ensuring all aspects of program development and implementation are planned, managed, and executed at the highest standards. 

• Direct each program’s operations, including all aspects of logistics, faculty relationships, curriculum management, and coordination with custom clients, as needed. 

• Develop strong working relationships with faculty chair; staff faculty chair for program activity as appropriate; Consulting with faculty chair on major program related activity and/or decisions as needed. Responsible for informing faculty chair about standards within EE, such as faculty comp guidelines and the process related to the hiring of teaching assistants.

• Negotiate with new and existing external vendors, sign contracts on behalf of the program for offsite events.

• Take the lead in anticipating and resolving issues and escalating to the senior director as needed.

• Manage processes to ensure program participants are supported before, during and after the programs, online and in person.

• Act as project manager for new and existing programming.

• Review program evaluations with faculty chair(s) to determine and implement changes in program content for future offerings.

OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP

• Exercise financial management and oversight of assigned programs, including budgeting, faculty compensation and fulfilling all required reporting processes, including financial reconciliation and the Program Review & Outlook (PRO) process. Track and comply with any external reporting requirements; for example, with third party payers.

• Responsible for grant/gift submissions and reporting.

• Seek opportunities to develop and lead improvements to standard operating procedures across all programs. 

• Maintain and clearly communicate to program leadership key data on enrollment, content, program highlights, performance, etc.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Manage staff assigned to program; ensuring a high level of professionalism, teamwork and focus on customer service.  Review staff work; completes program staff evaluations after each program.  

• Mentor and assist in the professional development of more junior staff.

• Maintain a high level of professionalism and focus on customer service within the program team, to sustain excellence.

• Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and comfort with best practices for online, on-campus and offsite learning. 

• Contribute to program and department improvements.

• Other duties as needed.