Project Manager, Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative

The Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative is a university-wide effort to reckon with Harvard’s ties to slavery and to remedy the persistent educational and social harms that human bondage caused to descendants, the campus community, surrounding cities, the Commonwealth, and the nation.

Aligned with the University’s education and research mission, these efforts are guided by the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery. Convened by President Lawrence S. Bacow, and chaired by Dean Tomiko Brown-Nagin, the Committee released its report and recommendations in April 2022. To learn more about the report and current work, click here.

Professor Sara Bleich began serving as Vice Provost for Special Projects in January 2023, and she has the primary responsibility for the ongoing implementation of the recommendations.

Position Summary

We are seeking a mission-driven colleague to join our newly formed team as a Project Manager to manage and coordinate community engagement and outreach-focused communication efforts. This person will be responsible for developing, tracking, communicating, and evaluating the progress of these efforts in support of the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative (H&LS). We are eager to find someone who can collaborate with partners both internal and external partners to Harvard, and across differences in perspectives and backgrounds to achieve shared goals in highly complex situations, specifically focused on racial equity and justice.

The Project Manager, H&LS, will report to the Executive Director and be a key team member. The ideal candidate will be analytical, quick-thinking, and flexible with a strong emphasis on organizational skills, excellent writing skills, and unwavering attention to detail. Working with the Associate Director of Communications, the Project Manager will develop strategies to effectively communicate progress to a wide-ranging audience via our website and other platforms, synthesizing information to ensure shared understandings among stakeholders.

• Provide support and direction to H&LS university-wide and external partner committees to address a specific topic or issue or initiative.
• With an understanding of simultaneously moving implementation efforts and initiatives, and working with the Associate Director of Communications, develop and maintain an editorial project calendar, leveraging a variety of content approaches and platforms, including but not limited to video, digital, social media, Harvard Gazette, and partner communications channels.
• Write, edit, create, and coordinate the production of initiative-related news and feature content for internal and external audiences across a variety of channels.
• Lead and support initiative-related meetings and committees, including serving as the H&LS initiative’s representative in partner work and activities, preparing agendas, briefing/presentation materials, producing meeting notes, drafting reports, and tracking and completing meeting action items.
• Conduct research and analysis and prepare presentations, talking points, memos, and reports.
• Monitor progress, coordinate resources and activities, and adjust plans when necessary, including aligning the event and editorial project calendar
• Resolve project issues by clarifying the issue, determining the root cause, and best solution, expediting any necessary adjustment and ensuring a resolution.
• Co-manage events such as academic symposia and conferences, including program logistics.

• Bachelor's degree and 5 five years of project management experience or high school diploma/GED and 9 years of project management experience. Additional education or certification, such as PMP, may count toward years of experience.
• Strong knowledge of project management discipline, methodologies, tools, and control techniques.
• Three or more years working within an academic setting.

• Master's degree and communications background preferred
• Experience using a Project Management tool such as Asana, Monday.com, ClickUp, etc.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple challenging projects simultaneously in a fast-paced work setting with strong attention to detail
• Ability to prepare project documentation and manage a project through lifecycle stages from project initiation through project closure
• Experience working with faculty and senior administrative leaders on complex projects.
• Commitment to teamwork and excellent interpersonal skills, with the capacity to build strong professional relationships and to communicate effectively within a large organization.
• Experience working independently at a high level; capable of thinking strategically, establishing goals, setting priorities, and implementing projects with limited direction.

Harvard University supports a hybrid workplace model which will actively support some remote work. Specific days and schedules for on-site work and remote work will be discussed during the interview process. Please note hybrid workers must reside in a state where Harvard is registered to do business (CA, CT, GA, IL, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VA, VT, and WA).

Harvard University continues to place the highest priority on the health, safety and wellbeing of its faculty, staff, and students, as well as the wider community. Please note that all new employees will be required to provide confirmation of primary series COVID-19 vaccination upon hire, as detailed on our COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement Webpage. Harvard University Health Services employees and other health care individuals are also required to be up to date on vaccination as described by the CDC. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. Additional information regarding this requirement, exemptions, verification of vaccination status, and other related policies and resources may be found on the University’s COVID-19 Information Website.

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.