Special Project Manager

Company Description

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Job Description

Job Summary:

The Special Projects Manager for the Council on Civic Strength is responsible for supporting the development and implementation of a membership and communications strategy for a growing network of civic learning leaders.

Candidates must demonstrate excellent organizational and communications skills. Experience supporting active coalitions or membership networks and knowledge of the civic learning field are a plus.

The Council on Civic Strength, led by Professor Danielle Allen, advocates for universal civic learning to strengthen American democracy—building bridges among the K-12, higher ed, and life-long learning sectors and across political divides. The Council seeks to grow and formalize its membership and requires administrative, communications, and research support.

The Democratic Knowledge Project (DKP) is a K-16 civic education provider based at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. DKP pursues a future where a supermajority of young people considers a healthy constitutional democracy essential to their own well-being, feel a sense of belonging to America’s pluralistic community, and feel confident that they have the knowledge, skills, and civic dispositions and virtues they need to participate in civic life.

The Special Projects Manager works on all aspects of the project and will work closely with Professor Allen and her teams at the Democratic Knowledge Project and the Lab for Democracy Renovation.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Assist Professor Allen and her team in communicating the Council’s mission and goals, through the drafting and support in dissemination of Council materials.
• Work with Council members to develop a project management system for collecting and monitoring progress toward the Council’s goals
• Liaise with network members and other civic learning leaders to continue building the growth and scale of the Council and its reach
• Ability to prioritize content and logistical needs of the Council, implementing these functions by drafting meeting agendas, taking minutes, and supporting Council meetings
• Draft clear, compelling written materials for Council members, including content requiring content expertise in civic learning
• Prepare presentations, reports, and external-facing communications on behalf of the Council
• Support data management, reporting, and document organization
• Staff events, including greeting and directing attendees and assisting VIPs and presenters

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 2 years of relevant, civics/democracy-focused experience

To be considered, you must submit a cover letter. Please submit your resume and cover letter as one document when applying for the role.

This position is a term appointment with an end date of June 30, 2026.

This is a part-time 17.5-hour Hybrid position based in Cambridge, MA, with possible flexible remote work options.

Additional Information

• 
  Appointment End Date: 6/30/26
• Standard Hours/Schedule: 17.5 hours per week
• Compensation Range/Rate (including Shift Differential if applicable):
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity and Education

Work Format Details

This is a position that is based at a Harvard campus location with some remote work options available. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 056. 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.