Position Description

Harvard Law School Executive Education (HLSEE) provides unrivaled leadership programs for law firms, in-house and government lawyers, and judges from all over the world. Our mission is to help lawyers develop as leaders across the arc of their careers and to create a better global legal profession by strengthening leadership in legal organizations. The Assistant Director of Operations leads the HLSEE program team and directly manages 4-5 non-exempt program staff to ensure the highest level of administrative support and customer service is provided to faculty who lead and teach in HLSEE programs and to deliver outstanding learning experiences for the lawyers and professionals in legal organizations who participate in our programs. Programs include both open-enrollment programs and custom programs and are delivered in-person and online, with most programs being provided in-person in our dedicated HLSEE classroom at Harvard Law School.

As Assistant Director of Operations, you will:

Program Team Management

• Be responsible for effective staff management, including hiring and orientation, training and development, workflow and performance management, and the promotion of an inclusive and innovative work environment.
• Work with the HLSEE management team to ensure effective communication, accountability, teamwork, and the promotion of an inclusive and innovative work environment at the program level.
• Determine the varying support needs of each program and faculty and plan staff assignments and other resource allocations accordingly, including occasional use of temporary/casual employees.

Operations Management

• Oversee and support the work of the team coordinating the delivery of approximately 25 open-enrollment and customized professional development programs to lawyers and professionals in legal organizations on campus and online annually.
• Responsible for managing, evaluating, and continually refining and adapting HLSEE practices in program development and delivery, including but not limited to faculty and participant services, support, and communication; programmatic and curricular material production in print and online; securing program venues, hotels, and resources; coordinating all program logistics including calendar management, catering, media services, etc.; adhering to program budgets, and managing vendor relations.
• Optimize practices and processes in project management, service delivery, and program material production; benchmarking for quality of services and prices (e.g., catering); communications (e.g., engagement with faculty and participants); vendor and contract negotiations; and program planning and delivery.
• Maintain strong relationships with key partners across HLS and other Harvard schools with whom collaboration is essential for successful program delivery.

Other Duties

• Work with HLSEE leadership to develop a cohesive and supportive administrative structure for program, project, and task delivery.
• Engage program team and other appropriate staff in evaluating existing administrative and support systems and implementing process improvement initiatives where needed to ensure efficiency, strong customer service, and maximum productivity.
• Work closely with key stakeholders on feasibility analysis around new programs and program-related activities (e.g., timing, space, staffing, other resources, etc.).
• Undertake projects and collaborate with other HLS offices and internal and external stakeholders to meet the needs of the program team and HLSEE.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of HLSEE operating processes, protocols, and templates that support the design, delivery, and administration of best-in-class executive programs.
• Ensures that processes are applied consistently across programs and help identify best practices by learning from other executive education programs across the University and in the external market.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor?s degree or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum of 5 years? relevant work experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills

We are looking for people who have:

• Knowledge of the legal market and legal organizations
• Supervisory experience
• Strong customer service orientation
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build, nurture, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders
• Excellent project management skills

Additional Information

Benefits

• 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.

Work Format

About Harvard University Law School

Harvard University is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders in many disciplines who make a difference globally. The University, which is based in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, has an enrollment of over 20,000 degree candidates, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Harvard has more than 360,000 alumni around the world. The University has twelve degree-granting Schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, offering a truly global education. Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States.

Connections working at Harvard University Law School