Program Manager (Government)

Job Summary:
The Program Manager is responsible for the strategy, design, and hands-on management of programs within the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences Department of Government. The position plans, develops, and carries out the programs of the Center for American Political Studies (CAPS), a research center within the Department, and exercises independent judgment in program strategy, planning, design, and implementation under the leadership of the Faculty Director and Director of Administration.
Responsibilities include designing, managing, and executing the full portfolio of CAPS programs, outreach and development activities, strategic communications, events, and student and faculty services, as well as supervising a number of staff positions.
The position is split 0.70 FTE — Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) and 0.30 FTE — Program Management for the Department of Government. 4 days of in-person work required.
Job-Specific Responsibilities:
Program Strategy & Design
Based on leadership’s academic and research vision for the Center and the Department, develops and implements strategic plans, establishing priorities, timelines, deliverables, and measures of success.
Translate research, academic, and institutional needs into clearly scoped programs, projects, and administrative requirements, adjusting plans as needed based on ongoing assessment and emerging priorities.
Design, launch, and manage new programs and initiatives from concept through implementation, including cross-disciplinary, public-facing, and other strategic programming.
Exercise independent judgment in evaluating and revising program policies, procedures, and offerings to strengthen effectiveness, sustainability, and alignment with the Center’s and Department’s mission.
Research and recommend new opportunities for funding, partnerships, and program development in collaboration with CAPS Faculty Director and the Director of Administration.
Lead the Center’s and the Department’s data and analytics function to support evidence-based planning, program evaluation, and more effective decision-making.
Programs and Project Management
Manage day-to-day program operations, including logistics design, coordination, implementation, follow-through, and issue resolution.
Exercise independent judgment and discretion in setting priorities, managing competing demands, and advancing program and operational work with minimal supervision.
Manage student grants, fellowships, and faculty grants programs, including developing guidelines, managing faculty review and selection processes, administering awards, and overseeing funds disbursement.
Oversee annual and rolling funding processes, including student seed grants, graduate dissertation fellowships, undergraduate summer research grants, and faculty grants.
Develop and execute events and programs, managing logistics directly and with support from student workers.
Manage cross-functional projects and initiatives from planning through delivery, coordinating stakeholders, timelines, and deliverables.
Prepare regular progress reports for leadership, faculty committees, and other stakeholders.
Partner with the Faculty Director and Director of Administration on strategy, operations, compliance, reporting, and program priorities.
Support affiliated students and faculty, connecting them with resources, funding, and opportunities, serving as their liaison with other centers/programs.
Outreach & Strategic Communications
Develop and execute communications and outreach strategies, ensuring clear messaging, consistent voice, and alignment with academic and programmatic priorities.
Serve as a liaison to the centralized communications team by gathering and coordinating unit-specific content, updates, calendars, contact information, and other materials needed to support timely and accurate communications.
Represent the Center to internal and external Center constituents across the University and beyond, serving as a primary point of contact for program inquiries and external engagement opportunities.
Conceptualize program and partnership inquiries by clarifying faculty and student priorities, assessing alignment with pre-determined priorities, and determining programmatic feasibility.
Manage constituent cultivation and stewardship efforts, including developing outreach and solicitation strategies, identifying prospective funding sources, and supporting targeted fundraising opportunities in collaboration with the leadership.
Identify, adapt, and use technical tools to improve outreach, communications, constituent management, and engagement tracking.
Staff Management
May supervise and develop support staff and contingent workers
Establish and promote consistent practices, processes, and reporting standards
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree, previous experience in project/relationship management required.
Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in program or project management, preferably in higher education or a research setting.
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
Advanced degree preferred
Prior experience supervising full-time staff, including coaching, providing feedback, and managing day to day workload and priorities
Experience designing and launching new academic or public-facing programs
management experience within a development or similarly complex environment strongly preferred.
Experience managing graduate studies programs
Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to produce polished, high-level communications for varied audiences.
Development experience, including donor cultivation, fundraising, or grants strategy.
Ability to manage and prioritize competing demands across a split appointment serving two units.
Strategic thinking and sound independent judgment in ambiguous situations.
Initiative and self-direction—able to carry out the substantive work of the role with minimal supervision.
Discretion and professionalism in handling confidential and sensitive matters.
Strong client relationship management skills
Experience operating comfortably in a fast-paced, high-visibility academic program environment
Strengths in moving fluidly between external client conversations, internal Harvard administrative processes, faculty and student coordination, and detailed program execution.
Experience leading strategic communications across web, email, and social media.
Interest in or familiarity with American politics or the social sciences.

Employment type
Full-time

Work arrangement
Hybrid