Project Manager

Job Description

The Project Manager partners with HUHS senior leaders to support strategic and operational priorities.
This role brings structure, coordination, and accountability to complex organizational projects by working with leaders and teams to define problems, clarify goals, and develop practical solutions. Using data, staff input, and Lean-based improvement methods, the role helps teams test, evaluate, and refine approaches for various projects from initiation through completion and maintains clear plans, timelines, and measures of success. This role also builds project management capacity by coaching project owners and team members in effective tools and practices.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Manages multiple cross-functional projects aligned with HUHS strategic and operational priorities, using a consistent project lifecycle from initiation through closeout.
• Partners with executive sponsors, process owners, and managers to define project purpose, scope, outcomes, deliverables, roles, assumptions, constraints, and decision rights before work begins.
• Develops and maintains project plans with work breakdowns, milestones, dependencies, critical path, timelines, resources, measures, and contingency plans; uses Gantt charts or equivalent tools to make work visible.
• Establishes project governance, meeting cadence, and communication plans; prepares agendas, decision materials, and concise status updates for project teams, SLT, Executive Committee and steering groups.
• Maintains project controls and records, including action and decision logs, RAID logs, requirements, risks, issues, and change requests; coordinates dependencies and resources and escalates barriers in a timely way.
• Facilitates teams through data collection, problem definition, root-cause analysis, process mapping, option development, and decision-making; ensures all voices are heard and input is used appropriately.
• Learns and applies HUHS’s Lean-based approach and tools to support process improvement work across the organization, integrating these methods into how projects are planned, led, and managed.
• Coaches project owners and team members in practical project management and improvement tools, including scope definition, work planning, visual management, and follow-through.
• Ensures deliverables are developed, tested, implemented, and sustained, including workflows, standardized work, measurement and test plans, implementation strategies, training, and change management; communicates clearly across HUHS and works with IT, Communications, vendors, and consultants as needed.
• Adheres to the expectations and professional responsibilities of the department. 
• Employs the standards, practices, and procedures of the department. 
• Maintains compliance with HUHS policies, departmental procedures, required training, and applicable privacy, security, and regulatory requirements, including HIPAA.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required with minimum of 5 years of process improvement, project or program management experience, preferably in healthcare or higher education.  Advanced education may count towards years of experience
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including advanced PowerPoint and Excel skills, collaboration tools, and project management tools; ability to learn Lean thinking and reporting tools.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and sound judgment.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• The ideal candidate must have exceptional interpersonal, project management, and reporting, writing and editing skills and a proven record of working collaboratively with a wide range of constituents.
• Should have a demonstrated record of success in complex and fast-paced organization, preferably a college, university or healthcare organization; should also possess the ability to set priorities and manage competing demands.
• Candidate must possess the ability to work collaboratively across teams and with a variety of projects and constituencies.
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills are a must.
• Must be innovative, strategic and conceptually manage multiple projects simultaneously and handle difficult situations with a high level of professionalism.
• Enjoy working in a dynamic and evolving environment, with the ability to be nimble and flexible as work dictates.
• Must be motivated to learn and flexible to change. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Additional Information

Standard Hours/Schedule:

• Full-time, 35 hours; Monday-Friday
• Location: Smith Campus Center

Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position

Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal, and References

O&R Period: 3 months.

Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that all duties and responsibilities must be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 057. 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.

Salary Grade: 057