Executive Director, External E

Harvard Medical School

Boston, MA

ID: 7121191 (Ref.No. hh-61125BR)
Posted: January 15, 2023
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Job Description

Position Description

Reporting to the Dean for External Education, the Executive Director is the key advisor and strategic partner for the Dean for External Education in developing, implementing, and realizing the vision and strategic priorities for the Office. The Executive Director will establish organizational review processes, performance metrics and hone business models for new initiatives to ensure the realization of strategic goals. Working closely with the entire External Education leadership team, the Executive Director will ensure high-quality external education programming and products to meet educational impact, faculty and staff development, and financial objectives.

The Executive Director will serve as the chief operating officer for the Office for External Education to ensure the alignment of all areas of the organization, building the organizational structures and systems to synchronize the cross-OEE functional groups with the business (customer segment) groups. The Executive Director will lead and oversee all administrative aspects of the enterprise and serve as a strategic liaison with executive leaders of business and operational groups including the Finance and Administration group, the Marketing group, the Technology group, the Product Development group, and the newly formed Program Operations and Learner Services group.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

Lead the administrative team (currently 1 administrative manager and 2 coordinators), and in partnership with the Dean for External Education, effectively organize the centralized services of administration, finance, marketing, technology, product development, and program operations supporting the myriad learner segments that OEE serves.
Develop, orchestrate, and implement strategies to ensure organizational growth, sustainability, and adaptability of existing and new businesses across all OEE. Provide analysis and strategic consultation to business leaders.
Provide leadership for the organization’s strategic plan, including executive sponsorship for task forces and work groups implementing key enterprise-wide priorities in support of the vision of OEE.
Coordinate senior executive-level meetings and retreats ensuring strategic agenda-setting, productive discussions, and coordination with other internal management meetings.
Leverage financial, operational, and human resources to ensure efficient utilization and allocation across the enterprise; partner with HMS’s Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Financial Officer to promote OEE’s needs for creative solutions within the parameters of University policies.
Oversee internal administrative communications to disseminate information and align people and organization with OEE vision and strategy; build and execute and communications plan.
Recruit, motivate and retain high-quality staff and faculty. Define and communicate performance expectations, delegate assignments, and manage workflow to support organizational objectives.
Oversee an administrative team that manages OEE’s physical and virtual space for growth, expansion, and flexibility including the organization’s “Hybrid Dynamic Work” initiative to design processes and systems for 150+ faculty and staff transitioning to a flexible and hybrid work environment.
Execute large-scale external events across OEE such as the IMPACT Symposiums and Forums, Faculty Engagement events, other thought leadership events, and educational programs.
Serve as the principal liaison to, and work closely with, relevant HU and HMS stakeholders and executives on other projects as assigned and of import to the Dean and Leadership Council.

Basic Qualifications

Master’s Degree or higher, e.g., MBA, Ph.D., MD, or other, with 12+ years of progressively responsible experience in administrative management and leadership.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Administrative experience at a large academic institution is strongly preferred. Significant experience with, or knowledge of, the working environment within higher education, life sciences, and clinical medicine.
Experience working with entrepreneurial business opportunities, and a high degree of organizational astuteness with proven organizational, interpersonal, and consultative skills.
Strong strategic thinking and analytic skills; ability to think at a micro and macro level to balance a tactical perspective with the ability to manage strategic direction.
Must understand and be able to reconcile the inevitable tensions that arise between competing entrepreneurial agendas and the values and pace of academia.
Experience in financial management, strategic business analysis, evaluating and launching new business opportunities, and successfully managing deployment of human and financial resources in a constrained environment.
Ability to communicate, negotiate and thrive in a complex, matrixed, organization and to manage human and organizational dynamics.
A seasoned team builder with proven skill and creativity in leading through organizational transition.
Effectively identifies and actively works to resolve conflicts between individuals and groups.

Additional Information

The Office for External Education is a highly entrepreneurial department within Harvard Medical School delivering a portfolio of innovative medical education opportunities, through live, online, and blended programming as well as digital, multimedia, and print resources, to a breadth of learners, including current and aspiring health care professionals; leaders at all levels within companies that serve the health care industry; and individuals seeking to live healthier lives. Since its inception in 2014, the Office for External Education has expanded in size and scope, with revenues approaching $100M in 2023 supported by a team of nearly 200 faculty and staff. Revenues are generated through B2B and B2C relationships, as well as grant and gift funding.

This position is based in Boston and some in-person on-campus work will be required, and flexible/remote work is an option. Any remote work must be performed in a state in which Harvard is registered to do business (CA*, CT, GA, IL, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VA, VT, and WA). Individual flexible and remote work options for this role will be discussed during the interview process. *Note: Harvard employees working in California must be exempt.

The University requires all Harvard community members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccine boosters, as detailed in Harvard’s Vaccine & Booster Requirements. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University’s COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University’s “COVID-19 Vaccine Information” webpage: http://www.harvard.edu/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-information/.

Please note that we are currently conducting a majority of interviews and onboarding remotely and virtually. We appreciate your understanding.

Harvard University offers an outstanding benefits package including:

Time Off: 3 - 4 weeks paid vacation, paid holiday break, 12 paid sick days, 12.5 paid holidays, and 3 paid personal days per year.
Medical/Dental/Vision: We offer a variety of excellent medical plans, dental & vision plans, all coverage begins as of your start date.
Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with full vesting after 3 years of service.
Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive tuition assistance program, incredibly affordable classes directly at the Harvard Extension School, and discounted options through participating Harvard grad schools.
Transportation: Harvard offers a 50% discounted MBTA pass as well as additional options to assist employees in their daily commute.
Wellness options: Harvard offers programs and classes at little or no cost, including stress management, massages, nutrition, meditation, and complementary health services.
Harvard access to athletic facilities, libraries, campus events, and many discounts throughout metro Boston.

The Harvard Medical School is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

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Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

We are committed to cultivating an inclusive workplace culture of faculty, staff, and students with diverse backgrounds, styles, abilities, and motivations. We appreciate and leverage the capabilities, insights, and ideas of all individuals. Harvard Medical School Mission and Community Values

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Harvard Medical School strives to cultivate an environment that promotes inclusiveness and collaboration among students, faculty and staff and to create new avenues for discussion that will advance our shared mission to improve the health of people throughout the world.

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