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Posted: 11-Jul-25
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Internal Number: f5cccef4-db88-45e8-abb7-675c93b93978
By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.
Why join the Harvard Kennedy School?
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is one 12 graduate and professional schools at the university. Harvard Kennedy School’s mission is to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. By combining cutting-edge research, the teaching of outstanding students, and direct interaction with practitioners, we have an impact on solving public problems that no other institution can match. When you work at Harvard Kennedy School, you make a difference.
Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) is looking for a dynamic, experienced Strategic Communications & Training Manager to join our Information Technology department (HKSIT). As part of the department’s Strategy team, you will play a key role in communications, knowledge sharing, strategy development, shaping and deploying major initiatives such as cybersecurity and digital accessibility, and driving training and adoption at the School.
The role develops key strategies and execution plans to ensure the community is proactively informed of HKSIT activities and services. Additionally, they work with key stakeholders to identify and develop plans which address emerging training needs to support the school’s Teaching & Learning and Research missions.
Essential Functions:
General
- Lead HKSIT Service and project communications with the HKS community.
- Lead training for services offered by HKSIT.
- Lead service and projects documentation in collaboration with key stakeholders.
- Work with HKSIT and Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT) teams to ensure timely and consistent messaging around service offerings and projects.
- Seek opportunities for continuous service improvement by actively reviewing communications and training strategies across the HKSIT portfolio and working with business and service owners as well as HKSIT teams to effect change.
- Lead development of strategic and impactful communication.
- Collaborate with and support HKSIT team and the IT Affinity Group.
- Support other initiatives as needed.
Communications
- Develop and maintain a strategic communications plan for all HKSIT messaging.
- Develop, maintain, and evaluate both one-time and regular communications to business owners, HKSIT teams, department heads and executives, and the HKS community using multiple communications channels, including email, in-person, social media, our intranet, and newsletters, in support of new and existing services across the HKSIT service portfolio.
- Partner across the HKSIT and HUIT teams to develop, review and/or send communications to impacted stakeholders at various levels of the organization.
- Build and leverage relationships across the IT team, School and University to learn about and effectively communicate changes, incidents, and other information that needs to be shared in a timely manner.
- Work with internal partners to draft policies and standards for outward communications to the HKS Community around topics including change and incident management.
- Analyze and leverage data from IT Services and other areas to develop impactful communications.
- Lead impactful reports highlighting HKSIT accomplishments.
Knowledge
- Participate in developing documentation and materials to share institutional knowledge pertaining to the HKSIT Service Portfolio.
- Play a key role in guiding the development of user-friendly content.
- Curate content on the HKSIT site on the HKS intranet, core website, and other channels.
- Support continuous knowledge transfer across the HKSIT team enhance and improve service to the HKS community.
Training
- Partner with Service Owners and Project Managers to develop timely and effective communications and trainings in support of new/enhanced services and projects.
- Plan and support the transition of new or enhanced services from communication and training perspective.
- Partner with the HKSIT project management team on change management deliverables, as needed.
- Document strategies and best practices to ensure lessons learned can be applied to future initiatives.
- Foster a collaborative, trusting culture in which change management can be conducted smoothly.
Change Management
- Identify opportunities and training needs within HKS user community. Leverage HUIT resources for commonly used tools at Harvard.
- Develop and provide trainings for select HKS custom tools. Create supporting materials and videos as needed.
- Partner with the HKSIT teams to provide training resources and engagement opportunities for onboarding incoming students and new faculty and staff.
- Offer periodic information sessions about IT topics in partnership with subject matter experts.
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to individually lift and move computer equipment up to 50 pounds, and periodically up to 100 pounds with the assistance of others
Working Conditions:
- Work is performed in an office setting
- Occasionally required to work outside of normal business hours, and may be called during off hours
Basic Qualifications:
- Minimum of five years’ post-secondary education or relevant work experience
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong dedication to customer service.
- Required and demonstrated experience with highly organized, engaging and effective technical training delivery to diverse audiences.
- Required and demonstrated experience with change management initiatives and common change management methodologies.
- Highly self-motivated and self-directed in the pursuit of excellence.
- Strong maturity, professionalism, and judgment.
- Meticulous attention to detail and organization.
- Openly embraces change.
- Proven ability to present ideas and educational topics in multiple formats, including in-person presentations to large audiences and in writing, in business- and user-friendly language.
- Proven ability to independently and effectively prioritize, organize, coordinate and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment with constant deadlines and shifting priorities.
- Proven experience working collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
- Proven proactive problem-solving skills.
- Good understanding of current IT concepts and the ability to stay current with the latest technologies and trends.
- Basic understanding and technical knowledge of current network and operating systems, hardware, account management, and enterprise software.
- Experience working with project teams.
- Experience in a higher-education environment is desirable, but a fresh perspective is also welcome.
Certificates and Licenses:
Requirement within 180 days of start date:
- Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundations certification
- Completion of Harvard IT Academy’s "Service Mindset" level 1
- Completion of Harvard IT Academy’s "Trusted Advisor" level 1
- Completion of Harvard IT Academy’s "Information Security Foundations" level 1
Additional courses to be completed within a year of hire :
- Completion of Harvard IT Academy’s "Service Mindset" level 2 courses
- Completion of Harvard IT Academy’s "Trusted Advisor" level 2 courses
- Completion of Harvard IT Academy’s "Information Security Foundations" level 1 class
- Completion of Harvard IT Academy’s "IT Methodologies" level 1 class
- Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
- Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
- Pre-Employment Screening: Education,Identity
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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 058. 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, sex, ethnicity, color, national origin, 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.