SEPTEMBER 03, 2025

001451SR
Company Description
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 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.
Job Description

JOB SUMMARY:

The Managing Director of Talent and Organizational Development plays a central role in fostering organizational resilience and advancing Harvard University’s academic and operational excellence by nurturing a culture of continuous learning, growth, and high engagement for more than 20,000 staff and faculty. Reporting to the Vice President of Human Resources, the Managing Director leads the Center for Workplace Development (“CWD”), which designs and advocates for professional development at all levels, organizational effectiveness, and talent cultivation strategies. Providing strategic and operational leadership, the Managing Director oversees a talented team of learning and organizational development professionals, including senior team of directors responsible for core program areas, to deliver comprehensive workforce learning, career development, talent mobility, management and leadership development, and organizational effectiveness initiatives. The incumbent collaborates closely with HR Deans, Directors, and administrative leaders across Harvard’s Schools and central units to strengthen the University’s shared mission.
This vital role ensures that Harvard faculty leaders and staff at all levels (from unionized staff to senior administrators) have access to exceptional professional development opportunities, fostering an inclusive, adaptive, and high-performing university community through close partnership with academic and administrative leaders, and a strong focus on innovation, collaboration, and measurable impact.
By supporting Harvard’s commitment to provide exceptional learning and development, the Managing Director of Talent and Organizational Development plays an integral role in delivering on Harvard Human Resources mission of enhancing engagement, retention and internal mobility, and making Harvard an employer of choice for exceptional talent.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in learning and development, organizational effectiveness, or talent management, with a minimum of 7 years in senior leadership roles
• Demonstrated ability to lead large teams, manage complex, large-scale programs, and thrive in large, decentralized, and matrixed organizations
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES:

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Education, Business Administration, or related field is preferred
• A strong executive presence with the ability to influence and build trust and communicate effectively at all organizational levels, including senior university leadership
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• In-depth knowledge of contemporary trends in adult learning, organizational development, executive development, and change management
• Proven expertise in designing, implementing, and assessing programs for leadership, staff development, and organizational effectiveness at scale
• Expertise in consulting and designing leadership assessments and supporting senior leader interventions
• Record of advancing inclusive talent strategies and fostering a workplace culture of belonging and pluralism
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills; ability to leverage learning analytics and organizational metrics
• Experience managing complex learning management systems and adopting new learning technologies
• Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire, and develop high-performing, mission-driven teams through change and continuous improvement
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or comparable advanced HR/OD credential preferred