Program Coordinator, Early Design Education

The Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD), as the preeminent design school in the world, offers a unique setting for interaction and the exchange of ideas through the combination of disciplines—architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning and design—together with emerging research and outreach programs and a robust annual public program of lectures and exhibitions. It is a dynamic, intellectually creative environment. We are seeking a driven, creative, and focused individual to serve as Program Coordinator for the Early Design Education (EDE) programs at the GSD and in collaboration with the GSD’s Sr. Director of Early Design Education and University partners.

 

The EDE Program Coordinator is responsible for administrative coordination of the GSD’s core EDE programs including the Design Discovery programs (in-person and virtual formats), the Design Discovery Youth program, and the Black in Design Mentorship Program. This position will also involve some administrative assistance of the Harvard Undergraduate Architecture Studies Track in collaboration with the Undergraduate Program Coordinator in Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences History of Art and Architecture Department. This position involves communicating with an international community of prospective EDE program participants, from high-school age to mid-career professionals, as well as creatively and effectively integrating and coordinating initiatives among the various EDE programs with the aims of the GSD’s departments.  The EDE programs, as a set, form a primary arm of the GSD’s outreach initiatives and are expected to evolve to remain in sync with the aims and goals of the school and the growing and changing global community the GSD engages.    

 

The Harvard Undergraduate Architecture Studies program is a program co-administered between the GSD and Harvard College. It, like the Black in Design Mentorship Program, runs during the academic calendar year (Sept – May). The studio-based Design Discovery, which enrolls up to 300 students per program cycle, serves as a primary introduction to the design professions and is primarily run in the summer months (June and July) and January session between academic terms. This program now has in-person and virtual formats that will be offered annually to different audiences interested in design.  The Program Coordinator will work closely with the Sr. Director of Early Design Education and will be integral to both the organized preparation of the programs as well as their successful proceeding during each cycle. The position will require coordination with student participants, faculty instructors, and the Sr. Director of EDE over the nine months of the academic calendar year as well as the successful stewardship of the GSD team and participating guests during the summer timeframe of the program’s duration each year at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

 

Design Discovery and Design Discovery Youth Programs:

·           Responsible for coordinating the application process, communication with current, prospective, and past participants, and material logistics for Design Discovery’s two versions – in person and virtual – as well as the needs of the associated Design Discovery Youth program.

·           Coordinates the GSD student instructor and Lead Faculty hiring process and payroll with the Office of Faculty Affairs and GSD Finance for each cycle and format offering of the Design Discovery program over the calendar year. 

·           Corresponds with program participants before, during and after cycles of the program and facilitates answers to their questions from sources at the GSD, including the Sr. Director of EDE.

·           Provides guidance on the selection among EDE programs for prospective students. 

·           Assists with the creation of marketing brochures, marketing strategies and outreach – for web and print – both before program offerings and as post-program internal reports. 

·           Coordinates recruiting events for programs with Sr. Director of EDE.

·           Assists with the student application process, reviewing standard student applications and coordinating the Sr. Director of EDE’s review of the more complex student applications, as needed.

·           Coordinates technical assistance with GSD’s CRG, Canvas, and Communications office as programs may require in planning and execution phases.

Black in Design Mentorship Program:

 

Harvard Undergraduate Architecture Studies Track:

 

Other programs:

 

College degree or equivalent experience; 5 years' experience coordinating programs (academic or otherwise); digital media expertise (Microsoft Excel, Zoom, and Adobe Creative Cloud programs); communications and outreach experience; familiarity with the design fields of architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning and design. 

 

Master's degree preferred.  Graphic design experience preferred.  Ability to clearly communicate and comfort with sharing information with and answering questions of audiences both within and outside the GSD and Harvard communities (sometimes large audiences in virtual and in person formats); flexibility and initiative; organizational skills; proven capacities of follow-through and project management to project completion.

 

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is mainly performed in an office setting

 

Harvard will require COVID vaccination for all Harvard community members who will have any on-campus presence. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University’s COVID vaccination requirement and exceptions may be found at the University’s “COVID-19 Vaccine Information” webpage: http://www.harvard.edu/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-information/.  

 

Essential skills include organization and analytical skills, and a strong aptitude for prioritizing and multitasking under tight deadlines, amid frequent interruption. Must be collaborative and able to work well in a team as well as independently. Excellent customer service including: ability to use discretion, good judgment, and work effectively with all individuals. Strong communication skills in person, in writing and on the telephone. 

 

The Harvard Graduate School of Design is passionate about fostering a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and professional work environment.  Applicants of all race, ability, gender expression and identity, sexuality, religion, education, class, national origin, and diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

 

In order to be considered for this role, a cover letter is required. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States now and in the future. We regret that we cannot sponsor a work visa.

 

Please apply online at the Harvard Careers website. Upload a cover letter and resume to: hr.harvard.edu/search-jobs and keyword search to requisition # 56105BR.