Associate Secretary To The University

The Associate Secretary will serve as a core member of the senior staff of the Office of the Governing Boards, with responsibility for staffing an array of committees and related operations of both the Board of Overseers and the Corporation, as well as various visiting committees charged with reviewing the work of departments and schools.

The Associate Secretary will serve as principal staff to several standing committees of the Board of Overseers and to an array of visiting committees. In close coordination with the Overseers, committee chairs, deans, key faculty, and administrative colleagues, the Associate Secretary will:

• Document and communicate key actions of these committees, including drafting or editing both minutes and reports;
• Assure the proper integration of committees’ work with that of the board more generally;
• Be responsible for implementing board rules, protocols, and procedures, and work collaboratively with OGB colleagues to identify best practices for the work of the Board and its visitation process.
• Plan and implement the meetings and other activities of such committees and ensure necessary follow-up;
• Serve as an advisor to and brief committee chairs and members, guests of the committees, including deans and faculty, and other senior university leaders;

The Associate Secretary will also have responsibility for staffing the work of the Corporation Committee on Shareholder Responsibility (CCSR) and its associated Advisory Committee on Shareholder Responsibility (ACSR). Working closely with the Senior Associate Secretary, the Associate Secretary works to support both committees and their engagement with senior university leaders and serves as the liaison to the relevant staff of the Harvard Management Company in planning meetings, formulating agendas, drafting minutes, managing and updating official committee records, preparing briefings and background research, identifying, and orienting new committee members of the advisory committee, and preparing an annual report of the committees’ work to the Harvard community.

• The Associate Secretary may also be called on to help staff other committees associated with the governing boards, as well as undertaking special projects for committees as needed.

General
Besides the specific responsibilities above, the Associate Secretary will participate with colleagues in planning and carrying out the broader responsibilities of the Office of the Governing Boards, including other assigned projects and responsibilities. This will include partnering with colleagues within and beyond the Office of the Governing Boards to further office-wide initiatives, to streamline and modernize processes, to build working relations with key colleagues in other Harvard offices, to enhance the use of technology (including software solutions, databases, or web-based tools), and to manage other projects as assigned.

Candidates must meet the following basic qualifications in order to be considered for this role:
Bachelor’s degree and at least seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in an academic or similar setting.

Superior communication skills, including the ability to produce well-written reports, briefings, memos, and minutes with impeccable attention to detail. Ability to work independently and strategically, to take initiative, to set goals, priorities, and timetables, and organize and motivate groups to accomplish discrete tasks. Discretion, diplomacy, flexibility, and care in dealing with complex and sensitive governance matters and engaging effectively with board members and senior university officers. Capacity to relate well both to members of boards and visiting committees and to a wide range of internal colleagues, and to foster strong and productive working relationships.
Intellectual curiosity about a wide range of topics, prior experience with higher education administration, and enthusiasm for engaging with the challenges and complexity of a leading research university are highly desirable.
Advanced degree preferred.

A writing sample will be requested of candidates interviewed.
Requires occasional evening and weekend work, including regularly scheduled meetings of the governing boards and their committees.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging:
Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.
Harvard University supports a hybrid workplace model which will actively support some remote work. Specific days and schedules for on-site work and remote work will be discussed during the interview process. Please note hybrid workers must reside in a state where Harvard is registered to do business (CA, CT, GA, IL, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VA, VT, and WA).
The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up to date on CDC-recommended vaccines.

We invite you to visit Harvard’s Total Rewards website to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.

General Administration

USA - MA - Cambridge

360058 Admin Offcr/SrIndiv Contrib

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Office of the Governing Boards

Office of the President and Provost

Full-time

058

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Education, Identity

Requires occasional evening and weekend work, including regularly scheduled meetings of the governing boards and their committees.
Monday through Friday. 35 hours per week.

Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

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.