About the job
The Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics (ELSCE) at Harvard University is seeking a highly motivated Director of Research & Strategic Initiatives. This role entails driving strategic leadership and managing the intellectual agenda of the Center. Reporting directly to the Executive Director and collaborating closely with the Faculty Director, the Director will oversee the Center’s Research & Design Studio (R&DS) - a dynamic hub focused on fostering innovation at the intersection of scholarship and practical application.
The R&DS is committed to enhancing civil discourse within higher education and public life. By uniting faculty, students, and civic leaders, the Studio aims to explore engagement across differences through interdisciplinary research, hands-on experimentation, and campus-wide collaboration. The Director will transform significant questions into actionable insights and tools that promote meaningful and inclusive engagement.
In this pivotal role, the Director will work alongside the Faculty Director and ELSCE-affiliated Faculty to establish research priorities and oversee project execution. Additionally, the Director will collaborate with the Executive Director on budgeting, recruitment, grant applications, fundraising initiatives, and ensuring compliance with university policies.
Supervising R&DS staff and fellows and working closely with residential scholars, the Director will engage with university stakeholders to align the Center's initiatives across the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) and the broader university context.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
- Lead the strategic planning for the Research & Design Studio (R&DS) in partnership with the Faculty Director and Executive Director, ensuring alignment with ELSCE, FAS, and university goals.
- Design and implement new initiatives that align with ELSCE priorities and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
- Collaborate with the Faculty Director to co-develop research and academic priorities for the Center.
- Identify and manage high-impact events and communication strategies that highlight the Center’s research and intellectual agenda.
- Seek and pursue funding opportunities that further the Center’s mission, serving as Principal Investigator when applicable.
Building Institutional Partnerships
- Develop and maintain partnerships across FAS and Harvard’s professional schools to enhance cross-disciplinary research and programming on ethics.
- Represent ELSCE in prestigious university forums and committees, and interface with senior leadership and administrators across various schools.
- Act as an external spokesperson at national and international conferences, meetings, and relevant industry or government gatherings.