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Job Summary

The role of Managing Director of Admissions and Financial Aid is an incredibly significant one. The Managing Director manages the Admissions team and process and, with their input, strategically oversees one of the most critical components of HBS: the selecting and crafting of a class that shapes the students' experience, and eventually adds to the already-rich tapestry of the School's alumni network. The Managing Director is also a key leader in driving future opportunities for HBS to expand its reach and impact, both in its admissions efforts and in other, broader, School-wide initiatives.

Working closely and collaboratively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders including current students, alumni, faculty, and administration, the Managing Director oversees the development of a strong pool of applicants that yields a diverse and academically gifted class.

The Managing Director is also responsible for designing a strategic global marketing plan for the MBA program and implementing an admissions and applicant assessment process that will deliver a high-quality class with wide-ranging talents and experiences, all of which will maintain HBS's position as the premiere MBA program. The MD must be a strong leader, capable of effectively representing HBS to both internal and external audiences.

As head of the Financial Aid effort, a strategic part of the Managing Director's role will be to extend the work done on access and affordability to remove financial barriers for students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. It is an also an important—and profoundly impactful—moment in time for this new leader. They will be making the case for the MBA degree in the midst of significant global macroeconomic, social, and political challenges. To ensure that the School is helping to lead the world in addressing these challenges, the leaders of the HBS MBA program have prioritized an invigoration of the sense of purpose in the program, a centering of the educational core of the experience, and an emphasis on ensuring that HBS is attracting the world's most promising young leaders. The Managing Director will play a crucial role in helping to achieve these goals.

The Managing Director of Admissions and Financial Aid is responsible for the selection of the MBA class. In doing so, the Managing Director will set and implement an admissions marketing strategy, manage global outreach to 8,000+ candidates and will ensure the sufficient technology/operations are in place to process applications with transparency, efficiency, and humanity. This pool of applicants also includes candidates pursuing joint degrees with Harvard's Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (MS/MBA), Law (JD/MBA), Medical (MD/MBA), Dental (DMD/MBA), Engineering and Applies Sciences (MS/MBA) and Kennedy Schools (MBA/MPP and MBA/MPA-ID).

Please note this search is being managed through Heidrick & Struggles - Executive Search Firm. Please direct any questions or inquiries to [email protected]

Position Description

With direct oversight of the financial aid process and decisions, the Managing Director will strategize with the HBS Financial Office on methods to enhance and maximize financial aid funding. Additionally, the Managing Director will assess and direct business processes in marketing, operations, and evaluation to ensure a positive and valuable experience for all applicants.

The Managing Director will serve as an ambassador to internal and external constituencies alike, and will cultivate and maintain relationships with students, faculty, administrators, employers, university administration departments, etc.

Leadership/Management

• Lead, manage, mentor, and motivate a 30+ person highly productive and diverse team in addition to 20+ seasonal contractors.
• Delegate work assignments and provide direction and support as needed.
• Recognize and develop talent within the staff, and recruit and retain high performing employees. Develop and articulate vision and direction for the department, identify objectives and markers of success. Foster and encourage clear, direct, and open communication.
• Effectively collaborate with other departments at the School.
• Form, build, and nurture external relationships with external constituents to expand and strengthen the diversity of the HBS MBA applicant pool.
• Provide the voice of prospective students and the state of the admissions market in strategy and planning discussions with the Dean and other members of school senior leadership.
• Willingness and desire to travel domestically and internationally is required.

Admissions/Financial Aid

• Oversee the application process and lead the final Selection process resulting in a high-quality class.
• Set direction and maintain the integrity of the evaluation of applications resulting in the selection of a high-quality class with the appropriate mix of skills, talents and diversity.
• Review processes and, where possible, make improvements.
• Oversee specific outreach strategies to underrepresented applicant pools.
• Develop a strategic plan for financial aid and for overseeing the deployment and disbursement of financial aid funds. Develop sources of additional support for HBS MBA students.
• More on the School's commitment to need-based financial aid can be found here.
• Understand and adhere to admissions rules and regulations.
• Ensure that all financial aid rules and regulations are followed explicitly to meet the state and federal laws.
• Oversee and guide all financial aid and admissions processes.
• Keep current on the business school and industry environments and understand the global reach of HBS.
• Understand and effectively work within a complex, ever-changing, intellectually stimulating environment that includes students, faculty, administrators and a highly engaged alumni community.
• Recognize the importance of those constituents and the broader business community at large.

Marketing and Public Relations

• Develop and execute an effective comprehensive global marketing plan for recruitment across wide ranging cultures worldwide.
• Develop creative strategies including website and digital marketing.
• Maintain knowledge of trends influencing global management education and design state of the art strategies for attracting high quality students.
• Coordinate with other departments to effectively collaborate and develop effective messages to well position HBS and its key attributes in the market.
• Actively lead in external communications and outreach to energize the HBS MBA brand to further build and expand the HBS MBA pool of applicants.
• Represent HBS and the MBA Admissions effort at conferences, press events, and other external opportunities, leveraging media opportunities to promote the HBS MBA program.

This role is also responsible for other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Master's degree is required.
• 8+ years of experience in marketing, sales, or other applicable external stakeholder-facing roles from other industries/sectors is required.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Leadership/Management:

• Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory experience managing a complex service organization.
• Proven ability to foster creativity and promote employee participation.
• Ability to be open minded, exhibit good judgment and be a thoughtful, but timely, decision maker.

Stakeholder Management:

• Ability to work effectively with various constituents and stakeholders including students, prospective students, senior alumni, administrators, faculty, the press and corporate representatives.

Communications:

• Exceptional written and verbal skills coupled with excellent presentation and project management skills.
• Ability to collect and synthesize large amounts of information, and to communicate relevant material to appropriate constituents in a timely manner.

Additional Information

This role is offered as a hybrid (some combination of onsite and remote) where you are required to be onsite at our Boston, MA based campus 3 days per week. Specific days and schedule will be determined between you and your manager.

While we continue to monitor the evolving COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions, we appreciate your understanding and flexibility with our interview process. Please note that we will be conducting interviews virtually (phone and or Zoom) for selected candidates until further notice.

Harvard University continues to place the highest priority on the health, safety and well being of its faculty, staff, and students, as well as the wider community. Please note that all new employees will be required to provide confirmation of primary series COVID-19 vaccination upon hire, as detailed on our COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement Webpage. Harvard University Health Services employees and other health care individuals are also required to be up to date on vaccination as described by the CDC. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. Additional information regarding this requirement, exemptions, verification of vaccination status, and other related policies and resources may be found on the University's COVID-19 Information Website.

A cover letter is required to be considered for this opportunity.

Harvard Business School will not offer visa sponsorship for this opportunity.

Culture of Inclusion: The work and well-being of HBS is profoundly strengthened by the diversity of our network and our differences in background, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and life experiences. Explore more about HBS work culture here https://www.hbs.edu/employment.

Salary Grade: 061

Union: 00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

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.

EEO Statement
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.

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