Graduate Programs Funding and Operations Team Manager

003794SR School/Unit Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences Job Function Faculty & Student Services Location Cambridge Job Type Full-time Salary Grade 058 FLSA Status Exempt Union 00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary Term Appointment No 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 the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences? The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics and the Division of Continuing Education.

The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.

Job Description Job Summary: Leads the FAS graduate student appointments function within GSAS, managing the Science Division Appointments team responsible for graduate student financial aid coordination including processing Teaching Fellow (TF) and Research Assistant (RA) appointments across the Science Division, while also processing RA appointments for some Arts & Humanities (A&H) and the Social Sciences DOSS programs.

Serves as the primary point of accountability for appointments quality, consistency, and compliance across the full team. Job-Specific Responsibilities: Design and lead the RA appointment process for graduate students in FAS-based programs, ensuring compliance with regulatory appointment rules and internal Harvard financial support and academic policies. Work in coordination with GSAS Academic Programs and Financial Aid to ensure compliance with GSAS academic rules, financial aid, and university policy.

Directly manage, coach, and develop the Science Division Appointments team across assigned program groupings Working with leadership of the Science Division and faculty leadership of Science Division departments, ensure seamless flow of information between departments and Graduate Student Financial Aid and Appointments Specialists, including program rules, academic milestones, and local, GSAS, and University policies.

Develop and maintain strong working relationships with partner offices such as Harvard International Office, Office of Sponsored Research, Office of Labor and Employee Relations, Human Resources, Office of General Counsel, and others. Enforce quality control standards across all Science Division Appointments team members, ensuring appointments are processed accurately, consistently, and in compliance with university policy Serve as the primary escalation point for complex or sensitive appointment issues, triage issues, and oversee implementation of resolution.

Cultivate expertise in graduate student RA appointments for A&H and DOSS programs that opt-in to receive support and ensuring proper processing of RA appointments. Oversee the accurate disbursement of more than $80M across 1,000+ graduate students for graduate students enrolled in FAS-based graduate programs. Directs the development, maintenance, and improvement of appointment processing procedures, documentation standards, and training materials for the team.

Maintain accurate personnel records and appointment data within Aurora and departmental systems Collaborate with and serve as overflow support for the GSAS Financial Aid team, ensuring alignment on gra