Assistant Director, RC Curricular Programs, MBA Registrar’s Office
Harvard University · Boston, Massachusetts, United States · hybrid
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Job Summary:
The Assistant Director, Required Curriculum, provides operational leadership for the Required Curriculum (RC) within the MBA Registrar’s Office. Reporting to the Associate Director, RC Program, the Assistant Director has primary responsibility for translating program strategy and academic priorities into coordinated, reliable operations across the RC academic cycle. The role manages complex and interdependent curricular processes, exercises independent judgment in resolving operational and policy-related issues, and ensures that academic systems, schedules, faculty assignments, exams and grading are delivered accurately and consistently.
Job-Specific Responsibilities:
RC Academic Operations & Program Management
- Lead the integrated operational planning and delivery of the RC academic cycle, including term start-up, course infrastructure, sectioning, discussion groups, seating, exams, grading, and other recurring curricular processes.
- Oversee RC academic infrastructure in SIS and related systems, ensuring accurate course, section, enrollment, faculty, schedule, and grade-reporting data; exercise judgment to resolve complex data, system, and process issues.
- Monitor readiness across RC workstreams and major events (i.e term start-up, exams) and escalate significant operational challenges or program-level policy decisions to the Associate Director.
- Establish and maintain process controls, documentation standards, backup coverage, and cross-training for critical RC workflows.
Academic Calendars, Scheduling & Faculty Assignments
- Manage development and production of detailed RC academic calendars and course schedules within strategic parameters established by the Associate Director, and MBA program leadership.
- Coordinate collection and analysis of course, faculty, and administrative inputs; analyze competing constraints, identify conflicts, and develop workable options and recommendations to create course schedules.
- Lead the confidential faculty-grid development process from data collection and teaching-group inputs through draft production, validation, and readiness for final review.
- Exercise discretion in handling sensitive faculty information and independently resolve routine scheduling issues; prepare and elevate matters involving significant policy, resource, or relationship considerations.
- Serve as a primary operational partner to Unit Coordinators, Course Heads, Faculty Support Specialists, Operations, Program Delivery, and other stakeholders to ensure accurate implementation of the course schedule.
- Coordinate implementation of new or changing RC courses and curricular structures, identifying downstream impacts to systems, schedules, staffing, communications, and student records.
Exams, Grading & Academic Policy Administration
- Oversee the end-to-end administration of RC midterm and final exams, including planning, timelines, exam materials, exam-tool configuration, accommodations, alternate-exam arrangements, communications, and coordination with Student Support Services, Course Heads, and Unit Coordinators
- Manage student exam absence and petition processes, ensuring consistent application of policies. Exercise independent judgment in resolving routine and complex cases, escalating sensitive or precedent-setting matters to Program Leadership as appropriate.
- Manage the RC grade submission and release process, including developing communication plans, coordinating faculty reminders and follow-up, monitoring submission deadlines, tracking exceptions, conducting quality checks, and ensuring timely and accurate completion.
- Identify and assess operational challenges related to exams and grading, proactively bringing significant issues, policy questions, and matters requiring additional guidance or decision-making to the Associate Director, along with relevant context and recommended next steps.
Curricular Practical Training & Summer Work Experience
- Lead Registrar administration of Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for the Summer Work Experience requirement, and related experiential-learning processes in accordance with MBA Program policy.
- In partnership with the Harvard International Office, advise students on requirements, policies, and procedures; review applications and records, exercise judgment regarding policy fit, and elevate ambiguous or exception cases as appropriate.
- Ensure processes and student-facing information remain accurate, consistent, well documented, and responsive to changing program requirements.
Staff Leadership & Stakeholder Management & Team Development
- Plan and balance day-to-day operational workload across the RC team in partnership with the Associate Director, adjusting assignments during peak periods and ensuring critical deadlines and service expectations are met.
- Serve as a senior operational resource and primary escalation point for Unit Coordinators and other RC course-support partners. Lead monthly RC Course Support meetings and main contact for Unit Coordinators.
MBA Registrar's Office Contributions
- Contribute to departmental planning, process-improvement efforts, and assessment of operational outcomes; develop or maintain reports and analyses that support curricular administration and decision-making.
- Represent MBA Registrar Services on program-wide committees, working groups, and special projects requiring RC operational expertise.
- Support all-hands-on-deck activities such as term start-up and graduation.
- Build trust and collaboration by being present on-site and engaging directly with colleagues and various constituents.
- Perform additional duties and assume responsibility for special projects as assigned.
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Minimum of five years of experience in higher education administration, academic program operations, curriculum management, or registrar services.
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
- Experience in a higher education academic administration environment preferred.
- Familiarity with student information systems, course scheduling, enrollment, grading, or academic records management.
- Experience coordinating complex academic calendars, examinations, or other deadline-driven program processes.
- Knowledge of academic policies and procedures, with the ability to apply them consistently and exercise sound judgment.
- Experience advising or supporting students, faculty, or academic staff.
- Familiarity with Curricular Practical Training (CPT), international student processes, or collaboration with an international student office is a plus.
- Strong organizational and analytical skills, including experience managing data, identifying discrepancies, and maintaining accurate records.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate work across teams, manage competing priorities, and communicate clearly with varied stakeholders.
- Ex