The Shorenstein Center has an exciting future and is growing. If you would like to contribute to research and programming at the intersection of media, politics and policy, please view our current openings.
For student employment opportunities, click here: Research Assistant Opportunities
For fellowship opportunities, click here: Fellowships
Current Openings
Research Community Manager
Job Summary
The Shorenstein Center is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Research Community Manager to lead and oversee all aspects of our prestigious fellowship programs. This individual will be responsible for managing the full lifecycle of the fellowship program, from application and selection processes to programming and support throughout the fellowship year. The Research Community Manager will collaborate with Center leadership on offer decisions and ensure a positive, engaging experience for fellows and the broader Shorenstein, HKS and Harvard community. In addition, this individual will work closely with Center staff and fellows to develop research outputs for maximum impact for the field and community of practice.
Position Description
1. Fellowship Management:
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of the fellowship program and research community, ensuring smooth coordination and high-level execution of all program activities.
- Act as the primary point of contact for fellows and researchers across the Center, providing ongoing support and addressing questions, needs, or concerns.
- Collaborate with leadership to finalize the selection of fellows and research affiliates, including managing all aspects of offers and onboarding.
2. Application Process:
- Develop and manage the fellowship application process, including coordinating with communications teams on outreach, managing applicant data, and overseeing the review and selection timeline.
- Coordinate with the review committee and Center leadership to evaluate and select fellows based on program goals and priorities.
- Organize and facilitate an engaging and informative orientation for new fellows, ensuring they have a strong understanding of the Center’s mission, resources, and expectations.
- Support fellows as they transition into the program, helping them to integrate into the Center’s community and activities.
3 Program Development and Coordination:
- Design, coordinate, and execute fellowship and research programming throughout the year, including workshops, seminars, and events that contribute to researchers’ professional development and research goals.
- Work with the Center’s leadership and external stakeholders to curate relevant and impactful content for fellows that aligns with the Center’s mission.
- Monitor and evaluate program success, gathering feedback to continually improve the fellowship and researcher experience.
4. Communication and Collaboration:
- Maintain regular communication with fellows and researchers, keeping them informed of upcoming events, deadlines, and opportunities.
- Serve as a liaison between fellows and other departments within the Shorenstein Center, HKS and Harvard, ensuring collaboration with communications, events, and development teams as needed.
- Facilitate strong connections between fellows and Shorenstein Center, HKS, Harvard, and news/media industry including staff, faculty, and external partners.
5. Budget and Resource Management:
- Manage the fellowship program’s budget, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and effectively in support of fellows and program activities.
- Identify and pursue opportunities for collaboration to enhance the fellowship program and outputs.
6. Other Duties as Assigned:
- Contribute to the Center’s broader mission by participating in strategic initiatives, attending Center events, and supporting cross-functional projects as needed.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree and at least 5 years’ work experience in a related role, widely defined – tell us how your previous experiences set you up well for this job.
- Event planning experience, ideally with high-level donors and/or stakeholders (In-person and hybrid events)
- Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple time-sensitive projects simultaneously.
- Experience and/or interest in roles related to academic or non-profit administration and leadership
- Ability to think strategically and develop innovative programming aligned with the Shorenstein Center’s goals.
- Interpersonal skills that demonstrate high emotional intelligence, humility, and an eagerness to learn and grow
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to be responsive and empathetic in professional communications¿and respectful of privacy and discretionary information
- Equally detail-orientated and a big-picture thinker; and able to easily switch between those two contexts.
- Comfort with learning new technologies, including database, room reservation, email production/delivery, and form builder systems¿
- Comfortable in leadership and supporting positions
- Graphic design and/or document prep experience
- Interest in media, public policy, and emerging technologies
- Prior experience with stakeholder engagement
- Master’s degree is a plus.
Additional Information
This position is a fully benefits-eligible term appointment ending one year from date of hire, with possibility of renewal.
Salary Range: $71,139 – $116,397
Note: Starting salaries typically fall in the lower half of the salary range; however, they are ultimately determined by the scope of the position, the candidate’s relevant experience, and internal equity.
To learn more and apply, visit the Harvard Careers posting: https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/home/HomeWithPreLoad?partnerid=25240&siteid=5341&PageType=JobDetails&jobid=2011579
Conference Coordinator
Job Summary
The Documentary Film in the Public Interest Initiative is seeking an experienced Conference Coordinator to provide administrative, logistical, and creative support to the inaugural Henry Symposium on Documentary. The Coordinator will work closely with the Project Director, Project Coordinator and members of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy’s Communications and Events team.
The coordinator’s main responsibilities will be to provide logistical, communications and planning support for the Henry Symposium, a two-day symposium + awards dinner taking place sometime in late April or early May 2025. The Henry Symposium will assemble between 50-75 global leaders from the documentary film sector to discuss pressing issues related to the field. Additionally, along with the symposium, the Shorenstein Center will be hosting the first Henry Awards for Public Interest Documentary which will join symposium attendees with award nominees (approximately 150 people total) to recognize and celebrate the most impactful documentary storytelling of recent years.
This role will be part-time (20 hours per week) over the course of several months of planning, will ramp up to full-time (35 hours per week) for the month of April leading up to the symposium, and part-time again as wrap-up activities occur post-event. This is a fully-benefits eligible term appointment ending 9-months from date of hire, with possibility of renewal.
Position Description
Specific duties will include:
Symposium Coordination
- Coordinate full planning and execution calendar for the
symposium. - Coordinate hotel, accommodations and travel support
management. - Communication with event guests in the lead up to the
symposium. - Development of all communication related materials.
Event logistics, including room rentals/bookings, catering, and
tech oversight. - Acting as a day-of coordinator for in-person events.
- Assisting with symposium advisory meetings.
- Coordinating internal team meetings related to the symposium,
including agenda and notes development.
Communications
- Draft and refine communications internally to Harvard and
Program staff on issues related to the symposium, and
communications to attendees like Save the Date’s, Symposium
travel logistics, and agendas. - Making routine updates to the Initiative’s public website and
social media related to the symposium, as needed. - General administrative help for the program team (keeping
team organized, tracking expenses, etc.).
Basic Qualifications
- 2 years’ work experience in a related role such as major event
or conference planning.
Additional Qualifications and Skills
- Ability to be responsive and collegial in professional
communications. - Experience running Zoom webinars and public meetings.
- Comfort with learning new technologies, including database,
room reservation, email production/delivery, and form builder
systems. - Excellent organizational skills – you love checklists,
spreadsheets, and follow up. Experience working with Outlook
and Microsoft 365 preferred. - Interest in documentary film, news, journalism, technology,
public policy, and the ways these intersect is a plus. Prior
experience is not required, but a curiosity in the subject matter
is. - Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
Specific experience planning conferences within Harvard
University preferred.
Working Conditions
This role will require in-person work for some planning meetings and logistics, and intensive on-site work in the lead-up to and days-of the convening. In-person work happens in an office setting (a combination of individual offices and desks/cubicles) one block from the main Harvard Kennedy School campus, and events are usually held on or near the HKS campus.
Additional Information
This part-time position is a fully benefits-eligible term appointment ending 9 months from date of hire, with possibility of renewal. We regret that the Harvard Kennedy School does not provide visa sponsorship. Harvard University requires pre-employment reference and background checks. Harvard University is committed to supporting a healthy, sustainable learning and working environment.
This is a hybrid position based on our campus in Cambridge, MA. As a campus-based institution, we place a high value on the in-person experience, cross-team collaboration, and strong community building in order to create a vibrant campus for our students, faculty, staff, and research fellows. The position is required to work in- person on campus a minimum of three days per week during the academic year. Specific days and schedule will be determined between you and your manager.
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. Learn more about our work culture and see yourself at Harvard Kennedy School.
Work Format Details
This is a hybrid position that is based in Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.
Salary Range: $60,503 – $95,391
Note: Starting salaries typically fall in the lower half of the salary range; however, they are ultimately determined by the scope of the position, the candidate’s relevant experience, and internal equity.
To learn more and apply, visit the Harvard Careers posting: https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/home/HomeWithPreLoad?partnerid=25240&siteid=5341&PageType=searchResults&SearchType=linkquery&LinkID=3179628#jobDetails=2011309_5341
