Associate Director of Talent Acquisition

Grade: 059 FLSA Status: Exempt 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 Harvard University Central Administration? Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Job Summary Reporting to the Director of Talent Acquisition for Harvard Central Administration (CADM), supporting the Campus Operations and Safety client group, the Associate Director of Talent Acquisition provides strategic and operational leadership for the talent acquisition function supporting multiple CADM client groups. This role sets the overall recruiting strategy, oversees a team of Talent Consultants and Coordinators, and is accountable for service quality, consistency, and results across the portfolio. The Associate Director partners closely with CADM and University leadership on workforce planning, labor market strategy, and employer branding. The role leads executive and other complex searches, manages key relationships and systems, and drives the development of scalable processes and metrics to meet current and future staffing needs. Leads end‑to‑end recruiting strategy for a complex client group, developing tailored, high‑touch sourcing and selection approaches for specialized and hard‑to‑fill roles while partnering closely with business leaders to anticipate talent needs and deliver high‑quality hires.

Description Strategic Leadership & Planning Lead the design and execution of a comprehensive talent acquisition strategy for CADM that aligns with school/department and University goals. Partner with HR leaders and client leadership on workforce planning, staffing forecasts, and market strategies, including identification of critical roles and talent pipelines. Serve as primary advisor to senior leadership on talent market trends, competitive intelligence, and recruiting implications for CADM units.

Management & Operations Provide effective leadership and management for a team of recruiting professionals (e.g., Talent Consultants, and Coordinators), including hiring and orientation, training and development, and performance management. Set clear service expectations and standards; ensure consistent, high‑quality delivery of full‑cycle recruiting services across multiple client groups. Oversee day‑to‑day operations of the talent acquisition function, including requisition assignment, workload balancing, and escalation management for complex or sensitive cases. Executive and Complex Search Management Lead or oversee executive, senior‑level, and other complex searches, including development of position and market strategies, targeted sourcing plans, and assessment and selection approaches. Build and maintain long‑term relationships and networks with senior‑level and specialized talent pools to support current and future hiring needs. Process and Systems Management Design, develop, and monitor effective recruiting processes and practices; identify and implement cost‑effective solutions that enhance efficiency, quality, and candidate experience. Oversee use and optimization of recruitment systems and tools (e.g., applicant tracking, reporting, sourcing platforms) and coordinate with TAO on systems enhancements and support.