Assistant Director

Assistant Director Full-time Work Format: Hybrid Harvard Job Function: General Administration Union: 00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary Salary Grade: 058 Department: Social Sciences - South Asia Institute 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 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: The Assistant Director reports to the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute’s Executive Director and is responsible for administrative oversight within the Institute and coordination for effective administrative support within the FAS federated service model as well as coordination with Harvard Global, the India Office, and other Mittal regional locations. The Assistant Director will be responsible for the execution of existing programs, as well as the Institute’s communications and outreach to stakeholders and the public. The Assistant Director will work with the Executive Director to expand the Institute’s impact and reach, including the creation of new programming activities. Job-Specific Responsibilities: Cross-functional Coordination and Project Leadership: Coordinate and oversee support from FAS functional teams to ensure the Institute receives aligned, responsive administrative support. Lead and execute administrative projects, coordinate responses to requests and priorities from the division, FAS, and broader University, the India Office, and other regional locations, and represent the Institute on committees and working groups as needed. Resource stewardship: Provides strategic resource stewardship (space, trade-offs, grants, donor funds/reporting, delegated contracts, locally managed endowment funds, etc.) to Executive Director/Faculty Director and functional team members. Program Management: Provide oversight of the Institute’s events and programs and administrative functions in consultation with the Executive Director. Provide managerial support for student programs, events, communications, the Visiting Fellows Program, Arts Program, and other projects and initiatives as they arise. Travel to the region, if needed, to support project staff in launching new programs and initiatives. Manage the Communications Manager, Arts Program Manager, Events Coordinator, and Scholars Engagement and Administrative Coordinator, and serve as backup for these functions as needed. Ensure effective coordination across team members; resolve complex operational and programmatic issues; and ensure that monitoring and evaluation protocols are implemented to promote accountability, assess outcomes, and support continuous improvement. Oversee the training, professional development, and performance management of direct reports. Support end-to-end faculty grant processes, including RFP development, application management, proposal review, and grant awards, in collaboration with the Executive Director. Manage ad hoc