Program Manager, Office for Sustainability

Harvard University is seeking a Program Manager for its Office for Sustainability in Cambridge, MA. The role involves executing the University’s sustainability strategy, focusing on climate change and fossil fuel-free initiatives. Responsibilities include developing comprehensive project plans, managing partnerships, and creating tools to support sustainability goals. The position emphasizes collaboration with faculty, staff, and students to drive implementation of major sustainability programs and policies.
Harvard University has a long commitment to confronting the global challenges of climate change and sustainable development through its research, teaching, and institutional action. The University-wide Office for Sustainability (OFS), created in 2008, plays a pivotal role in bringing together students, faculty, and staff to use the campus as a living laboratory for piloting and proving solutions that address intergenerational well-being and lead to a sustainable future. Our efforts are driven by a University-wide Sustainability Plan and climate goals to be fossil fuel-free by 2050 and fossil fuel-neutral by 2026.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an experienced and dedicated team working to advance solutions to global and local sustainability challenges using Harvard’s campus as a testbed to pilot and scale change. OFS is a fast-paced, dynamic, and evolving organization that looks for talented, experienced individuals who thrive in this environment. Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

Visit the Harvard Office for Sustainability website for more information.

Position Summary: The Program Manager will be part of the team executing the University’s sustainability strategy to address climate, health, and equity by partnering with members of the University community to co-create, and drive implementation of major University-wide sustainability goals, initiatives, and programs. The Program Manager will focus on climate change/fossil fuel-free program development and management as well as implementation of policy and goals including creating supporting tools and resources, and preparing content for, and staffing, internal stakeholder groups and external partnerships. This position includes a strong focus on University-wide partnership development, management and governance, and creation of actionable tools and resources. To accomplish this, they will need to lead governance and stakeholder groups, develop innovative and comprehensive project plans from conception through implementation and integration, research technologies and best practices, develop and manage technical consultants and strengthen relationships with a wide range of internal/external stakeholders including faculty, senior leaders, students.

Position Description

Responsibilities:

Include, but are not limited to:
• Work with OFS Senior team to continue to develop plans for the roadmap to fossil fuel-free by 2050. This roadmap includes tracking and measuring progress on the component parts of the strategy for fossil fuel-free and related regulations. The position also will support program creation, policies, tools, and guidance to support Schools/units in meeting University-wide sustainability goals and strategic priorities with a particular focus on the 2050 fossil fuel-free goal implementation and other priorities.
• Lead the development of an updated program and long-term plans to engage, inform and partner with the University-wide Sustainability Management Council (SMC) members comprised of the senior facilities and operations leaders across all Harvard Schools and Departments. This includes leading SMC subcommittee groups and co-developing their plans, deliverables and outcomes.
• Plan, prepare for and lead all SMC meetings, communications and subgroups.
• Develop and leverage strong strategic partnerships across the University including but not limited to School/Unit facility operations teams; and other relevant CS/CADM groups.
• Manage and optimize Harvard’s Green Revolving Fund (GRF) use, currently $12 million. Recommend and implement updates to program and policies for Revolving Fund applications process, selection, and evaluation in alignment with new sustainability action agenda and voluntary and regulatory climate goals
• Track and evaluate components of new city regulations.
• Manage student interns, part-time staff, and/or consultants, as needed, and possibly staff.
• Perform other duties and work on special projects as needed.

Basic Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience is required.
• 7+ years of experience in successful project plan development, management and implementation and stakeholder engagement in an area related to sustainability.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Additional Qualifications:
• Demonstrated ability to initiate new creative ideas and take projects from concept through implementation in a constantly changing environment, and ability to inspire and align colleagues around a shared vision.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of sustainability industry trends, climate change policy implementation.
• Experience working with facilities/operations staff, project managers and consultants is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills: proven ability to prepare and write executive level briefings and presentations that translate complex concepts for a lay audience.
• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity, equity and contributing to an inclusive work and learning environment.
• High degree of flexibility, adaptability and general ability to respond to emerging opportunities and barriers in a constantly changing environment.
• Requires occasional work outside of normal business hours (including but not limited to faculty and student meetings and events).

Technology Skills Required:

Proficiency in the use of computers, including MS Office suite. An ability to learn Harvard systems quickly is a requirement.

Additional Information

Emergency Status Designation: This role is considered non-essential and may be eligible for flex-work arrangements in accordance with departmental policies and manager approval.

Harvard University continues to place the highest priority on the health, safety and wellbeing of its faculty, staff, and students, as well as the wider community. Please note that all new employees will be required to provide confirmation of primary series COVID-19 vaccination upon hire, as detailed on our COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement Webpage. Harvard University Health Services employees and other health care individuals are also required to be up to date on vaccination as described by the CDC. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. Additional information regarding this requirement, exemptions, verification of vaccination status, and other related policies and resources may be found on the University’s COVID-19 Information Website.