Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

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 to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

Job Summary

The Harvard University Center for African Studies is a globally recognized, interdisciplinary university-wide center at Harvard University that broadens knowledge about Africa and brings African perspectives to bear on the scholarship of the Harvard community and beyond. The Center is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts with an Africa Office in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Executive Director plays a key role in overseeing and implementing the Center for African Studies (CAS) programmatic activities across the FAS and Professional Schools as well as in Africa. The position forges professional engagement with faculty and key administrators across the University, as well as with counterparts in institutions in Africa. The Executive Director works closely with the Oppenheimer Faculty Director and the Faculty Executive Committee for the drafting and execution of CAS strategic plan and budget, which fosters cross-school, interdisciplinary research, events and public programming initiatives, student programs in Africa, faculty support, and fellowships.

Position Description

The Harvard University Center for African Studies is a globally recognized, interdisciplinary university-wide center at Harvard University that broadens knowledge about Africa and brings African perspectives to bear on the scholarship of the Harvard community and beyond. The Center is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts with an Africa Office in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Executive Director plays a key role in overseeing and implementing the Center for African Studies (CAS) programmatic activities across the FAS and Professional Schools as well as in Africa. The position forges professional engagement with faculty and key administrators across the University, as well as with counterparts in institutions in Africa. The Executive Director works closely with the Oppenheimer Faculty Director and the Faculty Executive Committee for the drafting and execution of CAS strategic plan and budget, which fosters cross-school, interdisciplinary research, events and public programming initiatives, student programs in Africa, faculty support, and fellowships.

• Serves as chief administrator, responsible for the organization and day-to-day management of CAS. Provides oversight of sponsored programs, human resources, and infrastructure, identifying and implementing program goals and priorities, and aligning fundraising targets with CAS mission. Prepares and manages budgets, supervises staff, allocates resources, and controls and monitors spending in accordance with University policies and grant and gift terms.
• Plays a key leadership role in the conceptualization, design, and implementation of fundraising, sponsored research grants, publications, events, public outreach programming, fellowships, student support, and various research projects.
• Collaborates with the Oppenheimer Faculty Director and other faculty members to support the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program (HSAFP), Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program, and other visiting scholar initiatives.
• Coordinates governance by the Faculty Executive Committee and serves as liaison to the Africa Advisory Board and Leadership Council. Interacts with and expands pool of Faculty Affiliates from across the University.
• Works closely with FAS and other University offices to facilitate and expand collaboration across the FAS and the Professional Schools of the University, as well as with constituents in the Provosts Office, the FAS Deans Office, the Office for Sponsored Programs, the Office of General Counsel, the University Development Office, and Harvard Global.
• Serves as operational liaison between Harvard Global and the CAS Africa Office in Johannesburg, South Africa.