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: 

Independently plan and implement academic affairs operations including faculty support, curriculum management and training.

Job-Specific Responsibilities: 

The Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB) has an opening for a Curriculum and Pedagogy Manager (CPM) that independently plans and implements academic operations including faculty support, curriculum management and training. The CPM plays an essential role supporting introductory and foundational courses offered by OEB, including OEB 10 and 50-level courses. This position works closely with faculty course heads to develop and deliver innovative curricula and course materials, to organize and manage teaching fellows, and to coordinate domestic and international field trips. The CPM will report to OEB’s Chairs and will work collegially with OEB faculty members, head TFs, TAs, and graders and OEB Administration.

Curriculum Development: 

• Works with the Course Head Instructor(s) to revise course syllabus, course schedule, learning objectives, and reading assignments; 
• Works with faculty course heads to create/update group projects; updates labs and optimizes experiments; 
• Creates/updates section materials to be used by teaching staff;  
• Develops new modules; 
• Experiments with and implements new pedagogical approaches. 

Assessment, Assignments, Problem Sets: 

• With the course instructors, develops students’ assessments including in-class assignments, problem sets, midterms, and final exams; 
• Creates practice exams, answer keys and grading rubrics; 
• Supervises in-class examinations and administrative record-keeping; 
• In addition to their primary course responsibilities, the CPM may occasionally provide instructional support and contribute to broader course development needs as required to ensure student success. 

Course Management and Coordination:

• Creates, manages and updates course Canvas site: posts syllabus, assignments, assessments, other course materials;  
• Coordinates lab component with Teaching Lab staff: requests necessary lab materials, organizes lab run-throughs with teaching staff, provides hands-on help whenever needed;
• Assists with lab set up, plant and animal husbandry and regulatory and University compliance as needed; 
• Organizes student sectioning; 
• Works with the media team for technology-related needs; 
• Answers student and teaching staff emails; and 
• Manages course budgets with OEB Administration. 

Teaching Staff Hiring, Training, and Management: 

• With faculty course heads, updates position descriptions, solicits applications, and interviews candidates for Teaching Assistants (TAs), Teaching Fellows (TFs), and Graders; 
• Runs training sessions for TAs/TFs; coordinates with Bok Center for any additional teaching training and feedback; 
• Schedules, plans and runs weekly course staff meetings; 
• Schedules and coordinates office hours; 
• Addresses and resolves teaching staff concerns/conflicts/performance issues. 

Student Support:

• Hosts weekly office hours and meets with students 1:1; 
• Organizes and provides extra help to struggling students; 
• Coordinates accommodation requests from the Disability Access Office (DAO); 
• curates and disseminates to teaching staff, ensures accommodations are in place; 
• Prepares and holds review lectures; 
• Engages in student-facing work that involves sensitive information and requires a high degree of discretion and confidentiality. 

Classroom Teaching: Creates and delivers occasional class lectures as a guest lecturer. Will have the opportunity to instruct in the teaching practicum for first year graduate students. 

Department Curriculum Support: Supports Director of Undergraduate Studies in curriculum-related projects and data analysis.  

Community Engagement: May assist in developing departmental activities that build scientific community and engagement, such as retreats, networking events, etc. 

Outreach: May assist with curriculum development for OEB programs engaging high schoolers and visiting college students. May contribute to grant proposals to support programs.

Working Conditions: 

• Work is performed in an office setting. 
• This position requires 5 days, in office, on campus. This may include in-person during emergency situations (if applicable). Additional details will be discussed during the interview process.  

Physical Requirements: 

• Sitting using near vision use for reading and computer use for extended periods of time.
• Lifting (approximately 20 to 30 pounds), bending, and other physical exertion.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum of 5 years’ relevant work experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills: 

Advanced degree in Biology, with a focus on Evolutionary Biology or Ecology, with substantial experience teaching undergraduates in science. Superior organizational, written, and interpersonal communication skills are essential. Ability to lead and train teaching fellows and to manage relationships with undergraduate students. Proven engagement with learning about and implementing new pedagogical approaches in education. Proven commitment to and background in undergraduate science education, including demonstrated knowledge of implementation of new pedagogical approaches. Experience with both bench-based and field-based scientific research. Experience in designing problem sets, exams, and laboratory exercises strongly preferred. Strong background in evolutionary and ecological principles, and familiarity with plant, prokaryotic, and invertebrate and vertebrate biology and diversity. 

Additional Information

• Appointment End Date: This is a one-year term position
• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• Other Information:

A complete application will include:

• Cover letter
• CV
• Teaching Statement describing past experience and teaching philosophy
• Contact information (including email) for three references to provide a letter of recommendation.

Finalists will be asked to create sample problem set/exam questions and to give a teaching demonstration.

***All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.  

About OEB

OEB is a diverse and vibrant department with a broad range of research and teaching interests, ranging from the evolution and control of gene expression patterns within individuals and populations to the dynamics of ecosystems. Field and laboratory studies are key to understanding the evolution of organisms, how biodiversity is generated and maintained, how organisms work, and how organisms interact with their environment. OEB has close working associations with its allied institutions: the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) and the Harvard University Herbaria (HUH), as well as the Arnold Arboretum and the Harvard Forest. These institutions and their collections offer an unparalleled, rich set of resources for OEB students, faculty, visitors, and staff.

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that all duties and responsibilities must be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 057. Please visit  Harvard’s Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard’s academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university’s non-discrimination policy. Harvard’s equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.