Associate Director of Early Design Education and Design Curriculum Lead

About the role

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. The Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD), as the preeminent design school in the world, offers a unique setting for interaction and the exchange of ideas through the combination of disciplines—architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning and design—together with an emerging research program and a robust public program of lectures and exhibitions. It is a dynamic, intellectually creative environment. We are seeking an energetic, forward thinking and experienced individual to lead the Early Design Education programs at the GSD and in collaboration with University partners.

Responsibilities

• Advise students interested in or declared Architecture Studies concentration on course selection, concentration requirements, and curricular planning.
• Oversee independent research courses and thesis evaluations.
• Assess and recommend undergraduate curricular revisions and improvements to departmental faculty; participate in implementing changes.
• Interview, select, and oversee program’s Teaching Fellows from current GSD students serving as section instructional fellows.
• Coordinate with Program Coordinators (FAS and GSD) and Advising Programs Office in Harvard College and Harvard College Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.
• Oversee pedagogy of the Design Discovery and Design Discovery Youth summer programs (virtual and in‑person) for those interested in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, and urban design.
• Interview, select, and oversee teaching teams of current GSD students and recent graduates serving as program‑wide assistants and studio section instructors.
• Interview, select, and oversee GSD faculty who develop the curriculum and serve as section leaders and mentors to studio instructors.
• Serve as program advisor and primary decision‑maker for student progress, conflicts, and teaching challenges.
• Prior to the program, oversee design and preparation of marketing brochures, strategies, and outreach; attend recruiting events.
• Provide guidance on selection of student instructors for the three design disciplines; assist with application process, reviewing complex applications as needed.
• Work with Executive Director and program leadership to adjust existing design curriculum and generate new design curriculum to build a library of design modules connecting across design programs.
• Specify granular design curricular elements needed to create grouped assemblies for a synthesized design certification pathway.
• Coordinate with teaching faculty, Harvard University VPAL LXP and EdEx team members, and media producers on production and organization of curricular library elements.
• Supervise the GSD EDE Program Coordinator, Undergraduate Program and Design Discovery Teaching Fellows; coordinate with GSD Design Faculty (Lead faculty for Design Discovery) for Design Discovery.