Senior Associate Dean for Academic Programs

About the role

The Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) seeks an accomplished academic leader to serve as Senior Associate Dean for Academic Programs. Reporting to the Dean of SEAS and serving as a member of the Dean's senior leadership team, the Senior Associate Dean provides strategic leadership for the School's undergraduate, master's, and doctoral academic programs and helps shape the vision and long-term direction of education at SEAS.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior administrative leader for SEAS academic programs, providing strategic direction for undergraduate, master's, and doctoral education.
• Partner with the Dean and senior leadership to develop and implement long-term academic priorities that advance the School's educational mission.
• Advise the Dean and faculty leadership on academic policy, educational strategy, program development, emerging trends, and institutional priorities.
• Lead strategic initiatives that strengthen educational quality, interdisciplinary collaboration, and student success.
• Represent SEAS on University-wide committees, governance bodies, and cross-school initiatives related to academic programs.
• With the Academic Dean for Education, leads academic planning efforts, including new program development, curriculum review, academic policy, and program assessment.
• Partner with faculty leadership to develop, evaluate, and improve undergraduate concentrations, master's programs, doctoral programs, and curricular offerings.
• Support faculty in curriculum innovation, educational planning, and implementation of new academic initiatives.
• Ensure academic programs align with institutional priorities, accreditation requirements, and evolving educational needs.
• Oversee the accreditation review process.
• Develop long-range strategies for curriculum, instructional support, and educational innovation.
• Develop and oversee the Office of Academic Programs operating budget, including instructional and teaching resources supporting undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs.
• Ensure effective allocation of financial, instructional, personnel, and facility resources across academic and teaching functions.
• Direct the development and improvement of administrative systems, operational processes, and service delivery supporting academic programs.
• Ensure compliance with University policies, and applicable federal and state regulations.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to faculty and academic leadership on educational initiatives, student success, and academic planning.
• Engage with students to understand emerging needs and help shape policies, programs, and services that promote academic achievement and community.
• Build collaborative relationships across Harvard and with external academic partners to strengthen educational programs and interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, belonging, innovation, and academic excellence across faculty, staff, and students.
• Establish and communicate organizational goals and priorities, manage staff performance and mentor and develop staff to ensure high performing teams.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, inclusiveness, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Lead organizational change initiatives that improve effectiveness, service delivery, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership experience in one or a combination of the following settings: higher education, research, science, health, or engineering, with a minimum of 5 years in higher education administration.
• Demonstrated experience leading academic programs, educational strategy, curriculum development, or teaching and learning initiatives in higher education.
• Experience leading and managing staff and complex organizational operations and overseeing budgets and resources.
• Ph.D. in applied or basic science, computer science, engineering, mathematics, or a closely related field strongly preferred, but not required.
• Demonstrated success advising senior academic leaders on strategic and operational issues.
• Experience leading collaborative, consultative decision-making.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to build trust and inspire leadership in others.
• Strong understanding of higher education administration, curriculum governance, accreditation, and academic policy.
• Promising ability to lead organizational change, improve processes, and manage competing institutional priorities.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive academic community and supporting student success.
• Familiarity with applied or basic science, computer science, engineering, mathematics, or related STEM disciplines.
• Appreciation for the role of technology and innovation in advancing teaching, learning, and academic administration.