Staff Assistant III

About the Role

The Weatherhead Center for International Affairs facilitates the production of pathbreaking social science research on international, comparative, transnational, and global issues. This position supports the daily operations of the Program on U.S.-Japan Relations, combining program support, community building, and occasional research assistance. The role includes research on topics related to East Asia, such as trade, international political economy, and foreign policy, as well as managing logistical and administrative aspects of the program’s events and activities.

Responsibilities

• Support the Faculty Director and administrative leadership in advancing the program’s academic, educational, and public outreach activities.
• Conduct research on East Asia-related topics, including preparing background memoranda, literature reviews, collecting and analyzing data, and producing graphs and visualizations.
• Assist with the preparation of presentations and other research outputs.
• Manage logistical and administrative aspects of program events, including seminars, workshops, conferences, and student group activities.
• Coordinate speakers and participants for events, ensuring successful execution.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for visitors and general inquiries.
• Support office operations, including acting as the departmental IT liaison.
• Maintain and update the program’s website and social media communications.
• Perform other duties as required, including occasional overtime for evening and weekend functions.

Qualifications

• Three or more years of administrative experience (education beyond high school may count toward experience).
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Suite, and social media platforms.
• Excellent writing, organizational, and communication skills.
• Strong cross-cultural and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent time management and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle complex and confidential information with discretion.
• Familiarity with Japanese society and language preferred.
• Experience using statistical software (e.g., R) and document preparation with LaTeX is desirable.
• Familiarity with Harvard University preferred.

Schedule

35 hours per week. This is a two-year term position with the possibility of renewal. Occasional overtime required for evening and weekend functions.

Benefits

• 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.

Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.