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 Summary:

This position serves as the leader of the women’s lightweight crew team and embraces the vision of principled leadership, academic integration and competitive excellence. The Head Coach leads by developing a vision, setting team goals, and building a healthy and transformative culture. The Head Coach is responsible for all aspects of the program, including student-athlete development, planning and preparation for practices and contests, managing team staff, identifying and recruiting prospective student-athletes, budget, operational logistics, providing leadership to the respective Friends Group, and participating in appropriate University, community, alumni/ae and media relationships - all in compliance with University, Ivy League, IRA and NCAA rules and regulations.

The Head Coach uses athletics as the means to educate student-athletes. This position serves as a teacher and mentor in the holistic development of student-athletes to help build character and teach valuable life lessons including work ethic, discipline, resilience, accountability, adaptability, teamwork, humility and leadership - in support of the University and College missions. The Head Coach impacts personal development in addition to athletic development in a meaningful and lasting way.

The Head Coach is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of student-athletes to achieve and maintain peak performance. In the Ivy League, program success is defined broadly and involves much more than winning - a successful program imparts the life lessons described in the above paragraph and results in high levels of student satisfaction and healthy team culture. This position is a key ambassador for the Athletics Department and the University and must reflect the highest levels of integrity, ethical behavior and adherence to the Ivy League principles. Overall program success begins with the leadership of the Head Coach.

This position typically requires extensive experience in coaching the sport, with coaching at the collegiate level strongly preferred. Particularly for sports that are more prominent on an international level than in the United States, comparable experience may include playing and/or coaching in a professional or other high-performance environment, such as for a national team or at the Olympic level.

This is a term position renewable at the discretion of the Athletics Director.  

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

1.     Athlete Team Management

• Plans and directs practices, in-game coaching; develops student-athlete knowledge and skills of the sport, and helps the team perform at competitive levels.
• Promotes culture of education through athletics. Ensures student-athletes receive meaningful direction and support from coaches by fostering spirit of continuous improvement and learning. Balances athletics within the academic context.
• Develops and oversees plan for student-athlete recruitment and retention that aligns with values of excellence and inclusion; responsible for strategy’s impact on team performance and reputation.
• Credibly and effectively leads and communicates with student athletes. Mentors student athletes in embracing leadership roles. Uses athletics to educate students about character development and accountability.
• Ensures academic integration of student athletes with the values of Harvard College.

2.     Operational Complexity

• Develops and supervises the execution of team strategy, budget, logistics and operational direction; as appropriate, develops and executes national and international recruiting strategy.
• Ensures compliance with University, Ivy League, IRA, NCAA and other rules and regulations (including the University Conflicts of Interest and Commitment policy).
• Leads, directs, and reviews the work of assistant coaches; recruits and develops assistant coaches.
• Participates in professional development and sport governance/leadership activities.
• Identifies, explores and implements innovation opportunities/trends as appropriate.
• Identifies and resolves problems frequently of a complex nature, which may require intricate solutions that impact the team.
• Communicates effectively with athletics administrators.

3.     Communications & Influence

• Effectively communicates with Harvard community, including students, Faculty and staff, alumni and donors.
• Generates interest and enthusiasm for the sport within and outside of the Harvard community.
• Responsible for maintaining and building high viewership and public interest of contests consistent with the applicable sport.
• Maintains and typically cultivates positive media interest consistent with the applicable sport.
• Responds to media inquiries as appropriate.
• As appropriate, requires the ability to influence positively public interest.

4.     People Management

• Recruits assistant coaches and team operations staff.
• Leads, directs, and sets goals for assistant coaches and staff.
• Monitors and reviews the work of assistant coaches and staff, provides timely feedback, and takes prompt corrective action as necessary.
• Keeps abreast of Harvard policies, communications, and initiatives relating to employee relations, and keeps assistant coaches and staff informed as necessary.
• Promptly responds to complaints by or against assistant coaches and staff pursuant to University policies.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate strong technical, tactical and strategic knowledge of the sport of rowing.
• Demonstrate ability to work collaboratively with women’s heavyweight head coach as well as men’s heavyweight and lightweight head coaches.
• Possess exceptional communications skills.
• Understand emerging issues in college athletics and rowing, including national trends and key issues.

Working Conditions:

• Evening and weekend work required.
• Frequent travel required.
• Job requires work in extreme environmental conditions, including extreme heat and cold, rain, and high levels of noise.

Work Format:

• On-Site

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift equipment associated with the sport.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Requires at least 8 years of rowing coaching experience at the collegiate, national, or Olympic level.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Requires complete mastery of sport-specific knowledge and relevant issues.
• Requires advanced management and leadership knowledge.
• Understands, embraces, and demonstrates the philosophy, principles and policies of college athletics.
• Basic proficiency in Excel, Word, e-mail and web-based applications

Certificates and Licenses:

• Valid driver's license needed.
• CPR and First Aid required.

• Appointment End Date: June 30, 2029 
• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Compensation Range/Rate: $76K - $140K/annual
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal, and DMV
• Other Information:
  • NOTE - this role is not eligible for Paid Time Off (PTO).

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 000. Corresponding salary information can be found in the job description above.

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.

About Harvard University

Harvard University is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders in many disciplines who make a difference globally. The University, which is based in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, has an enrollment of over 20,000 degree candidates, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Harvard has more than 360,000 alumni around the world. The University has twelve degree-granting Schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, offering a truly global education. Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States.

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