Associate Director of Programs, HBS Foundry

Associate Director Of Programs

Harvard Business School (HBS), located on a 40-acre campus in Boston, was founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University. It is among the world's most trusted sources of management education and thought leadership. For more than a century, the School's faculty has combined a passion for teaching with rigorous research conducted alongside practitioners at world-leading organizations to educate leaders who make a difference in the world.

Through a dynamic ecosystem of research, learning, and entrepreneurship that includes MBA, Doctoral, Executive Education, and Online programs, as well as numerous initiatives, centers, institutes, and labs, Harvard Business School fosters bold new ideas and collaborative learning networks that shape the future of business.

Job Summary:

The Associate Director of Programs will oversee Foundry's marquee founder and venture development programs:
Bootcamps, Venture Catalysts and Funding Competitions.

Reporting to Foundry's Director, the Associate Director of Programs will own Foundry programming for both business-to-business and business-to-consumer customers and lead a team of staff to design and execute the programming. The role works in close collaboration with internal functional teams, faculty advisors, faculty / expert speakers, mentors, and customers.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Program Ownership & Strategy

• Own the end-to-end strategy, calendar, and P&L for Foundry's three marquee programs:
  Bootcamps, Venture Catalysts, and Funding Competitions
• Set annual and quarterly goals for program reach, quality, and revenue across both business-to-business (university, government, and accelerator partners) and business-to-consumer (direct-to-founder) audiences
• Continuously evolve program curriculum and format based on founder outcomes, partner feedback, and competitive landscape

Program Design & Execution

• Design and oversee program execution for each cohort from planning through delivery, including curriculum sequencing, session logistics, and founder selection criteria
• Ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across audiences and cohorts as Foundry scales into new markets
• Build and maintain the operational playbooks, templates, and systems needed to run programs efficiently at increasing volume
• Manage program budgets, timelines, and vendor relationships

Team Leadership

• Manage and develop a team of program staff supporting day-to-day design and execution
• Set clear roles, workflows, and performance expectations across the program team
• Coach staff on founder engagement, facilitation, and program operations
• Deploy AI to streamline workflows and create efficiencies without replacing the personal touches needed for customer relationships.

Faculty, Speaker & Mentor Coordination

• Recruit, brief, and manage faculty advisors, faculty and expert speakers, and mentors participating in programs
• Serve as the primary point of contact for faculty and mentor logistics, scheduling, and content alignment with program goals
• Build a growing bench of mentors and speakers to support Foundry's expansion

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with internal functional teams (marketing, partnerships, technology/AI product, and operations) to align program delivery with broader Foundry strategy
• Work with the AI/product team to integrate Foundry's AI tools and platform into live program experiences
• Coordinate with the business development team on B2B customer requirements and customization needs

Customer & Partner Management

• Serve as a primary relationship owner for B2C paying customers enrolled in programs
• Gather and act on customer feedback to improve program satisfaction, retention, and referral
• Represent Foundry externally at partner and customer touchpoints, including program kickoffs and demo days

Performance & Reporting

• Define and track key program metrics (enrollment, completion, satisfaction, founder outcomes, revenue) and report results to Foundry's Director
• Use data to identify what's working, what to cut, and where to invest as programs scale
• Build trust and collaboration by being present on-site and engaging directly with colleagues and various constituents
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business or a related field required
• 7+ years of program management and execution experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Strategic thinker with very strong execution skills in fast-paced, growth-stage environments
• Excellent leadership, communication, and relationship-management skills
• Self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset and collaborative approach; comfortable building and operating in ambiguity as the organization scales
• Comfort leveraging AI tools and emerging technologies to enhance program delivery and operations

Additional Information:

• Appointment End Date: This position is approved for a (2)-year term (with possibility of renewal/extension) which begins on the person's first day of employment.
• Standard…