Director of Garden and Landscape Studies

Company Description

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 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.

Dumbarton Oaks is a leading research center in Garden and Landscape Studies, with a library that is a point of reference for the field, joined to world‑renowned museum collections and a historic garden designed by Beatrix Farrand. In recent years, thanks to a grant from the Mellon Foundation, Dumbarton Oaks has expanded its support of landscape studies in the areas of urban studies, and landscape and democracy.

The Director of Studies is a key contributor to Dumbarton Oaks’ mission to support residential fellows and scholars, promote advanced research in our fields of study, and advocate for the humanities. Candidates should have a distinguished record of scholarly achievement, as well as significant experience in program management and academic administration, and a desire to contribute to a wide array of programs and activities in a collaborative environment.

Reporting to the Director, the Director of Studies oversees and coordinates all programming related to Garden and Landscape Studies at Dumbarton Oaks, including the residential fellowship program, scholarly visitors, scholarly events, and committee meetings. Additionally, the Director of Studies administers the Mellon grant that supports the Landscape and Democracy Initiative at Dumbarton Oaks.

This is a term position (five years, potentially renewable for another five years).

Internally, the Director of Garden and Landscape Studies has overall responsibility for administering the study program, including: coordinating the meetings of the Committee of Senior Fellows that advises on fellowship selection and programmatic activities; supervising the Program Coordinator and Mellon Coordinator; ensuring the smooth running of activities in Garden and Landscape Studies (such as the annual fellowship cycle, research reports by Fellows, short‑term research awards, visiting scholars, etc.);

overseeing Garden and Landscape Studies publications; and managing the program budget. The Director of Garden and Landscape Studies provides advice on related holdings within the library and archives; produces reports; and participates in ongoing program evaluation as well as overseeing Garden and Landscape Studies publications. The role may also propose or contribute to dynamic new initiatives and publications in consultation with the Director and relevant departments.

The Director of Garden and Landscape Studies is also expected to interact with the Directors of Pre‑Columbian and Byzantine Studies to develop ideas and programs that bring the different areas of Dumbarton Oaks together as a collegial and scholarly community with shared broad interests in the Humanities.

Supervises the Program Coordinator in Garden and Landscape Studies and the Mellon Program Coordinator.

PhD in Garden and Landscape Studies or related field, with peer‑reviewed publications and lecturing experience. Minimum of ten years’ experience in an academic setting, including…