Assistant Director, Operations & Systems, MBA Admissions

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Harvard Business School, 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.

As a key member of the MBA Admissions Operations team, reporting to the Director, Operations, the Assistant Director manages the systems, data, and operational infrastructure that supports MBA Admissions. This role is responsible for managing admissions technologies, application operations, data governance, business intelligence initiatives, and financial operations that enable effective recruitment, evaluation, and enrollment activities.

The Assistant Director manages an Operations Specialist and provides leadership for the department's analytics, reporting, and AI initiatives. Working closely with Admissions leadership, MBA IT, and external partners, this role ensures the effective use of data and technology to support operational excellence, informed decision‑making, and an exceptional candidate experience.

• Partners with Operations leadership team to oversee the technical and data infrastructure supporting MBA Admissions operations.
• Lead all phases of the MBA and 2+2 application creation lifecycle, including application design, testing, updates, deployment, and annual launch activities.
• Serve as the AI lead for MBA Admissions, identifying opportunities to leverage emerging technologies and guiding implementation of AI tools and processes.
• Oversee the application fee waiver process and related requests.
• Serve as the primary liaison to external testing and admissions organizations, including GMAC and ETS, leading data exchange and business intelligence initiatives.
• Partner with Operations team members in the development and maintenance of self‑service reporting and data tools for Outreach, Evaluation, and Yield teams.
• Manage data integrations and pipelines across systems, including admissions and student information systems.
• Oversee data security, confidentiality, annual retention processes, and compliance with University policies.
• Design and implement business processes that promote data accuracy, consistency, and effective use across systems.
• Manage relationships among multiple database platforms and vendors, ensuring accurate and timely data transfers.
• Oversee analysis of key admissions surveys and feedback mechanisms, including Accept/Cancel Surveys, Yield Polls, and other candidate experience assessments.
• Manage operational aspects of alumni engagement initiatives, including Alumni Chats and Phonathon programs.
• Partner with MBA IT, Financial Aid, Institutional Research, and other HBS departments to support operational and analytical initiatives.

• Manage the MBA Admissions operating budget of approximately $2 million, including forecasting, reconciliation, vendor management, and financial reporting.
• Partner with finance colleagues and Admissions leadership to align spending with departmental priorities.
• Serve as a resource to Admissions staff on Harvard financial systems, including Buy2
  
  Pay, Concur, and budget reconciliation processes.
• Monitor expenditures and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and resource allocation.

• Supervise…