The Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) invites nominations and applications for the position of Curator of the Loeb Fellowship. The School seeks an exceptional individual to build upon the legacy of Loeb Curators William Doebele, James Stockard LF ’78 and John C. Peterson LF ’06. The successful candidate will provide leadership to the Loeb Fellowship and contribute to the GSD community.

The Loeb Fellowship is a year-long residential fellowship for mid-career professionals who are accomplished practitioners, influential in shaping the built and natural environment, whose work is advancing positive social outcomes in the US and around the world. Loeb Fellows spend an academic year at Harvard’s GSD where they have access to the intellectual and critical life of the University. The Fellows—approximately 10 each year—are selected based on their potential to use the resources of the GSD, the University, and the current and past Fellows to become even more effective leaders and to have a greater impact as a result of their Fellowship year.

The Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) educates leaders in design, research, and scholarship to make a resilient, just, and beautiful world. The GSD offers degree programs across a range of design disciplines—architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, urban design, design engineering, and real estate—as well as advanced research programs that cut across all of these disciplines, and a robust public program of lectures, exhibitions, and publications. Taken together, the immense variety of people, programs, and ideas represented at the School sustains a vibrant and rich environment for learning, inquiry, and collaboration unlike that of any other design school.

Now in its sixth decade, the Loeb Fellowship was founded with a gift from John L. and Frances Loeb. Over the past fifty-three years the Fellowship has offered the resources of Harvard to a diverse group of over 500 Loeb Fellows from 40 U.S. states and 34 countries. For more information see: gsd.harvard.edu/loeb-fellowship and loebfellowship.gsd.harvard.edu.

Candidates are encouraged to apply by April 26, 2024. However, applications will be reviewed on a continuing basis and the search will remain open until the position is filled.

Position Description

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Dean of the GSD, the Curator provides vision and overall direction to the Loeb Fellowship program for mid-career professionals in design-related disciplines. As principal spokesperson for the program, the Curator directs the outreach within Harvard and beyond. In addition to providing leadership to and management of the Loeb Fellowship in the four areas described below—Fellows, Alumni, Curation, Administration—the Curator will also be expected to contribute to the School through service to the GSD.

• Loeb Fellows
  • Convene cohort activities including orientations, weekly seminars, retreats and cohort travel, and dinners. Initiate and administer subsidiary projects and events, such as colloquia, seminars, and travel opportunities.
  • Convene and serve on a nine-person Selection Committee for each cohort of Loeb Fellows. Direct annual Selection process, including recruitment.
  • Direct recruitment and promotion. Have a wide network of colleagues on which to draw in seeking Loeb Fellows.
  • Serve as advisor to Fellows on yearly individual work plans. Have the ability to mentor and motivate Fellows as mid-career professionals to grow in their technical skills, their vision, and their leadership ability.
  • Encourage Fellows’ integration and networking within GSD, across Harvard and among Loeb Alumni. Facilitate contacts between the fellows and members of the GSD and Harvard communities.
  • Collaborate with the Dean on the Senior Loeb Scholar appointment process and programming.
• Loeb Alumni
  • Serve as liaison for the Loeb Fellowship alumni community and the GSD.
  • Work with the Loeb Fellowship Alumni Association (LFAA) to pursue its mission, including the values of equity, diversity and sustainability. Support ongoing professional, intellectual, and social engagement among alumni. Foster collaboration between the Loeb Fellowship program, Loeb alumni, and the GSD.
  • Facilitate alumni communications and networking, internally and externally, including central alumni database.
  • Support alumni events and programs, including Loeb Fellowship Alumni Council (LFAC) grants and annual LFAA fall study tours.
• Curation
  • Strategic planning, including visionary thinking around expanded programming, engagement, outreach, and potential impact of Fellowship, Fellows, and Alumni.
  • Develop relationships and programming across the GSD, Harvard, and beyond, working with diverse constituencies, including students, faculty, staff, alumni and external stakeholders.
  • Explore research and knowledge production opportunities, including public programs, exhibition and publication opportunities.
  • Together with the Dean, convene an advisory committee to deepen relationships across the School.
• Administration
  • Supervise Loeb Fellowship staff as well as independent contractors and other partners.
  • Oversee and steward Loeb Fellowship facilities, including working with the Facilities and Campus Operations Office on management and maintenance of residential properties.
  • Direct financial management, including working with the Finance Office on annual budget.
  • Direct strategic communications, both internal and external.
  • Identify, cultivate and pursue development and partnership opportunities, including in collaboration with the GSD Development and Alumni Relations Office

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Proven curatorial, staff and program management, and/or development leadership in an educational/design setting including architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, urban design or related field is required.
• Experience working with academic leadership and faculty in an external relations context.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Be able to articulate and impart the values of “disciplinary knowledge and trans-disciplinary impact” to the diverse groups of practitioners who make up each class of Fellows
• Have an interest in and ability to build and support an intellectual and professional community.
• Be able to communicate and work across disciplinary boundaries
• Have excellent interpersonal and intercultural communication skills that work across diverse audiences including students, faculty, fellows, alumni, donors, and the greater public.
• Be committed to advancing the engagement of the design professions within the public, private, nonprofit and NGO sectors for the public good.
• Have the ability to work across, and engage with issues at different scales of the built environment.
• A Master’s degree in a field of study taught at the GSD is preferred.
• Demonstrate and implement a commitment to the values of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging:
  • Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.
  • The Curator is encouraged to:
    • Develop strategy to ensure that diversity, belonging and inclusion efforts are infused in all aspects of Loeb Fellowship, Senior Loeb Scholar and Alumni cohorts and programs and attend to the issues of intersectionality within and among  the Loeb community
    • Prioritize the innovation and reflection that comes from recognizing diverse perspectives and experiences and creating space for them in the Loeb Fellowship and GSD communities
    • Have a proven ability to work collaboratively and engage in productive and respectful dialog with individuals of differing backgrounds

Physical Requirements

There are no known physical requirements associated with this position.

Working Conditions

Work is mainly performed in an office setting.

Additional Information

The Loeb Fellowship Curator will be appointed for an initial term of five years, and the position is renewable, contingent upon review and reappointment by the Dean. The Loeb Curator position is normally a full-time obligation and full-time residence in, or relocation to, the Boston metropolitan area is a requirement of the position.

As appropriate to the Curator’s disciplinary and professional background, and at the discretion of the Department Chairs, a teaching appointment may be considered, reviewed annually and contingent on continuation of the staff appointment.

Work Format Details

This is a hybrid position that is based in Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard’s Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Job Function

General Administration

Department Office Location

USA – MA – Cambridge

Job Code

360060 Admin Offcr/SrIndiv Contrib

Work Format

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Sub-Unit

————

Salary Grade

060

Department

HGSD

Union

00 – Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Time Status

Full-time

Pre-Employment Screening

Identity

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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