The Fairbank Center's mission is to advance scholarship in all fields of China Studies at Harvard. You can learn more about our work on our website.
Position Description
Duties & Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Fairbank Center Executive Director with a dotted line to the Fairbank Center Faculty Director, the Program Assistant will provide staff support including scheduling and managing appointments, responding to emails, travel arrangements, preparing reimbursements, preparing materials for meetings, taking meeting notes, and other tasks as needed.
In addition, the PA will provide support for other staff on a variety of activities, including organizing materials for faculty and student grants, tracking non-resident associate renewals, assisting on work with visiting scholars and other affiliates, gathering information for communications, sending out information to various mail lists, coordinating some faculty events, preparing and setting up for meetings, and other related administrative tasks as needed. The PA will also provide administrative support and back-up for conferences, seminars, lectures, community events, special events, receptions, and visiting delegations. The PA will assist with reimbursements, Concur/PCard submissions, and purchasing using the Buy2Pay system, and other duties as assigned. The PA will also assume receptionist responsibilities by greeting Center visitors and addressing their inquiries.
Basic Qualifications
2+ years of office experience. Education may count toward experience.
Additional Qualifications and Skills
BA preferred. Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs, including Outlook calendaring. Experience or familiarity with China, Chinese Studies and language strongly preferred, as is previous experience with event support, managing calendars, and booking travel. Must be able to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and work independently. Strong writing skills and attention to detail are essential. Must have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to manage and prioritize multiple demands in a fast-paced environment. Must also be able to communicate-in emails and in person-with people at a variety of levels, including deans, faculty, senior administration, students, peers, and visiting dignitaries from China. A positive attitude and teamwork are essential.
Working Conditions
Must be able to work 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. This is an on-campus position. When business needs allow, there may flexibility to work remotely in an approved payroll state 1 day/week. Further details will be discussed during the interview process. Occasional early morning/evening work may be required to support events and other Center initiatives.
Additional Information
All formal offers will be made by FAS HR.
The Fairbank Center will not sponsor visas for this position.
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.
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.
LinkedIn Recruiter Tag (for internal use only)
#LI-JB1
Department Office Location: USA - MA - Cambridge
Job Code: 403033 Staff Assistant III
Job Function: General Administration
Work Format: On-Site
Sub Unit: Social Sciences
Salary Grade: 053
Department: Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies
Union: 55 - Hvd Union Cler & Tech Workers
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.
EOE 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.
