Assistant Director, MBA Admissions Marketing & Outreach

Job Description

MBA Admissions Marketing at Harvard Business School (HBS) seeks an Assistant Director to play a central role in shaping how prospective students experience and engage with HBS. This role combines strategic outreach, community engagement, and content-driven storytelling to attract a diverse and dynamic pool of applicants.

The Assistant Director will lead outreach initiatives across key markets, build and activate relationships with alumni and students, and contribute to the development of authentic, high-impact marketing content. This individual will serve as a visible ambassador of HBS, representing the School at events globally while also helping to translate on-the-ground insights into compelling outreach strategies.

We seek a candidate with strong judgment, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments, contributing to an engaged and high-performing team.

Job-Specific Responsibilities

Outreach Strategy & Execution

• Develop and implement targeted outreach strategies to increase awareness and drive applications across priority audiences and geographies
• Represent HBS at domestic and international events, including conferences, presentations, and small-group engagements
• Plan and execute on- and off-campus events designed to educate and inspire prospective applicants
• Analyze prospect pool data, engagement trends, and funnel conversion to inform strategy and optimize outreach efforts
• Identify emerging opportunities (industries, organizations, geographies) to expand reach and impact

Alumni & Community Engagement Strategy

• Support the development and execution of outreach efforts that engage alumni and students in prospective student engagement
• Build and manage relationships with regional Alumni Clubs, Shared Interest Groups, and individual alumni volunteers
• Collaborate with alumni and student leaders to facilitate small-scale, high-impact engagement opportunities that extend the reach of admissions outreach
• Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment between community engagement efforts and broader admissions priorities
• Contribute to the evolution of engagement approaches by identifying opportunities to deepen participation and connection across the HBS community

Community & Pipeline Development

• Identify and cultivate relationships with organizations and communities aligned with building a diverse and high-potential applicant pool
• Partner closely with the Pipeline Programs team to align college outreach and long-term talent development strategies
• Develop tailored engagement approaches for specific communities, informed by audience insights and market trends

Content & Digital Engagement

• Manage a defined set of outreach-related content initiatives that support prospective student engagement and event marketing efforts
• Partner with the Admissions & Alumni Marketing and Communications Content, Digital, and Production team to ensure alignment with broader messaging and campaigns
• Help surface and shape stories and perspectives from students, alumni, and prospective applicants to inform outreach materials and communications
• Support ongoing prospect engagement efforts through content contributions across channels such as email, web, and event-related communications

Cross-Team Collaboration & Institutional Contribution

• Collaborate closely with Admissions, Digital Marketing, and Pipeline Programs teams to ensure a cohesive prospect experience
• Share insights from the field to inform messaging, positioning, and program awareness strategies
• Contribute to a team culture of innovation, experimentation, and continuous improvement

Team

• Manage a full-time team member
• Support team-wide events such as outreach and yield events, conferences, and other activities as required
• Work closely with Marketing team members responsible for other outreach segments
• Contribute to collaborative culture with willingness to both teach and learn from colleagues

Other

• Opportunity to develop into an Admissions Board Member; training and onboarding to take place over several evaluation cycles
• Build trust and collaboration by being present on-site and engaging directly with colleagues and various constituents
• Responsible for other duties as assigned

Working Conditions

• Ability to travel (20%) extensively within the U.S. and internationally. Occasional evenings/weekends as required.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum of 5 years’ relevant work experience
• Experience managing relationships across multiple stakeholders (e.g., community-based organizations, alumni, students, etc.)

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• In addition to the 5 years of experience listed above, we require 2 additional years of relevant work experience
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences
• Strong relationship-building skills and a demonstrated ability to manage external stakeholders
• Experience planning and executing events or outreach initiatives
• Comfort with public speaking and representing an organization in external settings
• Interest in storytelling and content creation (experience with video, writing, or social media a plus)
• Analytical mindset with the ability to use data to inform strategy and decision-making
• Ability to travel and work occasional evenings/weekends as required

Additional Information

• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: identity, education (information disclosed during application process)

Work Format Details

Work schedule and location will be set by the department. Employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard‑registered state in compliance with the University’s policy regarding employment outside of Massachusetts. Specific hours and days onsite will be determined by business needs and subject to change with appropriate notice.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 057. Salary ranges and related information are available on the university salary reference.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non‑discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard’s academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.