Curator of the Loeb Fellowship

Job Description

The Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) invites nominations and applications for the position of Curator of the Loeb Fellowship. The School seeks a highly accomplished individual to continue to uphold and build upon the 50 year legacy of the Loeb Fellowship, provide leadership to the Loeb Fellowship and the Loeb Alumni community, and advance the Fellowship’s contributions and connections to the academic community of the GSD, Harvard University, and beyond.

The Loeb Fellowship is a year-long residential fellowship for mid-career practitioners likely to become influential leaders in shaping the built and natural environment, and dedicated to advancing constructive social effects in the US and around the world. During each academic year approximately 10 Fellows have the benefit of the intellectual and critical life of the University. Now in its sixth decade, the Fellowship also supports the convening and initiatives of an active, engaged, and influential 500 member Loeb Alumni community. Loeb Alumni continue to influence and develop effective and inclusive solutions to the urgent challenges involving the future of our global built and natural environment. For more information: gsd.harvard.edu/loeb-fellowship.

The Curator has an unparalleled opportunity to shape the future of leadership in the built and natural environments and the unique privilege of stewarding a vibrant community of emerging mid-career innovators, change-makers, and thought leaders to amplify their impact.

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 outreach within Harvard and beyond. The Curator will also be expected to contribute to the School through service to the GSD.

The Curator's broad agenda includes maintaining the legacy and expanding the future of the program through recruitment of new Fellows and the impact of its alumni. The GSD seeks a visionary leader to maintain the residential program, engage an active alumni cohort to harness their expertise, and explore new opportunities for impact as the original patrons John L. and Frances Loeb intended, and in ways that advance the academic excellence and mission of the GSD.

CURATION: Program and Fellows

• Drive strategic planning, including visionary thinking to expand programming, engagement, outreach, and potential impact of Fellowship, Fellows, and Alumni.
• Develop relationships and programming across the GSD, Harvard, and beyond, working with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and external stakeholders.
• Explore knowledge production opportunities that may include research, public programs, exhibitions, and publications.
• With the Dean, convene an advisory committee to deepen relationships across the School and the university.

LOEB FELLOWS: Residency

• Convene cohort activities, including orientations, weekly seminars, retreats, travel, and dinners. Initiate and administer subsidiary projects and events, such as colloquia and seminars.
• Lead and serve on a 9-person Selection Committee and direct annual selection process, including recruitment.
• Advise Fellows on individual work plans. Mentor and motivate Fellows to grow in their technical skills, vision, and leadership ability.
• Encourage Fellows’ integration and networking within GSD, across Harvard, and among Loeb Alumni.
• Collaborate with the Dean on the Senior Loeb Scholar appointment process and programming.

ALUMNI: Loeb Alumni

• Advance ongoing professional, intellectual, and social engagement among Loeb alumni while fostering deeper collaboration between the program, Loeb alumni, current Fellows, GSD students, and faculty.
• Facilitate and communicate the development of shared projects.
• Collaborate with the Loeb Fellowship Alumni Association by supporting alumni events and programs, including Loeb Fellowship Alumni Council grants and annual fall study tours.

ADMINISTRATION: Communications, Outreach & Engagement, Management

• With the GSD and Harvard Communications, develop and direct an overall internal and external communication strategy, including, but not limited to, Fellowship programming, recruitment, alumni promotion, and Loeb Fellowship Alumni Council programming.
• Build strategic relationships with other Harvard schools, programs, and centers, as well as with external partners to grow and maintain opportunities for learning and collaboration with resident and alumni Fellows.
• Establish partnerships with other media outlets to execute communications strategy.
• Develop both internal and external engagement strategy to advance access and relationships between Fellows, the GSD, the Harvard and other academic communities, as well as relevant communities of practice.
• Actively promote the Fellowship and its programs, including public speaking at conferences and events across the U.S. and the world.
• Identify, cultivate, and pursue a development strategy in collaboration with the GSD Development and Alumni Relations Office.
• Identify and manage the Loeb Fellowship staff and capacity needs, including independent contractors and other partners.
• Direct financial management, including working with the Finance Office on an annual budget.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• An advanced degree or commensurate experience in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning & Design, or Design Studies is 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 COMPETENCIES:

Leadership

• Influential and esteemed public-facing presence.
• Engage, communicate, and cultivate meaningful relationships across a broad range of academic, professional, and community audiences.
• Employ excellent interpersonal and intercultural communication skills across diverse audiences, including students, faculty, fellows, alumni, donors, and the greater public.

Vision and Strategy

• Anticipate and imagine future possibilities, both strategic and programmatic.
• Advance the engagement of the design professions within the public, private, nonprofit, and NGO sectors for the public good.
• Articulate and impart the values of “disciplinary knowledge and trans-disciplinary impact” to a diverse range of practice, academic, and community groups.

Initiative

• Create and execute strategic plans and initiatives.
• Build solidarity, resolve conflict, and facilitate networking, synergies, and partnerships.
• Build and support an intellectual and professional community.

Collaboration and Community-Building

• Inclusive and culturally intelligent, with a caring and empathic approach to diverse populations representing multiple nationalities, cultures, viewpoints, experiences, and professional disciplines and fields of interest.
• Enthusiastic about engaging, guiding, and mentoring mid-career professionals coming from a wide range of disciplines interested in built and natural environment issues.
• Transdisciplinary aptitude to speak across all GSD disciplines related to the built and natural environment and engage with issues at different scales.
• Committed to GSD Community Values, Rights, and Responsibilities

Additional Information

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled, with an ideal start date of July 1, 2026.

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

At the discretion of the Department Chairs, a teaching appointment may be considered, reviewed annually, contingent on continuation of the staff appointment.

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity.

Work Format Details

This is a position that is based at a Harvard campus location with some remote work options available. 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 MA, CT, ME, NH, RI, VT, GA, IL, MD, NJ, NY, VA, WA, and CA (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.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 060.

Harvard's Salary Ranges

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Benefits include, but are not limited to:

• 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

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university’s non-discrimination policy.

Full position description and link to apply: https://careers.harvard.edu/job/curator-of-the-loeb-fellowship-in-cambridge-massachusetts-united-states-jid-314