IT Portfolio Manager
Job Description
About the Role
Title: IT Portfolio Manager
Location: MA-Cambridge
Job Description:
Harvard Business School
68040BR
Position Description
This role offers an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of technological transformation, supporting Harvard Business School’s (HBSâs) mission to educate leaders who make a difference in the world! Join us to lead, inspire, and pave the way for a harmonious alignment of Information Technology (IT) and business strategy, ensuring our projects shine and deliver unparalleled value. If you thrive in environments where collaboration meets innovation and are eager to make a substantial impact, we encourage you to apply!
As a valued member of the HBS ITâs Strategy, Academic and Research Technologies group this role will be a part of the Strategy, Planning, and Governance team. The IT Portfolio Manager will drive the strategic alignment of the IT portfolio with our overarching goals. This role is instrumental in shaping a balanced, value-driven IT portfolio while championing the adoption of advanced planning and portfolio management practices. This includes overseeing capacity and resource planning activities to optimize organizational performance.
The ideal candidate is a proactive strategist with strong problem-solving skills and a commitment to fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Equipped with the ability to influence executive-level decision-making, this individual will ensure our IT portfolio achieves optimal value, aligns with strategic priorities, balances capacity against demand, and minimizes risks.
Responsibilities:
Develop and implement processes and guidelines for evaluating and prioritizing HBS IT projects in alignment with the IT Strategic Plan
Lead quarterly portfolio planning and Project Review Board (PRB) meetings, ensuring adherence to IT portfolio governance standards
Collaborate with key stakeholders, including Business Relationship Managers (BRMs), Service Owners, and other functional managers overseeing demand to review new requests, assess project priority, and make go / no-go recommendations to the IT Leadership team
Identify, analyze, and mitigate portfolio dependencies, risks, and issues
Develop and manage comprehensive resource plans across organizational activities, optimize resource allocation, and address challenges
Foster alignment between IT strategic priorities, service plans, operational plans, and financial portfolios
Continuously optimize planning processes to ensure alignment and value creation within the Service Delivery Operating Model (SDOM)
Provide transparent reporting and dashboards on portfolio status to enable informed decision-making at the executive level
Partner with project and portfolio management tool owners to influence and prioritize tool enhancements
Collaborate with the Project and Portfolio Management Office stakeholders to define and refine processes that enhance program and project execution
Complete other responsibilities as assigned
Basic Qualifications
Minimum of five yearsâ post-secondary education or relevant work experience
Additional Qualifications and Skills
The following are preferred:
Relevant work experience in IT project or portfolio management, capacity planning, and resource optimization
Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a demonstrated ability to interact effectively with executive leadership
A track record of fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement
Certificates and Licenses
The following are preferred:
PMI, Prince2, Agile/Scrum, or ITIL Foundation certifications
Working Conditions
Additional support outside of regularly scheduled hours, including early mornings, nights, weekends, and holiday breaks, may occasionally be required
Additional Information
This role is a hybrid position which we consider to be a combination of remote and onsite work at our Boston, MA-based campus. HBS expects all staff to be onsite at least three days per week and for departments to provide onsite coverage Monday – Friday. Specific hours and days onsite will be determined by business needs and are subject to change with appropriate advanced notice.
We may conduct candidate interviews virtually (phone and/or via Zoom) and/or in-person for this role.
Harvard Business School will not offer visa sponsorship for this opportunity.
Culture of Inclusion: The work and well-being of HBS is profoundly strengthened by the diversity of our network and our differences in background, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and life experiences. Explore more about HBS work culture here: https://www.hbs.edu/employment.
About Us
Harvard Business School (HBS) IT is a nimble, innovative, strategic partner who crafts, delivers, and supports the pioneering technology solutions that connect, enable, and inspire the HBS community to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. Visit our website for more information https://www.hbs.edu/information-technology/about-us.
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
Information Technology, Technical
Department Office Location
USA – MA – Boston
Job Code
I0058P IT Project Manager IV
Work Format
Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)
Sub-Unit
————
Salary Grade
058
Department
Information Technology
Annual Salary Range
$105,000 – $115,000, commensurate with experience
Union
00 – Non Union, Exempt or Temporary
Time Status
Full-time
Pre-Employment Screening
Criminal, Education, Identity
Commitment to Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Harvard University views equity, 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 this excellence 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.
