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Harvard University

Is this your company?

It's fulfilling to be able to dedicate yourself to worthwhile work, the organization can be unorganized and wasteful. - Program Manager Harvard University Employee Review

4.0
Jun 10, 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Salary and benefits are among the highest in the area for the non-profit sector. The University puts emphasis on hiring internally in some cases, and knowledge of how the place works is considered an asset.

Cons

You run into faculty members who are completely ineffective managers, and there's almost no solution to a project like that. Senior leadership in general can be very reluctant to take the advice of a long-serving employee and risk a relationship with a faculty member.

Explore other reviews about Harvard University

5.0
Jul 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Light work if you have the right team

Cons

Low pay for amount of work

2.0
Jun 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great Union and benefits for non-profits/higher ed. Wonderful colleagues outside of leadership!

Cons

GSD Development and Alumni Relations (under current leadership) is an incredibly toxic work environment. I didn't realize the intensity of the toll it took on my until after leaving, and I am not one to leave a negative review, but as they are hiring for several positions currently, I wish to share words of caution with applicants. Cons: - Absolutely not a safe space for anyone who is Black, brown, trans, queer, working-class, or disabled - 100% top-down direction. No room for personal exploration, initiative, or creativity. - Minimal guidance from leadership - Frequent pivots, even in the late stages of projects - Petty, immature talking behind your back by leadership - No upward mobility unless the Associate Dean or Dean like you - Deeply disingenuous comments, reflections, and feedback from leadership - Complete lack of transparency on direction, goals, etc. - Small mistakes are made cornerstones of performance evaluations, while leadership routinely missteps. Leadership never takes accountability. - Top-down policy decisions, completely lacking detail, thought, and care outside of legal ramifications - Ever-changing in-office requirements

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