Research Associate
10-Mar-2025
Research Associate
Harvard Business School
68079BR
Position Description
Harvard Business School seeks a full-time Research Associate to support Professor Julie Battilana beginning this summer (ideal start date: May 1, 2025). In this role, you will act as a content specialist, producer, and disseminator and be called upon to contribute across the full spectrum of Prof. Battilana’s work. Working with a high degree of autonomy, and often as a direct contributor, you will work closely with Professor Battilana, research colleagues, and the team at the Social Innovation and Change Initiative (SICI) to advance the world’s capacity for social changemaking.
About Professor Battilana and SICI:
Professor Battilana is a Professor of Business Administration in the Organizational Behavior Unit at Harvard Business School and Professor of Social Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School, where she is also the Founder and Faculty Chair of the Social Innovation and Change Initiative (SICI). Professor Battilana's research examines the politics of change in organizations and in society. She is especially focused on organizations and individuals that initiate and implement changes that diverge from the taken-for-granted norms.
The Research Associate will report directly to the faculty and administrative manager in the Research Staff Services office. Ideal candidates will be comfortable in an environment that requires a high level of independence, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to use discretionary judgment.
Primary Duties:
Writing and Content Production:
- Develop and refine short- and long-form writing, including academic articles, op-eds, practitioner-oriented publications, memos, teaching cases, and white papers.
- Analyze research findings to construct compelling narratives and synthesize complex ideas into clear, engaging content.
- Manage multiple iterations of content, incorporating revisions, conducting copy editing, fact-checking, and preparing final outputs for publication and dissemination.
- Other duties may be assigned.
- Conduct literature reviews, qualitative and quantitative data gathering, and interview participation to support research efforts.
- Assist in coding, cleaning, and summarizing data, identifying themes, and constructing surveys to contribute to ongoing and newly developing projects.
- Participate in the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. • Ensure research compliance with institutional policies and maintain accuracy in data analysis and presentation.
- Other duties may be assigned.
- Develop and execute dissemination strategies for Professor Battilana’s research, teaching, and speaking engagements across digital platforms, professional networks, and academic communities.
- Prepare internal memos and presentations tailored for diverse audiences.
- Coordinate research activities by liaising with faculty, researchers, and external collaborators, tracking project deadlines, scheduling meetings, and managing correspondence.
- Other duties may be assigned.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required, with a minimum of two years of relevant experience in research and/or research-focused communications.
Additional Qualifications and Skills
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex research insights into clear and impactful narratives.
- Familiarity and, ideally, experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods; experience with Excel, Stata, SPSS, R, or other analytical software is a plus.
- Exceptional writing and editorial skills, with experience producing content for academic and non-academic audiences. Adaptability and ability to work independently in an evolving research environment with shifting priorities.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders, balancing both independent and team-based projects.
- Fluency in English is required; French proficiency is a plus.
Additional Information
This is a term appointment starting this summer, ideally on May 1st 2025, through June 30, 2026. All Research Associate roles at HBS are structured as one-year term appointments, with the potential for reappointment based on funding and performance.
The recruiting process is rolling. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, now through spring 2025.
Candidates with external deadlines should notify the recruiter as soon as possible.
This 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 a minimum of 3 days per week and departments 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.
A cover letter is required to be considered for this opportunity. All candidates will be expected to submit a writing sample, transcript, and a code sample to be reviewed by an HBS statistician. 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 HBS work culture at https://www.hbs.edu/employment/.
About Us
Founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University, Harvard Business School is located on a 40-acre campus in Boston. Its faculty of more than 250 offers full-time programs leading to the MBA and PhD degrees, as well as more than 175 Executive Education programs, and Harvard Business School Online, the School’s digital learning platform. For more than a century, faculty have drawn on their research, their experience in working with organizations worldwide, and their passion for teaching, to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. The School and its curriculum attract the boldest thinkers and the most collaborative learners who will go on to shape the practice of business and entrepreneurship around the globe.
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
Research
Department Office Location
USA - MA - Boston
Job Code
RS0055 Researcher I Humanities
Work Format
Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)
Sub-Unit
------------
Salary Grade
055
Department
Division of Research and Faculty Development
Union
00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary
Time Status
Full-time
Appointment End Date
30-Jun-2026
Pre-Employment Screening
Education, Identity
Commitment to Equity, 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.
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.
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