Job Description

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About The School for Moral Ambition

The School for Moral Ambition (SMA) attracts and mobilizes exceptional talent to address the world’s most pressing challenges. We need our brightest minds to make pandemics history, end factory farming, fight the tobacco industry, safeguard our democracies – and these are just a few examples. Please read our founding principles for a better insight into our mission and guiding values.

About the role

Our Harvard Moral Ambition Fellowship (HMAF) identifies talented students at Harvard College to redirect them away from today’s conventional examples of ambition and success, such as finance, consulting, and corporate law, to instead work on solving the world’s most pressing challenges. HMAF aims to equip the students to excel in high-impact roles and seeks to reframe what ambition and success look like for the next generation. 

HMAF will select approx. 12 highly motivated juniors from Harvard College in the Fall of 2025 and provide them with a semester-long training program in the Spring Semester, followed by a Summer Internship placement in a high-impact host organization. The fellowship offers students a curated curriculum, a cohort experience, mentorship from impactful leaders, and a concrete pathway into careers that matter both via internship placement and assistance with post-graduation placement.

As the Program Manager for the HMAF, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and driving the program, leading fellowship design and execution, and ensuring they align with SMA's vision and goals. During the program, fellows are trained and placed within influential organizations in order to maximize their impact potential. You will be responsible for ensuring the fellowship runs smoothly and delivers a transformative experience to participants.

Key responsibilities

1. Program Development and Management: Design and execute the HMAF program. This includes developing the program curriculum and timeline, establishing strategy, objectives, and success metrics for the program, as well as ensuring alignment with SMA’s mission and standards for excellence. 
2. Fellow Recruitment and Selection: Develop and oversee the recruitment process for fellows, ensuring a diverse and exceptionally talented pool of applicants. This involves marketing the program, screening applications & conducting interviews, and selecting candidates.
3. Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate closely with internal teams and external partners, including host organizations, speakers & advisors, and fundraisers, to create a supportive and enriching environment for fellows. This involves fostering a culture of moral ambition and a sense of belonging through activities such as coordinating with experts for guest lectures, workshops, and mentorship sessions.
4. Event and Workshop Coordination: Organize and facilitate events and workshops that are integral to the fellowship experience. This includes logistics planning, content creation, and ensuring participant engagement.
5. Monitoring and Evaluation: Regularly assess the effectiveness of the fellowship programs by collecting feedback and performance metrics. Implement improvements based on these evaluations.
6. Community Building: Foster a strong sense of community among fellows, alumni, and the broader SMA network. This includes organizing networking events, maintaining communication channels, and encouraging collaboration.
7. Resource Development: Create and curate resources and guidance materials to professionally develop fellows and support them in their journeys.

What we’re looking for

• Passion for the concept of moral ambition and a deep interest in career culture change for talented students. 
• Proven (>5 years) strong project and program management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively.
• Proven (>5 years) track record of people management and leading high-performing teams, with a preference for organizational and/or executive leadership experience. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of engaging effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders, and inspiring them to become a part of the organization’s mission and story. 
• Experience in program development, especially managing student programs, fellowships, or educational initiatives, is highly desirable.
• Comfort interfacing with high-level stakeholders and students alike.
• Established network within the US in the social impact space and strong relationships with key players in the movement.
• Creative strategic abilities and a proactive approach to challenges.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, including remotely.
• Bonus (but not necessary): Familiarity with the Harvard ecosystem or similar academic institutions
• Bonus (but not necessary): Based in/near Cambridge or Boston, MA, and/or able to commute to Harvard campus several times per month.
• Bonus (but not necessary): Undergraduate or Graduate (or higher) degree from Harvard

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive organization. We welcome applicants of all races, religions, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, national origins, disabilities, and other diverse backgrounds. If you do not have all the requirements above, we also encourage you to apply. At the School for Moral Ambition, we value talent and a can-do attitude above traditional credentials.

Application Process

1. Application Form: Please fill out the form by August 15, 2025
2. 1st Round Interview: Shortlisted candidates are invited to a 15-minute interview with Felix Tabary and/or Fabian Ulmer.
3. 2nd Round Interview (compensated): 45-minute interview with Jan-Willem van Putten and/or Rutger Bregman (depending on scheduling and availability)
4. Final Details: Formulating an offer, adjusting based on needs. Planning for a start date in early September 2025.

Contact

If you have questions about the role or the application process, please contact:

Felix Tabary - US Director

[email protected]

Fabian Ulmer - US Team

[email protected]

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