Research Navigator

The Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) is launching an initiative to build the best-in-class research enablement environment for public policy. Over the next two years, the School will pilot and pressure test strategies and solutions addressing the increasing complexity of the research and research compliance environment. This position will directly support this work.

 As a member of the Research Computing and Data Services (RCDS) team in Library and Research Services (LRS) at the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) and reporting to the Director of Research Computing and Data Services, the Research Navigator will be responsible for building an end-to-end logistical flow of research across the research compliance ecosystem that Principal Investigators and researchers navigate at HKS.  You will build systems to track in flight research across the research lifecycle, identify roadblocks, and intervene to remove barriers and address bottlenecks. Working across multiple administrative offices within HKS and also across Harvard, you will actively problem-solve, design and propose policy and process changes to ensure timely research project start up. With direction from the HKS Chief Research Data & Privacy Officer and the Director of Research Computing and Data Services. This position will also experiment and pilot new ideas to improve the experience and process of accomplishing research at HKS. We seek candidates who have:

• An innovative, entrepreneurial spirit accompanied by a strong mix of analytical and operations/logistic skills
• An ability to work in a distributed organization that often requires collaborating with multiple parties to accomplish objectives
• An ability to partner with research, business, legal, and technical subject matter experts when necessary to develop and implement solutions
• The willingness and proven ability to proactively take responsibility and action to resolve cross functional issues across organizational boundaries.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative and/or team environment.
• A commitment to belonging, community, and connection. 

Within LRS, we value continually learning. You will be expected to continually pursue new areas for learning related to this role and use newly gained skills and knowledge on the job. You will also encourage and support this learning for other members of LRS.

HKS, including LRS, is committed to building a welcoming and supportive community of staff, faculty, and students. This position will work toward building such a community and foster an environment in LRS (for colleagues and library patrons) that values and prioritizes belonging, community, and connection

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

As Research Navigator, you will:

• Identify and quantify administrative, technical, and other resources needed to move research projects successfully and expediently through the research compliance pipeline.
• Analyze and systematize the research compliance pipeline, building systems and solutions to bottlenecks and process slow downs. Specifically, 
  • Monitor research compliance processes and ancillary processes to identify process bottlenecks, and trigger corresponding corrective actions.
  • Develop optimal processes for research compliance staff and researchers to improve research process across the research lifecycle. Coordinate and facilitate communication among the multiple parties. involved in the research compliance and ancillary processes
  • Design pathways for research projects to achieve approval on defined and transparent timelines.
• Under the leadership of the Director of Research Computing and Data Services and HKS Chief Research Data & Privacy Officer, work closely with colleagues across the department, HKS, and the University to plan, solution, and execute to improve the process for conducting research at HKS with particular emphasis on reducing the time to approval in research compliance processes for research teams.
• Build trust and rapport with the HKS research community, HKS research enablement groups, and Harvard’s central research administrative and compliance units to facilitate coordination of efforts, communication, and general awareness of the administrative and compliance landscape at HKS and Harvard.