Senior Research Associate

Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative 

The Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative—a program of the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University—is a collaboration between Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Business School, and Bloomberg Philanthropies to equip mayors and senior city officials to tackle complex challenges in their cities and improve the quality of life of their residents. 

Launched in 2017, the Initiative advances research and develops new curriculum and teaching tools to help city leaders solve real-world problems. The Initiative advances research and develops new curriculum and teaching tools to help city leaders solve real-world problems. By engaging Harvard graduate students in research and field work, the Initiative supports current city leaders while investing in future generations. The Initiative also advances the field of city leadership through teaching, research, and new curricular materials that help city leaders drive government performance and address pressing social problems. 

The Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative (BHCLI) invites applications for a full-time Ph.D.-level Senior Research Associate to join its research team. Led by faculty director, Professor Jorrit de Jong, the research team advances knowledge on solving urban problems through effective public management, leadership, and collaborative governance—generating evidence on how to strengthen the capacity of cities and their leaders to improve residents’ quality of life. The Senior Research Associate, reporting to Senior Director of Research, Dr. Quinton Mayne, will take a leading role in co-designing and executing studies aligned with this research agenda, building a field of study at the intersection of organizational behavior, public management, and urban studies, and producing research that generates actionable insights for practitioners and high-impact academic publications. 

Responsibilities:

• Co-lead research within a collaborative team: shape questions, design studies, and plan analytic strategies. 
• Implement research, including – where necessary – instrument design, power analysis, pre-registration, and programming and execution of online surveys and experiments. 
• Manage additional research activities, including recruitment and supervision of student research assistants. 
• Develop and maintain research administration and compliance documentation, including IRB protocols, data-use agreements, and data security procedures. 
• Support data cleaning and conduct statistical and econometric analyses. 
• Manage relations with research-relevant external stakeholders, including survey vendors and partner cities. 
• Draft, revise, and prepare academic manuscripts for publication. 
• Travel, as needed, for data collection and presentation of work and findings (at conferences, workshops, etc.). 

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. (or expected completion by start date) in relevant discipline(s) or field(s), including public management, business administration, organizational theory, social psychology, organizational behavior, implementation science, public administration, political science, economics, and urban studies. 

Application Instructions & Review Process: Please upload a CV, 2 writing samples, and contact information for at least 2 references using this link. Review of applications will begin on November 15, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Evidence of scholarly engagement in developing and testing theories of organizational strategies to create social impact, with emphasis on how public organizations build capacity, improve performance, implement policy, and innovate in service delivery. 
• Demonstrated ability to conduct original empirical research using quantitative and qualitative methods, including experimental methods such as survey experiments and/or field randomized controlled trials.
• Experience supervising research assistants and coordinating multi-stakeholder projects. 
• Proficiency in R or Stata (Python a plus). 
• Experience with IRB/ethics and preregistration/pre-analysis plans. 
• Excellent writing skills and evidence of publication pipeline. 

• Appointment End Date: This position is a fully benefits-eligible two-year term appointment through June 30, 2027, with the potential for renewal.
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• Work format: This is a full-time, on-campus position based in Cambridge, MA. Flexible remote work arrangements may be available with supervisory approval.
• Other Information:
  • This is a research appointment dedicated to BHCLI projects. Outside professional activities (e.g., teaching, consulting) require prior approval to ensure alignment with project timelines and deliverables. 
  • We offer a focused, collaborative environment with direct pathways to real-world relevance and high-impact publications. 
  • We offer opportunities to co-lead research with city partners and build a visible scholarly profile. 
  • Learn more about research produced by the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative at: https://cityleadership.harvard.edu/research/. 

Work Format Details

This position is based on-site at a Harvard campus location. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment. 

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 057. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.