Community Manager, HBS Foundry

Harvard University - Cambridge, MA

Full-time - Mid Level

Hybrid - Cambridge, MA

Educational Services

About the position

The Community Manager for HBS Foundry is responsible for building, engaging, and nurturing a vibrant online community for entrepreneurs. This role focuses on creating a supportive digital environment where users can collaborate, learn, and actively engage with the platform. The Community Manager will oversee community groups, facilitate webinars and workshops, and support social media channels to foster meaningful conversations and increase participation across digital platforms.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage online community groups, forums, and discussion boards to foster engagement and meaningful connections among users.
• Actively engage with community members, responding to questions, facilitating discussions, and ensuring a positive and supportive environment.
• Plan, organize, and facilitate webinars, virtual workshops, and other synchronous events to enhance community engagement and offer educational opportunities.
• Develop and execute strategies to grow the community, increase participation, and deepen engagement, particularly among entrepreneurs in emerging markets.
• Curate user-generated content, highlight success stories, and create community-driven content that adds value to the learning experience.
• Gather feedback from the community, report trends and insights to internal teams, and suggest improvements to the platform based on user needs.
• Coordinate community-driven events, such as online meetups, challenges, and collaborative workshops, to drive engagement and build a sense of belonging.
• Work closely with the product, content, and marketing teams to align community initiatives with platform goals and support overall user engagement strategies.
• Ensure that community guidelines are followed, and moderate discussions to maintain a respectful and inclusive environment.

Requirements

• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent is required.
• 5+ years of experience in community management, social media management, or related roles, preferably within the education, entrepreneurship, or tech space is required.
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) experience is required.
• Proven experience in building, managing, and growing online communities, with a deep understanding of best practices in community engagement.
• Experience planning and facilitating webinars, workshops, or virtual events.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage and motivate community members in an inclusive and welcoming manner.
• Proficiency with community management tools (e.g., Slack, Discord, Facebook Groups), social media platforms, and webinar tools (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams).
• Ability to address community challenges and resolve conflicts in a positive and proactive way.
• Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to work closely with cross-functional teams to align community efforts with broader platform goals.

Benefits

• 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)
• Up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary caregivers
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Disability and life insurance programs
• Child and elder/adult care resources including on-campus childcare centers
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more
• University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation
• Tuition Assistance Program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School
• Tuition Reimbursement Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year
• Professional Development programs and classes at little or no cost
• Various commuter options including discounted parking and half-priced public transportation passes
• Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more