Research Associate – Organizational Behavior Case Writing

Please note only applicants who apply online via HarvardCareers will be considered. 

Harvard Business School seeks a part-time Research Associate (RA) to support a faculty member in the Organizational Behavior unit. The successful candidate will have a strong foundation and interest in the area of leadership and organizations. 

The Research Associate (RA) position reports directly to faculty supervisors and administrative manager in the Research Staff Services office.  Ideal RA 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

• Work under the general direction of HBS faculty on topics spanning leadership, strategy, advising/consulting, M&A, and others within the umbrella of Organizational Behavior.  Provide subject-area knowledge, analysis and interpretation to faculty member.  Identify and explore a wide-range of questions related to faculty’s research and teaching agenda.
• Write and develop cases, case supplements, project reports, and pedagogical course materials from start to finish, creating original writing based on subject-area expertise, research, and interviews. There may also be opportunities to write articles for applicable business audiences, such as Harvard Business Review, and to support with book projects targeted toward trade audiences.
• Provide strategic course support. In addition to the development and cultivation of course materials (e.g., syllabi, assignments, readings, etc.), work closely with faculty, administrative staff, and external stakeholders in identifying opportunities for and seeing through guest speaker events, panels, workshops, etc. Work with MBA students and provide limited supported as necessary.
• Ensure compliance with department, University, and federal regulations.  Complete work with only general direction.  Be aware of department, School, University policies and potential outside research policies.
• Under general direction of faculty member, must be able to take complex research ideas, concepts, and methodologies and apply them to new projects and situations.  Must be able to structure assignments and keep faculty member informed as necessary, using own judgment. Must be proactive in supporting multiple projects simultaneously.
• Responsible for other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required, graduate degree in the humanities or social sciences preferred.
   

Additional Qualifications:
Evidence of academic excellence and intellectual curiosity. Proven evidence of independent research in specific advanced field of study. Must have strong writing skills. Evidence of prior high-quality, original academic writing, and background in analysis and interpretation of relevant data, research, news, and literature is helpful. Ability to tailor writing effectively based on target audience and medium is critical. Though direct industry experience is not required, the ability to read subject-specific information (including but not limited to academic/scholarly) and write a reasoned and thoughtful analysis, as well as produce a creative interpretation, is a must. Prior experience interviewing, developing interview guides, storyboarding, etc. is a plus.

Prior experience in course support and content development is highly preferred. Excellent skills related to the Microsoft Office Suite (esp. PowerPoint) are expected. 

The candidate must have extremely high standards in terms of quality of work, attention to detail, strong organization skills, and absolute commitment to task completion. Must be able to balance multiple tasks and shifting priorities, as well as own project timelines under tight time constraints at an accelerated pace, when necessary, often independently. It is helpful if the candidate is familiar with navigating a complex organization, such as Harvard Business School, as the candidate must be comfortable working and managing relationships with multiple internal and external stakeholders with minimal oversight. The candidate should be highly professional and comfortable working with high-level executives.  

Application Details:

This is a part-time term appointment starting this summer through June 30, 2025, with potential for re-appointment for the following year.  All HBS RA roles are structured as one-year appointments. 

This role is offered as a hybrid (some combination of onsite and remote) where you are required to be onsite at our Boston, MA based campus 2-4 days per week. Specific days and schedule will be determined between you and your manager. Candidates should expect to be on campus to support with course delivery in the Fall and Spring.

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. 

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/.