Interested in becoming part of a teaching team that makes a difference in the careers of professionals through the knowledge transfer of critical leadership and management skills?
Professional & Executive Development, part of the Harvard Division of Continuing Education (DCE) portfolio, are focused on leadership development opportunities for working professionals. Professional & Executive Development’s programs (on-campus and online) bring together professionals from a wide variety of industries and backgrounds, primarily mid- to senior-level managers and directors who are able to draw on their work experience to effectively participate in program discussions and team exercises. Our offerings also attract top-level business professionals seeking to brush up on skills and learn new ones.
Criteria for a Professional & Executive Development Instructor
Harvard DCE Professional & Executive Development seeks instructors who are recognized experts in their fields, with significant industry or corporate experience. The ideal instructor not only possesses deep expertise but also has the ability to translate knowledge and passion into world-class learning experiences for professional and executive audiences.
Instructors should bring:
- Extensive teaching experience in executive education, with a proven ability to design and deliver programs independently. Guest speaking or teaching assistant experience can be valuable, but these engagements alone do not meet this requirement.
- An engaging classroom presence — able to clearly explain complex concepts with clarity, guide thought-provoking discussions, and facilitate effective learning activities.
- A dynamic teaching style, leveraging diverse methods and appropriate technology to enrich learning
- Real-world corporate and industry insights that connect theory to practice in meaningful, applicable ways
- A collaborative spirit, working with the Professional & Executive Development team to continually refine programs based on participant feedback and ratings
A current or former Harvard affiliation is preferred (through degrees, teaching, or employment), though those with comparable backgrounds are also considered.
To be considered, we require at least 2 teaching evaluations, ideally from previous executive education programs or workshops. These evaluations should include both quantitative ratings (e.g., numerical scores on teaching effectiveness) and qualitative feedback (e.g., participant comments) to showcase your ability to engage and inspire learners. If teaching evaluations are not available, recommendation letters may be considered as an alternative.
Proposal Submission Process
While Professional & Executive Development’s program offerings typically fall under categories such as leadership, management, communication, innovation, business strategy, and marketing, we are also interested in actionable, cutting-edge programs that are at the forefront of new ideas.
The Professional & Executive Development team will accept proposals for new open enrollment topics on a rolling basis. Potential instructors should provide a brief outline of their program ideas by completing the new program proposal form.
Note: For approved programs, the development process can take up to one year from receipt of initial proposal to program delivery.
For additional questions, please contact:
Jennifer Lau
Associate Director for Professional & Executive Development
Jennifer_Lau@Harvard.edu
