APPLY HERE: https://forms.gle/7QB1JxxusYMhS4q16

About TEDxHarvardSquare:

TEDxHarvardSquare is more than a conference—it’s a movement. We convene the most brilliant minds from Harvard, MIT, and beyond to shape the future through radical ideas, immersive storytelling, and catalytic conversations. Backed by global partners and rooted in one of the world’s most innovative cities, we are scaling toward something historic: a 70,000-person TEDx experience by 2030.

The Role:

We are seeking a bold, strategic, and operations-savvy Chief Operating Officer to join our core leadership team. The COO will work side-by-side with the Executive Director to transform TEDxHarvardSquare into a globally recognized, sustainable platform for ideas worth spreading. You will lead internal operations, oversee cross-functional execution, and build systems that support exponential growth.

Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership: Oversee logistics, budgets, timelines, and cross-team communication for all events, including salons, discovery sessions, and our annual mainstage conference.
• Team Management: Supervise department heads (Curation, Partnerships, Marketing, Production) and ensure alignment with KPIs.
• Strategic Execution: Translate our long-term vision into short-term sprints using tools like Asana, Notion, and Slack.
• Partnership Operations: Manage contracts, sponsorship deliverables, and partner engagement.
• Growth Planning: Build systems that scale with us—from recruiting to resource allocation to expansion.

You Are

• A builder: You turn ideas into roadmaps and roadmaps into real outcomes.
• A systems thinker: You love optimizing workflows, solving bottlenecks, and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
• A leader: You’ve managed teams, run point on fast-paced projects, and know how to delegate and hold accountable.
• Calm under pressure: When things get chaotic, you stay focused.
• Passionate about TED, storytelling, and ideas that matter.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3–7+ years of experience in operations, project management, event production, or a related field.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams.
• Strong familiarity with project management tools (Asana, Notion, etc.).
• Background in events, media, startups, or nonprofit leadership a plus.
• Boston/Cambridge-based or willing to relocate is a bonus.
• Strong leadership and team management abilities
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Master's degree in Business Administration or related field preferred