For Employees
For Employees
We strive to provide employees with the highest level of service and peace of mind while working abroad on Harvard-affiliated projects.
How We Support You as a Harvard Global Employee
Although legally employed by us, you report directly into the Harvard School, center, or department overseeing your project. This enables you and your manager to focus on your work and feel confident knowing that your employment is well managed.
Hiring
We partner with the School, center, or department that oversees your project to provide a smooth hiring and onboarding process. While there are some similarities, the hiring process varies depending on the Harvard School, center, or department leading your project and by your employment category as either a US expatriate, third-country national, or host-country national. Although most positions are posted under Harvard Global in the University's recruitment management system, the School, center, or department is responsible for recruiting, interviewing, and selecting overseas employees.
Onboarding
As the employer of record, we provide a conditional offer letter—pending background and reference checks completed by the School, center, or department—before presenting and finalizing your employment agreement. Our Associate Director of International HR is your point of contact for all payroll and benefits matters throughout your employment and guides you through the onboarding process, which includes a tax briefing (for US expatriates and third-country nationals) and a benefits overview. Once hired, the School, center, or department retains managerial oversight of you, the project activities, and your performance assessments.
Benefits
Connection & Support
As a Harvard Global employee, you maintain an affiliation with Harvard University and receive a local or global benefits package depending on your employment category and work location. You also benefit from the support and guidance of our dedicated international HR team.
Policies
Setting Expectations
Your Harvard Global employment agreement outlines your job duties, responsibilities, reporting lines, and general conditions unique to your employment. As an affiliate of Harvard University, most University employment policies extend to you. Where distinct Harvard Global employment policies exist, these supersede the University employment policies. These differences are largely a result of local employment law and practices.
Contacts
Current Employees
Job and performance-related questions should be directed to your manager within your affiliated School, center, or department. Payroll, benefits, or HR questions should be directed to our Associate Director of International HR.
Prospective Employees
If you’re interested in applying for an overseas job posted by a Harvard School and listed with a Harvard Global affiliation, you'll need to apply through the applicable recruitment management system. The School, center, or department is responsible for recruiting, interviewing, and selecting overseas employees.
Frequently Asked Questions for Employees
We employ staff where we have the legal ability to do so, and we’re always interested in expanding our portfolio in support of our clients' projects. Where we can offer employment services depends on:
- the project's activities
- the project's duration
- the project's funding sources
- our registration status and jurisdiction to operate in the selected location
Local registration is required before we can engage in certain activities (i.e., open a bank account; employ and pay staff; pay taxes; operate a long-term program).
See Where We Operate for the list of locations where we have ongoing operations. Note that we do not provide employment services in the US.
We've developed systems and policies similar to Harvard University’s but focused specifically on supporting individuals overseas and overcoming the challenges of operating in various countries. As a Harvard Global employee, you receive the following benefits depending on your work location and employment category:
- Affiliation with Harvard University
- Harvard University ID (HUID) number and HarvardKey account
- Harvard email address
- Harvard University Library access
- Integration with Harvard University financial and HR systems
- Harvard University network access (e.g., shared drives, calendars, online databases), if required
- IT support (determined by respective School/Unit)
- Dedicated team for international HR support
- Direct deposit
- Global health benefits plan, which includes options for bundled health care (medical, dental, vision), supplemental life, and long-term disability insurance; or local health benefits plan, which includes medical, accident, and life insurance
- Harvard Global business cards (if requested)
- International SOS emergency response services and resources*
- Pre-assignment tax briefing (for US. expatriates and third-country nationals only)
*Eligibility for the University's International SOS membership varies based on employment category. See the frequently asked question “Are HG employees eligible for International SOS?” for details.
No, we cannot provide visa sponsorship.
For payroll, benefits, and work authorization purposes, we categorize employees into the following three groups:
Expatriate: a US citizen or permanent resident working abroad on international programs. Expatriates may be hired specifically to work outside of the US or be transferred from a Harvard University position to an international assignment scheduled to last six months or more. Some temporary positions may have an assignment less than six months, and we review them on a case-by-case basis.
Third-country national: an employee working in an assigned country where they are neither a citizen of that country nor the US.
Host-country national: an employee hired to work within their home country; also referred to as a local national.
As a Harvard Global employee, you're considered to be an employee of an affiliate of Harvard University. You can describe yourself as a member of your lab, department, or School.
As we are your legal employer, any documents that list the legal employer will specify Harvard Global or the local affiliated Harvard Global entity that is your employer of record; these documents include HR forms (e.g., conditional offer letter, employment agreement, employment verification), tax filings, and business cards.
International SOS provides 24/7 emergency medical and security support and evacuation services to eligible affiliates while traveling on Harvard business.
To expedite access, it’s vital that you register your trip. Registration is required for all Harvard affiliates traveling internationally with Harvard sponsorship, on University business, or on a University-related trip. Although the program provides access to medical and travel assistance services and insurance for emergency evacuations, it does not provide health insurance coverage
In general, affiliates traveling internationally with Harvard sponsorship or on behalf of Harvard are covered by the University’s International SOS membership for medical, security, and evacuation services. Carefully review the following eligibility guidelines based on your employment category.
- Expatriates and third-country nationals: You and your accompanying spouse and dependent(s) are eligible for the University’s International SOS membership while on Harvard business outside of your home country. Home country is defined as the primary citizenship stated for your employment as a Harvard Global employee, regardless of residency statuses or additional citizenships.
- Local/Host-country nationals: As a local employee for one of Harvard Global’s entities, you and your accompanying spouse and dependent(s) are eligible when traveling for Harvard business-related purposes outside of your home country. Home country is defined as the primary citizenship stated for your employment as a Harvard Global employee, regardless of residency statuses or additional citizenships.
Exclusions: Personal travel is not eligible under the University’s membership, although you can purchase your own membership at a discounted rate. For additional exclusions, see the eligibility guidelines on the Harvard Global Support Services website.
For more information on International SOS services and resources, refer to the International SOS emergency response program on the Harvard Global Support Services website
If you have any questions about eligibility, contact our Associate Director of International HR.
Travel registration is required for all Harvard affiliates traveling internationally on a Harvard-related trip (e.g., with Harvard sponsorship, on University business, or on a University-related trip). The International SOS MyTrips platform aggregates locations and contact information for Harvard affiliates abroad. This information enables International SOS and our security staff to attempt to quickly contact you in the event of an emergency (i.e., natural disaster, civil unrest, etc.), so that we can account for affected Harvard affiliates and offer medical or security assistance through the International SOS program.
The first time you use MyTrips, you'll need to create your profile, which includes your Harvard ID, role, and affiliation, as well as your contact information and emergency contact information. After registering in MyTrips, you're strongly encouraged to register with the embassy of your country of citizenship.
- Expatriates and third-country nationals: Log in to MyTrips with your Harvard email and enter your current host country address and contact information, and keep it updated. You should also enter any Harvard business trips (outside of your home country) in MyTrips as you book them
- Local/Host-country nationals: Log in to MyTrips with your Harvard email and enter your itinerary and contact information in MyTrips for any upcoming business trips outside of your home country. Remember to add trips as you book them
For more information, see the Register Your Travel page on the Harvard Global Support Services website.
Whether minor or serious, International SOS is available to help you during and after a medical or security incident abroad.
- Call the local equivalent of "911," if appropriate.
- Contact International SOS by phone at +1-617-998-0000, or start a chat or phone call from within the Assistance App.
If you’re unsure whether local emergency services can be trusted or can provide adequate care, then your first point of contact should be International SOS. Case managers are available to help you 24/7. International SOS may alert us to your call. This standard procedure enables case managers to confirm that you're eligible for International SOS services and enables us to provide further assistance if you need it.