Program Coordinator

Department: Education & Social Policy
Salary/Grade: EXS/5

Job Summay:

The pathbreaking dual master's degree program, jointly designed by the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University and the Department of Economics at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), is seeking a dynamic, organized, and team-oriented Program Coordinator to support the planning, execution, and growth of an innovative, globally engaged graduate program. The ideal candidate will bring strengths in communication, coordination, and project management, with a passion for student experience and academic excellence (https://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/dual-degree/index.html).

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate day-to-day operations of the dual degree program across departments and units, ensuring smooth communication and follow-through on program activities
• Develop and manage outreach and marketing campaigns to engage students, faculty, alumni, and external partners
• Lead planning and execution of student events, academic orientation, and community-building activities
• Support faculty engagement and scheduling in collaboration with academic leadership
• Assist with budget management, tracking expenditures, and generating reports
• Supervise junior staff, graduate assistants, and student workers
• Support the Program Director in external communications, partnership development, and international collaboration initiatives
• Administration
• Budget & Financial
• Communications
• Events
• Faculty Support
• Human Resources
• Outreach
• Program Development
• Recruitment
• Regulatory Compliance
• Strategic Planning
• Student Support

Specific Responsibilities:

Administration

• Manages day to day operations.
• Ensures that program/project mission, values, guidelines, policies & procedures are implemented & maintained.
• Reviews processes and recommends changes to incorporate state-of-the-art technology as appropriate into administrative, recruitment, marketing, and educational components.
• Identifies service improvement opportunities that will better enable program/project to achieve its goals and objectives.

Budgets & Financial

• Maintains budget & associated analysis & reports.
• Enters individual &/or summary of transactions into journals &/or general ledger or other NU enterprise system.
• Reviews; ensures approval based on alternatives regarding practice & policy; analyzes and classifies transactions in accordance with established chart or coding of accounts; creates new accounts; prepares, processes, reconciles & provides receipts (as appropriate) for transactions.
• Processes transfer &/or appropriation charges & may balance &/or close accounts.
• Troubleshoots problems; performs vendor/account research as needed; obtains additional information or provides instruction & guidance by phone, US- or e- mail from customers/vendors; corrects or escalates.

Communication, Outreach & Recruitment

• Develops coordinated, consistent marketing and brand messages.
• Creates and maintains state-of-the-art website.
• Creates and maintains program social media accounts, developing high-quality content, coordinating with partners to ensure regular social media accounts updates; monitoring marketing analytics, and adjusting marketing/advertising strategy.
• Incorporates social media and networking into program/project aspects as appropriate.
• Develops and strengthens partnerships with external resources by defining, promoting and marketing benefits of participation and involvement to the program.
• Creates and nurtures relationships with organizations to develop a network of enthusiastic organizations engaged via active participation in the success of program.
• Reviews market trends to recommend future plans to increase revenue, participation, engagement, etc.

Events

• Coordinates programming, educational, student, alumni, workshops, meetings, etc. including speakers, agendas, etc.
• Develops plans and arranges meetings, workshops, events, etc. designed to exchange information, promote research objectives, and to build internal and external relationships within the program.
• Ensures that event details including communication, venues, presenters, travel arrangements, materials, refreshments and technology are arranged and completed in an appropriate and timely manner.

Faculty Support

• Coordinates faculty recruitment, appointment & credentialing processes including placing ads, candidate communication & visit.
• Arranges colloquium & seminar coordination, & faculty travel planning.
• Supports faculty in development and approval of new courses, faculty payments, classroom coordination, evaluations, and grading.

Program Development

• Manages program curriculum, seminars, presentations, workshops, learning experiences, chat rooms, websites, social networking, etc. based on goals/objectives.
• Manages academic quality and continued growth and expansion.
• Identifies & obtains external expertise as needed and works with content experts for current and new programs.
• Reviews programs/projects to increase efficiencies to support growth.
• Manages speaker selection, communication, and topic development.
• Leads program/project updates and improvements.

Strategic Planning

• Administers & maintains existing strategic plans.
• Participates with area/unit senior staff in the conceptualization, development and presentation of materials used in functional operations.

Student Support

• Completes program/project logistical details such as scheduling, curriculum, facilities, technology, registration, enrollment, audits, etc.
• Advises students regarding admissions, academic, career and development matters.
• Reads & evaluates admissions files and participates in candidate selection.
• Interviews and screens applicants.
• Implements strategy regarding structure, process, & staff support of students in compliance with NU policy.
• Resolves administrative issues (RAS forms, stipends, monitors fellowships, etc.)
• Organizes new student activities.
• Tracks data entry of grades into CAESAR, assuring faculty completes process by deadline.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 1 year program/project administration or other relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• BSc/BA in public relations, communications, or relevant fields

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• 2+ years of experience in higher education, program management, or a related field
• Experience in communication and marketing, including email campaigns, newsletters, and social media
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills, with experience in stakeholder engagement
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across teams and departments
• Highly organized with excellent planning, time management, and event coordination skills
• Experience managing budgets and vendor contracts is preferred
• Familiarity with project management principles and tools

Target hiring range for this position will be between $52,000 - 60,000k per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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