Department: SIS - Science in Society
Salary/Grade: EXS/5

Job Summary:

Provides management for education programs, recommending goals, assessing feasibility and ongoing performance & providing day-to-day oversight of administrative & operational functions.

The Program Coordinator supports the education mission of Science in Society (SiS), a Northwestern University research center dedicated to supporting high-needs, high-potential communities. As part of the Science in Society team, this position manages a variety of community-based STEM initiatives in the Chicagoland area. Examples include the award-winning Science Club afterschool mentoring program and a summer science camp in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago.

Specific responsibilities include building and maintaining relationships with community stakeholders, youth development staff, and teachers; recruiting and training scientist volunteers to work with K-12 youth, directly supervising and supporting program implementation 2-4 days per week at community sites, and coordinating/administering program evaluation. The Program Coordinator will also support strategic planning and grant proposal writing for SiS programs.

This is a term position ending on August 31, 2026. Opportunity for renewal will be based on performance and available funding.

Specific Responsibilities:

Administration

• Manages day to day operations.
• Ensures that program/project mission, values, guidelines, policies & procedures are implemented & maintained.
• Manages design and development of program databases; compiles & analyzes data; prepares reports.
• 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.
• Coordinating activities and program logistics with community partners including Boys & Girls Club staff, teachers, and other stakeholders as needed.
• Attending multiple program sessions at community sites: ~2-3 days/week during school year and up to 4 days/week in the summer
• Arranging and attending regular meetings with SiS stakeholders
• Recruiting, training, and supporting Northwestern students, faculty, and staff to support SiS programs.

Communication, Outreach & Recruitment

• Strengthens partnerships with external resources by defining, promoting and marketing benefits of participation and involvement to the organization.
• Creates and nurtures relationships with organizations to develop a network of enthusiastic organizations engaged via active participation in the success of program/project.
• Reviews market trends to recommend future plans to increase revenue, participation, engagement, etc.
• Building and maintaining relationships with community stakeholders including Boys & Girls Club staff, Chicago Public School teachers, and volunteers
• Recruiting and supervising youth participants
• Recruiting and training scientist volunteers from nearby universities and colleges (University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Chicago, Loyola University)
• Supervising and or administering evaluation activities at community sites, including surveys, interviews, and observations
• Helping develop new evaluation approaches to assess program effectiveness

Evaluation

• Observes program sessions and interacts with participants for purpose of gaining consumer insight, growing and strengthening program knowledge, and optimizing client satisfaction.
• Coordinates the collection, analysis & reporting of required information for surveys, review documents, public information documents, etc.
• Analyzes evaluation data from instructors, students, participants, etc. to assist in program/project development and updates.
• Implements corrective actions required as a result of surveys or other indicators.

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 NU.
• Ensures that event details including communication, venues, presenters, travel arrangements, materials, refreshments and technology are arranged and completed in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Planning field trips and fun events for program youth, volunteers, and teachers
• Coordinating volunteer training events and quarterly orientation sessions
• Supporting teacher professional development workshops

Grants & Contracts

• Partners with NU development office and grant manager to identify and seek program funding.
• Prepares proposals; provides administrative guidance for grant preparations including budgets and justifications.
• Identifies grant funding.

Program Development

• Manages program/project 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.
• Coordinating supplies and setup for program curriculum

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• 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
• Experience in one or more educational roles supporting K-12 youth. Examples include formal or informal instructional roles, volunteer work in community settings, summer camp leader, etc.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong communication skills
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Multi-tasking
• Proactive problem-solving and ability to take initiative, work independently
• Microsoft Office suite

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in science, science education, or science communication
• Experience developing K-12 STEM curricula for in-school and/or out-of-school implementation.
• 1+ years' experience working with schools and/or community organizations.
• Ability to update websites and online information (WordPress, HTML, or equivalent).
• CITI human subjects training/certification and mandated reporter training

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills
• Knowledge of effective community engagement principles and strategies, especially those related to working with disadvantaged schools and communities.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $55,000-$60,000 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

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