Program Coordinator Senior

Department: MED-NU-CATS Institute
Salary/Grade: EXS/6

Target hiring range for this position will be between $60,000 - 70,000 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.

Job Summary:

The Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute is part of the Feinberg School of Medicine. NUCATS' mission is to accelerate innovative clinical research discoveries to improve human health for all communities. Our dynamic team is composed of faculty and staff with expertise across a wide range of domains, including clinical research infrastructure (e.g., regulatory, budget/finance), bioinformatics and data science, biostatistics, community-engaged research, education and career development, and team science.

This position, Program Coordinator Sr., reports directly to the NUCATS Executive Director and works in close partnership with the Multiple Principal Investigator (MPI) team to provide high-level programmatic and administrative support to NUCATS leadership. The Senior Program Administrator leads the planning, execution, and optimization of leadership and governance processes, including coordinating executive and committee meetings; developing, synthesizing, and presenting briefing materials; and tracking progress on strategic initiatives and action items. This role is responsible for driving operational efficiency and continuity across leadership functions.

In addition, the position plays a central role in the design and implementation of MPI-led initiatives, including overseeing large-scale events such as leadership retreats, coordinating NIH site visit preparation and execution, and managing all aspects of Executive Advisory Committee (EAC) engagement. Responsibilities include end-to-end planning, stakeholder coordination, hosting and facilitation support, and triaging high-level requests, ensuring a consistently high standard of execution and stakeholder experience.

This is a hybrid position, with expectations for both on-campus and remote work.

The NUCATS Institute is committed to fostering a culture that values professional growth, work-life balance, and a welcoming environment for all team members.

The program/project is summarized below. (Definitions: Program: plan or system of taking action toward a goal. Project: planned actions with specified beginning & end.)

Specific Responsibilities:

Administration

• Oversees & ensures that day-to-day operations are appropriately managed, efficient and effective.
• Develops, maintains & reports on quantitative and qualitative performance measures.
• Oversees documentation of agreements between NU and partner organizations, ensuring that agreements are completed, appropriately reviewed, approved, and adhered to by all parties.
• Acts as liaison to IT to ensure technology systems are properly installed & maintained & meet the informational, analytical & computing needs of users.
• Ensures necessary hardware, software & network infrastructure services are appropriated from central or internal IT.
• Issues work order requests for maintenance, repairs & upgrades.

Budgets & Financial

• Oversees accurate, efficient and compliant workflow of all transactional processes across areas/units.
• Creates & oversees finances, budget, associated analysis & reports.
• Creates/enhances internal daily, monthly & annual processes & training.
• Reviews exceptions forms and reimbursements that require special attention.
• Develops fees, charges, recharge rates, etc for services.
• Approves funds reallocation within budget as necessary & appropriate.
• Recommends changes to tools to improve analysis, forecasting, modeling & reporting & ultimately quality of financial information & analyses provided to management for planning, evaluating & controlling operations.

Communication, Outreach & Recruitment

• Ensures program/project success in regard to revenue & expense goals including recruitment, participation, etc.
• Identifies opportunities and strategies for short- and long-term growth & expansion.
• Creates & implements program/project brand identity and marketing & advertising strategy.
• Oversees marketing of new and current programs, working with partner institutions & media to ensure marketing plan effectively targets applicants, sponsors, etc.
• Ensures that all advertising and marketing materials accurately represent programs.
• Pursues opportunities for alumni contact & solicitation.

Evaluation

• Manages development and maintenance of evaluation processes including associated metrics and key performance indicators.
• Reviews & analyzes outcome measurements and recommends changes & enhancements to improve program/project.
• Collaborates with internal/external partners to implement changes designed to improve/increase program/project goals/objectives.

Events

• Manages programming, educational, student, alumni, workshops, meetings, etc. including speakers, agendas, etc.
• Manages planning and arrangement of meetings, workshops, events, etc. designed to exchange information, promote research objectives, and to build internal and external relationships within NU.
• Manages event details including communication, venues, presenters, travel arrangements, materials, refreshments and technology are arranged and completed in an appropriate and timely manner.

Faculty Support

• Manages recruitment of faculty.
• Provides logistical/operational recommendation for management of faculty appointments, credentialing & exit (retirement & termination) processes.
• Applies policies, recommends changes, implements new & ensures consistent interpretation.
• Manages all aspects of faculty administrative tasks (colloquium, seminar, travel, faculty COI survey, annual report, ) ensuring optimal faculty support.

Grants & Contracts

• Supervises professional research administration support staff in order to facilitate & enhance all administrative grant processes & related compliance.
• Responsible for pre- & post-award administration; may be completed by research administrators.
• Builds relationships with Principal Investigators (PIs) & NU research associated offices
• Transfers knowledge & advises on research policy & procedure.
• Supervises payroll administration for research appointments.

Human Resources

• Recommends organizational structures to align with strategic mission.
• Supervises implementation of human resource programs, policies, procedures & talent management lifecycle & related mentoring & training.
• Manages recruitment & selection process; Performance Excellence plan for each employee; & merit increase process.
• Supervises & provides consultation regarding complex performance problems & issues; administers leaves; approves timesheets & oversees completion of annual staff Conflict of Interest survey.
• Applies HR policy to maximize effectiveness of HR administration to meet strategic plan objectives.

Program Development

• Researches competitor, and state-of-the art developments to enhance, improve, and innovate program curricula and delivery to better meet goals & objectives.
• Coordinates with program/project sponsors on the delivery of all onsite instruction and provision of logistical support.
• Recruits, trains and assigns faculty/instructors to teach programs.
• Supervises creation of components, including curriculum development, lectures, conferences, seminars, support groups, etc.
• Oversee development and implementation of new program/project initiatives.
• Manages relationships with partners, foundations, etc. and coordinates logistical support
• Continually assesses and innovates program/project to achieve educational goals.
• Develops strategy for program/project growth and expansion.

Regulatory Compliance

• Manages development & implementation of processes & procedures for all safety, security & compliance programs.
• Manages compliance with all applicable federal, state, local & NU laws, regulations, policies & procedures.
• Develops the creation &/or implementation of associated training.

Strategic Planning

• Manages & implements strategic plans.
• Reviews plans, meets with leadership & key faculty & staff.
• Provides advice & counsel & recommends changes & improvements to functional operations to better meet organizational needs & objectives.

Student Support

• Manages recruitment, application evaluation, interview, selection and notification of students or participants.
• Implements admissions criteria in accordance with associated NU policy.
• Supervises student orientation, registration, student life, graduation, etc.
• Supervises student matters, such as academic probation and other issues escalated from staff.
• Implements an advising system to support all students, including working directly with prospective and enrolled students on issues ranging from qualifications for enrollment, course and placement planning, as well as career planning.
• Implements a department strategy for structure, process, & staff support of students.
• Prepares academic year course schedule; monitors course registration & enrollments.

Supervision

• Supervises 1-2 staff.

Miscellaneous

Perform other duties as assigned

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.

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

• Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex programs, processes, and competing priorities in a fast-paced academic or research environment.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships across multidisciplinary teams and institutional units.
• Experience developing workflows, tracking systems, and documentation processes.
• Proven ability to lead and implement cross-functional initiatives with multiple stakeholders and deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• 5-7+ years of progressively responsible experience in program administration, research administration, or academic operations.
• Experience working in an NIH-funded environment, preferably within a CTSA hub or large center grant (e.g., UM1, U-series).
• Experience supporting executive leadership, steering committees, or advisory boards.
• Experience managing high-visibility events such as retreats, symposia, or external advisory committee meetings.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Ability to coordinate across departments, disciplines, and leadership levels in a matrixed environment.
• Proficiency with collaboration platforms (e.g., Teams, SharePoint), scheduling tools, and project tracking systems.
• Ability to manage shared resources and documentation for leadership teams.
• Demonstrates initiative, accountability, and a high level of professionalism when representing leadership and the program.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, 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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