Program Coordinator, Academic and Trainee Programs - Cancer Center at Illinois

Program Coordinator, Academic and Trainee Programs - Cancer Center at Illinois

This position requires in-person work on campus and may require working outside standard hours including evenings and occasional weekends with travel to off-site locations in support of academic programs.

This position is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization.

Job Summary

This position provides strategic programmatic coordination and serves as the primary cross-functional liaison for academic initiatives supporting undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees within the Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL). Reporting to the Assistant Director, and working in close alignment with the Senior Manager for Education, the Coordinator manages the full operational lifecycle of training programs, leads collaborative efforts across CCIL core units (Program Operations, Advancement, Communications, Finance, and Data), and directs the supervision of student personnel.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Academic Operations and Event Leadership:
  • Manage the full operational lifecycle of complex academic programs, including the development of master timelines, recruitment workflows, and student onboarding/compliance.
  • Design and execute high-profile center-wide events, symposia, and speaker series, independently identifying and vetting potential candidates for the CRTEC team.
  • Manage the internal CRTEC calendar and collaborate with CCIL staff to ensure all activities are documented in institutional databases for the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG).
  • Oversee the professional delivery of workshops and courses, ensuring faculty support in the distribution of materials and participant compliance with lab etiquette and safety training.
• Cross-Functional Unit Liaison:
  • Serve as the primary professional liaison between CRTEC and CCIL core units to ensure unified programmatic execution and strategic alignment.
  • Partner with Program Operations to integrate trainees into research events, identify faculty mentors, and verify mentorship completion for compliance.
  • Collaborate with the Data Team to facilitate the accurate transfer of trainee metrics for comprehensive institutional reporting.
  • Lead the scholarship awarding lifecycle in coordination with Advancement, including candidate identification, donor engagement preparation, and the development of impact reports.
  • Act as the fiscal point of contact for Finance to manage student appointments and fund verification.
  • Partner with Communications to identify milestones and develop storytelling content for CCIL media outlets.
• Federal Reporting, Data Intelligence, and Award Development:
  • Direct the collection, analysis, and organization of critical technical documentation, such as NIH/NSF biosketches and trainee tables, ensuring strict adherence to federal submission timelines and compliance standards (e.g., NIH T32, R25).
  • Manage in-house longitudinal trainee databases to track "Return on Investment" (ROI) and meet federal reporting mandates.
• Student Personnel Supervision:
  • Lead the full employment lifecycle for CRTEC student employees, including recruitment, interviewing, and daily supervision.
  • Conduct formal mid-semester and annual performance evaluations, synthesizing team feedback to provide constructive, data-driven professional development and ensure the high-quality delivery of student projects and support tasks.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• A total of one (1) year (12 months) in education, training, and/or work experience in program coordination, higher education administration, and/or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a professional liaison between organizational units.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting federal award (e.g., NSF, NIH) proposals.
• Experience with UIUC-specific financial and administrative systems.
• Occasional evening/weekend work and travel to off-site locations in support of academic programs is required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to build and maintain professional relationships across multiple university units to achieve unified programmatic goals.
• Skill in managing multi-stage timelines and specialized databases with high levels of independence.
• Ability to draft impact reports, progress reports, and professional communications for diverse audiences.
• Ability to lead student employees and provide constructive, data-driven performance feedback.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 5002 - Program Coordinator position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close date. The budgeted salary range for the position is $58,000 to $70,000. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.
For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting and upload a cover letter, resume, and names/contact information (including phone number and email address) for three professional references. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. If required by the position, transcripts or other documentation of credentials are to be provided no later than the first day of employment. For further information about this specific position, please contact Thurman Etchison at tetchis2@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.