"Program Coordinator, Higher Education"

Job Description

At the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University (CEPR), our mission is to transform education through the power of quality evidence. We believe that if we want to dramatically improve educational outcomes for all children, evidence must play a critical role.

The Strategic Data Project (SDP), an initiative of the Center for Education Policy Research, is a national network of education leaders working to use data to improve student success. SDP has trained more than 1000 data leaders through its data fellowships, and SDP Institutes in Leadership and Analytics (SILA).

CEPR offers programs that connect doctoral students with opportunities to apply their research in real education agencies, while also building networks and learning from faculty across Harvard through seminars and events. These experiences help students bridge academic training with practical impact in the field.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

The Higher Education Program Coordinator will be a core member of the Strategic Data Project's team, and will support other CEPR fellowship programs as needed, by helping support high quality events, in-person and virtual; on and off campus.

Event Support (30%)

• Coordinate in-person and virtual workshops to ensure a high-quality experience for fellows and partners. This includes making purchases within a pre-assigned event/function budget, and negotiating and liaising directly with hotel management, food vendors, and A/V contacts to create a successful event experience.
• Support event speakers and attendees by booking their travel and securing their lodging at in-person events held across the country, in a manner that is consistent with university policies, event timeline, and available resources.
• Provide in-office support for pre- and post-event organization, including printing materials and packing and shipping supplies to on-site event locations.

Event Planning and Facilitation (20%)

• Contributing to creation of event collateral, agenda design, session delivery, and other aspects of event and experience planning for events and workshops.
• Presenting at planning meetings, engaging key stakeholders and internal and external partners throughout event planning and execution and ensuring seamless event implementation.
• Monitoring event attendees as they register for programs, progress through logistical tasks, and ultimately participate in the event.
• Providing strategic reminders, support, and accountability to ensure successful and productive attendance at CEPR events.

Fellowship Monitoring (25%)

• Monitoring fellowship participants progress through program milestones, identifying participants who are behind schedule or at-risk of falling behind for the Program Manager.
• Maintain accurate contact records in QuickBase and related platforms; managing access to partner tools; tracking attendee progress through operational tasks (e.g., booking travel to events); and keeping attendees informed of upcoming milestones and deadlines.
• Support Program Manager with tasks related to onboarding and offboarding cohorts, including contact management, development of communication plans, and management of Learning Management Software.
• Provide support to the fellow experience by being a "first line" of triage and question support via email and/or at in-person events.
• Providing strategic reminders, support, and accountability to ensure successful and productive attendance at SDP events.

Program Operations (15%)

• Preparing and maintaining financial documentation including reimbursement paperwork, financial reports in Concur, and reviewing complex documents, such as hotel contracts, to assure compliance with university requirements and/or government regulations.
• Work with program directors and managers to effectively leverage partner tools, including learning management platforms (e.g., Canvas), event websites (e.g., Sched), and Slack. This also includes incorporating these partner tools into communication strategies, creating templates as needed, and finalizing materials to ensure consistently branded, high-quality content.

Cross-Team Collaboration and Participation (10%)

• Work as part of a team that supports the success of CEPR initiatives.
• Proactively collaborate with other events coordinators and team members responsible for financial processing to ensure consistent practices, share learnings and resources, and troubleshoot challenges together.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Associates degree and 3 years of experience, or the equivalent.
• Prior program/project coordination experience.

All candidates invited to the final interview round will be asked to complete an activity/task. To be considered, you must submit a cover letter. Please submit your resume and cover letter as one document when applying for the role.

This position is a term appointment for one year from the date of hire, with a strong possibility of continuation. This position is Hybrid and requires occasional travel (approximately 10%). Overtime opportunities may be available. Flexibility to work early mornings, late evenings, and weekends as needed to support scheduled events is required.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills required.
• Ability to prioritize work in an environment with multiple and conflicting interests.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to handle complex and confidential information with discretion.
• Competency using a variety of computer programs, especially Microsoft suite and Google docs.
• Experience with Quickbase, Qualtrics, Canvas, Concur, Zoom, and project management platforms (e.g. Asana) are pluses.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Experience working with (or in) education or the public sector preferred.

For more information about HGSE, its programs, research, and faculty, please visit: www.gse.harvard.edu.