Program Coordinator, MPP & MPA

Job Details

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University.

Department:

School of Public Affairs

Time Type:

Full time

Job Type:

Regular

FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt

Work Modality:

Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week)

Union:

SEIU Local 500 - Provost & Enrollment Division

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit represented by SEIU Local 500 - Provost & Enrollment Division. That means the terms and conditions of your employment are governed by university policy (including the Staff Personnel Policies Manual) and any collective bargaining agreement entered into between American University and SEIU Local 500 - Provost & Enrollment Division.

Job Description:

Summary:

This position provides administrative, programmatic, and academic advisement support for the Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Public Policy (MPP), the STEM-designated MPP and MPA, the undergraduate programs in public policy analysis, and current and future joint degree programs with other institutions in the Department of Public Administration and Policy (DPAP).

Provides high-level administrative and operational support for the Department of Public Administration and Policy (DPAP) academic programs, including the MPA, MPP, and undergraduate offerings. Oversees course planning, data management and reporting, student communications, and program coordination. Partners with faculty, Program Directors, and SPA staff to support teaching, events, and curriculum development, while ensuring the accuracy and effectiveness of program resources, communications, and accreditation-related activities. This position reports to the DPAP Undergraduate and Graduate Program Directors.

Essential Functions:

1. Program Operations, Data Management, and Reporting
   • Leads core operational functions supporting the Department of Public Administration and Policy (DPAP), including the MPA, MPP, and undergraduate programs.
   • Oversees data collection, analysis, and reporting for department, school, and university needs, including course enrollments, student evaluations of teaching (SETs), exit surveys, graduation rates, and career outcomes. Supports accreditation and reaccreditation efforts by maintaining accurate program data and producing annual reports for Program Directors, the Chair, and faculty to inform strategic decision-making.
2. Student Engagement, Communications, and Advisement Support
   • Coordinates student-facing communications for MPA and MPP programs through Canvas Student Central, listservs, and other platforms, ensuring timely dissemination of information on courses, deadlines, events, and professional opportunities.
   • Supports advising-related initiatives, including coordination of MPA/MPP course waiver exams (statistics and economics), the MPA/MPP Math Intensive (Boot Camp), internship tracking for accreditation requirements, and student onboarding efforts such as International Student Orientation and dual/joint degree information sessions.
   • Serves as a liaison between students, faculty, and Program Directors.
3. Course Scheduling and Academic Planning
   • Coordinates course scheduling across DPAP programs in partnership with Program Directors, aligning faculty teaching preferences, student demand, course offerings, and room assignments.
   • Updates university scheduling systems and interfaces with the registrar and internal stakeholders to ensure accuracy and efficiency in academic planning.
4. Administrative Support
   • Provides administrative support to Program Directors, academic advisors, and departmental leadership, including schedule management, syllabus collection, and execution of delegated tasks.
   • Supports curriculum-related processes and collaborates with SPA staff to maintain and update the DPAP website and program materials.
5. Events Coordination and Program Support
   • Plans and executes student engagement and departmental events across DPAP programs, including the MPA/MPP Networking Dinner, Pizza with Professors, course preview days, alumni and employer panels, and recruitment initiatives.
   • Provides logistical and operational support for major departmental events such as the Charles Levine Lecture and DPAP Awards, as well as Capstone and Practicum “Best Poster” competitions.
   • Responsibilities include event promotion, RSVP management, materials preparation, and on-site coordination.
6. Other Duties As Assigned

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

• Full-time.
• 35 Hours per week.
• Hybrid 1 modality (3 - 4 days in office).

Salary Range:

• $28.85 - $31.87 per hour.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• 2-4 years of relevant experience.
• Possesses superior organizational skills.
• Self-starter who is detail-oriented and able to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in and substantial experience with computer applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to learn and use internal AU data management applications such as Business Intelligence, Workday, MC-Curriculum, course scheduling, room scheduling, etc.
• Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and customer-service orientation.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and customer-service orientation.
• 3-5 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with data visualization and related data analysis software such as R, STATA, or SPSS preferred.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits

AU offers a competitive benefits package. Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options.