Program Manager - Institute of Diversity Sciences

Job Description

About UMass Amherst 

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region. 

Job Summary

The Institute of Diversity Sciences (IDS) Program Manager will ensure the smooth operation of the online Leadership Academy Program for students traditionally under-represented in computer science and engineering, which is part of an NSF-sponsored Research Coordination Network. The Leadership Academy is an academic year mentorship program that includes a virtual six-week course that meets 3 times a week and runs from July thru mid August. The Program Manager manages a Sloan fellowship program for underrepresented students helping connect them to experiential research opportunities and expose them to graduate degree programs during the academic year. This position coordinates a faculty learning community for faculty advisors to these students.

Essential Functions

• Develops and maintains a program timeline, coordinates planning meetings, creates meeting agendas, distributes action items, and influences team members to deliver action items on time, delivering a high-quality product. 
• Establishes and maintains a tracking system for applications, student participants, scholarships, mentors, speakers, program evaluation, and the overall program. 
• Manages the onboarding process for students and mentors. 
• Coordinates planning meetings, conducts logistics, and provides technical support for the planning and operations of the course, speaker series, and mentorship program.  
• Manages and executes all financial and budget procedures, including budgeting and financial tracking, student scholarships, and timely payment to consultants. 
• Manages marketing and outreach for the program to recruit students, speakers, and mentors, including creating and distributing marketing materials. 
• Coordinates all communications on multiple media platforms reaching internal and external parties, including but not limited to, students, instructors, mentors, etc. Communications will generally focus on applications, scholarships, meetings, classes, and events. 
• Manages technical aspects of course curriculum, the speaker series and mentoring program. Coordinates collaboration between the leaders of the program, instructors, students, mentors, researchers, professional staff, and invited industry speakers. 
• Keeps all records in compliance with various functional processes and requirements.   

Other Functions

• Works collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equity and inclusiveness.  
• Works in partnership with colleagues within the community and across partner universities to support strategic priorities. 
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the University and the Institute of Diversity Sciences. 

Preferred and Required Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor’s degree and one (1) year of program management experience OR at least five (5) years of related program management experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively and work productively establishing and maintaining harmonious working relationships with a diverse population of faculty, staff, students, industry partners, and the public. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, as well as set and meet deadlines while maintaining high standards of accuracy and quality; ability to creatively problem-solve and operate with self-direction in a fast-paced office environment. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 
• Experience with computer applications for word processing and spreadsheets. 

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Experience with multiple software and applications (Microsoft & Google Suite, Photoshop, OneDrive, ZOOM, Moodle, SLACK, Drupal or equivalent website software, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram). 
• Ability to take initiative with fulfilling responsibilities, making administrative judgments and assuming responsibility for decisions. 
• Experience with projects that involve data gathering, data analysis and summarization. 
• Experience managing budgets and tracking expenses. 
• Experience with grant writing to attract future funding to support and expand this program. 
• Experience managing programs that involves coordinating stakeholders across multiple organizations. 

Physical Demands/Working Conditions  

• Typical office environment. 

Additional Details

• This is a 1.5-year grant-funded position; reappointment is contingent on availability of follow-on funding.
• The Leadership Academy (LA) is a joint venture in partnership with faculty from Harvard Kennedy School and the Sloan Program is in partnership with UMass Boston.

Work Schedule 

• Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm.
• Some nights and weekends.
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Application Details (to apply use the Apply Now button below.)

Salary Information

Level 26 

Special Instructions to Applicants  

Along with the application, please submit a letter of application, resume, and contact information for three (3) professional references.

As part of a commitment to their own multicultural community, CNS seeks an individual with a demonstrated commitment to diversity and one who will understand and embrace university initiatives and aspirations. (https://www.umass.edu/natural-sciences/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/our-commitment-diversity) 

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.  To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.  It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.  

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