Academic Affairs Initiatives Coordinator

Please note that references provided at the time of application for staff positions will not be contacted until the applicant has been offered the position.

Description

Under the general direction of the Provost, the Academic Affairs Initiatives Coordinator provides project management and coordination support across Academic Affairs priorities and oversees the coordination of Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives, curricular programming, and advising support. In the project management capacity, the Coordinator serves as project manager for cross-functional Academic Affairs Program initiatives and provides support on assigned projects, helping align efforts, track shared goals, and strengthen the connection between students' academic and work-learning experiences.

The Coordinator will also assist with operations of the designated campus areas, on- and off-campus meetings, gatherings, and special events. This individual will serve as the primary point of contact for project management progress. More broadly, the Coordinator aligns their duties with data analysis and project management within Academic Affairs Program duties while collaborating with the Work College Program.

Your Key Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge,skill, and/or ability required. Regular and predictable attendance is essential. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Project Management (35% of time):

• Serve as project manager for cross-functional Academic Affairs Program initiatives — developing project plans, timelines, and milestones; coordinating logistics, scheduling, and resource planning;
• Develop project charters, scopes, timelines, milestones, and deliverables and track progress against timelines and ensure milestone completion.
• Maintain project documentation and a shared tracking system, including status reports and action items, to ensure visibility and accountability across Academic Affairs initiatives, and proactively identify and resolve project risks and bottlenecks with relevant stakeholders.
• Track progress and outcomes on assigned Academic Affairs Program/Academic Affairs projects.
  
  

Student & AI Program Support (25% of time):

• Serve as one of the primary points of contact for students participating in artificial intelligence programs, tracking their progress, participation, and program completion.
• Serve as a liaison between Academic Affairs and the Work College Program, helping students understand and effectively use artificial intelligence resources while fostering strong coordination between academic and work-learning experiences to provide comprehensive support.
  
  

Administrative, Meeting, & Event Support (15% of time):

• Provide high-level support to Academic Affairs and other assigned functions to further the College’s mission, vision, and strategic goals through coordination of meetings, record-keeping, and historical research.
• Oversee planning and execution of and follow up for meetings and events as assigned by the Provost, including meetings and engagement activities with on- and off-campus constituencies.
• Coordinate all aspects of special projects and events on behalf of the Provost and Academic Affairs.
  
  

Collaboration & Programming (15% of time):

• Collaborate with campus partners as directed to complete project management work within Academic Affairs.
• Assist in developing and implementing joint programming, communications, and referral pathways between the Academic Affairs Program and Academic Affairs.
  
  

Reporting & Communications (10% of time):

• Develop and maintain dashboards to monitor project status and KPIs.
• Draft communications related to academic initiatives, timelines, and outcomes.
  
  

Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist the College in the attainment of the goals set forth and the enhancement of a positive, respectful learning environment for all staff, faculty and students.

What You'll Bring

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, higher education, or a related field required.
  
  

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• Minimum two years of experience working collaboratively with multiple departments required
• Willing to work as needed beyond hours to host, coordinate, or assist in program events in the evenings and some weekends during the academic term.
  
  

Special skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Ability to support artificial intelligence initiatives, projects, and programming for Academic Affairs
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and political acumen with a wide variety of constituencies, including students, faculty, staff, community members, and friends and alumni of the College.
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Ability to prioritize multiple high-priority tasks with meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent meeting, project management, and event planning skills
• Ability to work independently on multiple, complex administrative tasks and priorities
• Ability to respond quickly and appropriately to faculty, staff and student concerns, addressing issues independently whenever possible and referring them to others when needed
• Ability to develop and update resource materials for the workplace
• Proficiency with technology (e.g. Microsoft Office Programs, Box, Banner, Qualtrics)
• Professional manner and ability to handle confidential information
• Collaborative team-based working style and participatory leadership style are essential
• Demonstrated project management skills, including the ability to develop timelines, track deliverables, and coordinate multiple concurrent initiatives to completion
• Ability to build and sustain effective cross-departmental partnerships, particularly with academic units
• Experience with data analysis and evaluation
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information
  
  

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Valid driver’s license
• Required background checks
  
  

Physical requirements:

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Must be able to use a computer keyboard and read a computer screen. Requires clear oral communication by telephone and in face-to-face conversation. Ability to maintain a high level of energy is a plus.
• Some light lifting required
• Ability to sit for long periods of time with computer usage
• Ability to operate office equipment
• Ability to travel by car and/or plane
  
  

Environmental conditions:

• Professional office environment with interruptions and noise due to frequent visitors.
• May include occasional travel via vehicle and/or plane.
  
  

Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:

• College Vehicle
• Standard office equipment, including computer, fax machine, copier, printer.
  
  

Founded in 1855, Berea College is nationally recognized as the first coeducational and interracial college in the South. Berea has a longstanding commitment to interracial education and is one of the most racially diverse private liberal arts colleges in the United States. With an emphasis on service to Appalachia and beyond, Berea enrolls more than 1,500 students from 44 states and U.S. territories and more than 60 countries. Berea College admits students who are unable to afford tuition and provides every enrolled student with a fully funded degree that covers 100% of tuition, housing, food, supplies, and fees without loans, for all four years. Berea’s students excel in the College’s supportive yet demanding academic environment, and most are the first in their families to attend college. As one of only 10 federally recognized Work Colleges, all Berea students work 10-12 hours weekly in various positions across campus, building professional skills in a real-world learning environment. Washington Monthly ranked Berea College the #1 Best College for your Tuition and Tax Dollars, 2025. Berea also ranks #1 in educational access by The New York Times, 2023 and #1 for lowest educational debt by U.S. News and World Report, 2025 and 2026. Berea College is also the only institution in Kentucky to receive the 5-Star Rating from Money Magazine, 2026.

Located where the Bluegrass Region meets the Cumberland Mountains, the town of Berea (pop. 17,000) lies 40 miles south of Lexington and is approximately two hours from Cincinnati, Louisville, and Knoxville. More information about Berea College is available at www.berea.edu.

Berea College, in light of its mission in the tradition of impartial love and social equality, welcomes all people of the earth to learn and work here.

Our Benefits

Berea College offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees and their families including health care, dental, vision, retirement, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability and an Employee Assistance Program. The benefit package also includes access to the Child Development Laboratory for children of College Staff, ages 6 weeks to 6 years, Seabury Center Membership, Staff Development Funds and Tuition Reimbursement.

Eligible staff employees also receive paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

Part-time employees who work an average of twenty-four hours per week over the course of a year, receive benefits on a pro-rated basis.

To learn more details, visit our benefits page at https://www.berea.edu/human-resources/employee-benefits.

Our Unique Culture

Berea College strives to be a place where people with various Christian interpretations, different religious traditions, and no religious traditions work together in support of Berea's Great Commitments.

Over the past century, various leaders of the College have applied the College’s inclusive scriptural foundation and spirit to their expanding world and welcomed those whose beliefs were consistent with the Christian gospel of impartial love. Therefore, Berea College today affirms its inclusive Christian tradition even as it respects the traditions of Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus, as well as other faiths, and those holding no religious beliefs. We strive not to ignore our differences, but rather seek to understand each other honestly and respectfully, and together create a climate where anyone can openly discuss what they believe without fear of sanction. To that end, all persons who are willing to share in the spirit and the work of the Great Commitments as shaped by its preamble are welcome to study, to teach, and to work at Berea

Labor Supervision

In support of Berea College’s great commitments, staff and faculty serve as labor supervisors. Our fourth great commitment, The Dignity of Labor, promotes learning and serving in community through the student Labor Program, honoring the dignity and utility of all work, mental and manual, and taking pride in work well done. Student Labor Supervision includes scheduling, assigning, and approving student work, developing students' workplace acumen, and providing tangible work experience. To learn more about the labor program office please see the following link Labor Program Office.