What are the responsibilities and job description for the Project Coordinator - Seminary Liaison position at Inside Higher Ed?
Job Title: Project Coordinator
Program: Seminary
Supervisor: Associate Dean of Seminary
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Schedule: Regular, 12 mo., 40 hrs/wk, FT, M-F 8am-5pm (flexibility for nights & weekends as needed)
On-Site position in Harrisonburg, Virginia
Job Summary
Eastern Mennonite Seminary seeks a collaborative Project Coordinator to serve as institutional liaison for Seminary Extended, an innovative partnership between Union Presbyterian Seminary, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and Eastern Mennonite University and Seminary. Supported by the Lilly Endowment, this initiative strengthens both local church leadership and theological education sustainability through three integrated strategies: A Seminary for Every Congregation (embedded congregational leadership development), shared faculty and courses, and a joint Doctor of Ministry in Adaptive Leadership.
Position funded for five years through a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
The Project Coordinator functions as local program director, managing substantial programming at Eastern Mennonite Seminary including congregational partnerships, student services, and revenue-generating certificate programs. Reporting to the Associate Dean of the Seminary with coordination responsibilities to the Project Director at Union Presbyterian Seminary, this role serves as a full member of the Seminary Extended leadership team while building sustainable systems for long-term institutional integration.
Duties/Responsibilities
Master's degree in theological studies or related field required (MDiv preferred). Minimum 3 years of leadership experience in theological education, continuing education, or congregational leadership. Demonstrated experience in program development and management. Understanding of EMU’s theological tradition, constituencies, and denominational relationships. Strong project management, communication, and relationship-building skills. Collaborative leadership approach with multi-institutional experience preferred.
Physical Requirements
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee must have the ability to accommodate irregular hours as needed to connect with students in multiple time zones.
The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands and fingers, to handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and climb or balance. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The employee must occasionally travel to meetings and conferences off campus, which may include some overnight travel.
Supervisory Responsibilities
None
Eastern Mennonite University (http://www.emu.edu) is a private, faith-based, liberal arts university in Harrisonburg, Virginia known for academic excellence and affordability with a focus on service, social justice, and global engagement. With more than 1500 students studying at our main campus in Harrisonburg, Virginia; at our Lancaster, Pennsylvania instructional site; and online, EMU offers rigorous academic study at the undergraduate and graduate level.
EMU is committed to an inclusive and equitable campus community where everyone is treated with dignity and respect and can be their authentic self. Our goal is to remove the barriers that underrepresented and marginalized groups have frequently encountered in our society. We commit to address the structures that produce discrimination, racial injustice, gender inequities and other forms of oppression, and to fully include LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, and other members of historically minoritized communities.'
EMU encourages students, faculty and staff to live their faith and values through service to others, peacemaking, cross-cultural engagement and sustainability. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, EMU is committed to enhancing our community and encourages applications from qualified individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who would deepen the diversity of the University.
Program: Seminary
Supervisor: Associate Dean of Seminary
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Schedule: Regular, 12 mo., 40 hrs/wk, FT, M-F 8am-5pm (flexibility for nights & weekends as needed)
On-Site position in Harrisonburg, Virginia
Job Summary
Eastern Mennonite Seminary seeks a collaborative Project Coordinator to serve as institutional liaison for Seminary Extended, an innovative partnership between Union Presbyterian Seminary, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and Eastern Mennonite University and Seminary. Supported by the Lilly Endowment, this initiative strengthens both local church leadership and theological education sustainability through three integrated strategies: A Seminary for Every Congregation (embedded congregational leadership development), shared faculty and courses, and a joint Doctor of Ministry in Adaptive Leadership.
Position funded for five years through a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
The Project Coordinator functions as local program director, managing substantial programming at Eastern Mennonite Seminary including congregational partnerships, student services, and revenue-generating certificate programs. Reporting to the Associate Dean of the Seminary with coordination responsibilities to the Project Director at Union Presbyterian Seminary, this role serves as a full member of the Seminary Extended leadership team while building sustainable systems for long-term institutional integration.
Duties/Responsibilities
- Local Program Management and Congregational Partnerships
- Function as site director for Seminary Extended programming at Eastern Mennonite Seminary
- Manage recruitment and support for 5 local congregations per year in Strategy 1 partnerships, conducting monthly check-ins to track leadership development and program progress
- Develop and deliver certificate offerings that generate revenue
- Oversee integration of shared faculty into local curriculum and programming
- Coordinate with EMU personnel in dean’s office and continuing education on program integration
- Student Services and Network Development
- Coordinate placement and supervision of master's students serving as program assistants in congregational settings
- Support Doctoral students engaged in congregational transformation research
- Manage student recruitment strategies within denominational and regional networks
- Cultivate relationships with denominational leaders, judicatory officials, and congregational networks
- Coordinate with DMin Director on program development and student support
- Institutional Integration and Sustainability
- Build institutional support for shared faculty positions and collaborative programming
- Create local infrastructure for ongoing collaboration beyond grant period
- Contribute to digital platform development and ensure effective integration of online learning resources
- Manage local budget components and coordinate with Grant Manager on financial transfers
- Inter-Institutional Leadership
- Serve as full member of Seminary Extended leadership team
- Coordinate with other Project Coordinator to ensure consistency and shared learning
- Contribute to evaluation activities and program refinement processes
- Other duties as assigned.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to maintain confidential information and materials.
- Ability to understand and enforce policies and best practices.
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally with a diverse community.
- Must possess strong attention to detail, organization skills, problem-solving skills, and desire to grow accounting skills.
- Ability to set goals, prioritize and organize job tasks and workload in order to meet deadlines.
- Ability to function and communicate progress with teammates in a fast-paced environment.
- Able to type efficiently and work comfortably with spreadsheet and word processing software (especially in Google Suite).
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically, critically, and creatively.
- Ability to build relationships that balance the multiple, varying, and sometimes conflicting interest of diverse stakeholders.
- Able to work nights and weekends as needed.
- Regular travel required for inter-institutional collaboration and congregational visits; quarterly team meetings rotating among Richmond, Charlotte, Harrisonburg, and Louisville.
Master's degree in theological studies or related field required (MDiv preferred). Minimum 3 years of leadership experience in theological education, continuing education, or congregational leadership. Demonstrated experience in program development and management. Understanding of EMU’s theological tradition, constituencies, and denominational relationships. Strong project management, communication, and relationship-building skills. Collaborative leadership approach with multi-institutional experience preferred.
Physical Requirements
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee must have the ability to accommodate irregular hours as needed to connect with students in multiple time zones.
The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands and fingers, to handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and climb or balance. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The employee must occasionally travel to meetings and conferences off campus, which may include some overnight travel.
Supervisory Responsibilities
None
Eastern Mennonite University (http://www.emu.edu) is a private, faith-based, liberal arts university in Harrisonburg, Virginia known for academic excellence and affordability with a focus on service, social justice, and global engagement. With more than 1500 students studying at our main campus in Harrisonburg, Virginia; at our Lancaster, Pennsylvania instructional site; and online, EMU offers rigorous academic study at the undergraduate and graduate level.
EMU is committed to an inclusive and equitable campus community where everyone is treated with dignity and respect and can be their authentic self. Our goal is to remove the barriers that underrepresented and marginalized groups have frequently encountered in our society. We commit to address the structures that produce discrimination, racial injustice, gender inequities and other forms of oppression, and to fully include LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, and other members of historically minoritized communities.'
EMU encourages students, faculty and staff to live their faith and values through service to others, peacemaking, cross-cultural engagement and sustainability. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, EMU is committed to enhancing our community and encourages applications from qualified individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who would deepen the diversity of the University.