What are the responsibilities and job description for the Program Manager position at State of South Carolina?
Department: CAS Center for Science Education
Advertised Salary Range:
Part/Full Time: Full Time
About UofSC
From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor's degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.
Inclusive Excellence Statement
Advertised Job Summary
The Center for Science Education (CSE) at the University of South Carolina invites applications for a Program Manager who will play a central role in advancing the Center's outreach, research, and educational missions. This position combines leadership of high-impact STEM outreach programs with coordination of innovative discipline-based education research (DBER) focused on improving undergraduate STEM teaching and learning.
The Program Coordinator will oversee the planning, organization, and implementation of the annual Science and Engineering Fair (SEF), including elementary, middle, and high school competitions and related recognition events. The Coordinator will also support additional science outreach and competition programs, working collaboratively with K–12 educators, school districts, community partners, judges, donors, and university stakeholders to expand participation and strengthen STEM engagement across South Carolina.
Key outreach responsibilities include event planning and execution, budgeting, scheduling, recruitment of participants and volunteers, management of records and communications, coordination of event logistics, and maintenance of institutional knowledge and documentation. The Coordinator will build and sustain relationships with educators, administrators, community partners, and external stakeholders while ensuring compliance with university, state, and federal policies.
In addition to outreach responsibilities, the Program Coordinator will serve as an operational leader for the CSE's research mission. Working closely with the Center's Co-Directors, the Coordinator will support the design, implementation, and dissemination of research examining evidence-based teaching practices in STEM courses. Particular emphasis will be placed on coordinating classroom observations, managing undergraduate observer programs, maintaining research datasets, preparing instructor feedback reports, and supporting faculty reflection communities focused on instructional improvement.
The Coordinator will recruit, train, and supervise undergraduate research assistants; ensure data quality and observer reliability; coordinate observation schedules; support data analysis and visualization; assist with IRB and research documentation; and contribute to grant proposals, reports, presentations, and publications. The position also includes identifying and pursuing external funding opportunities that support both STEM outreach initiatives and education research activities.
Minimum Qualifications (Classified and Unclassified positions)
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with teacher observations and data collection/analysis of educational research.
- Expert in data cleaning and analysis, running virtual meetings, and collaborating with secondary teachers and university instructors (or faculty).
- Experience and passion for running logistics for outreach events (e.g Science and Engineering Fair).
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
- Proficiency in observing college instructors as well as qualitative and quantitative educational research methods.
- Proficiency with cloud computing including Google documents, spreadsheets, slides, and forms.
- Able to work with and around secondary teacher's schedules, communication skills with parents, teachers, and community partners in-person, virtually, and with digital forms of communication.
Job Close Date
09/26/2026
Special Instructions to Applicant
Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.
We are only accepting applications submitted by September 26, 2026.
The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:
- Health and Life Insurance
- Retirement Programs
- Paid Tuition
- Dependent Scholarships
- Annual Leave
- Sick Leave
- 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
- Paid Parental Leave
- Professional Development Opportunities
Clickhttps://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/human_resources/careers/index.php&data=05|01|KURTRS@email.sc.edu|eca45df616784275e15908dab2a706ac|4b2a4b19d135420e8bb2b1cd238998cc|0|0|638018727680845870|Unknown|TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0=|3000|||&sdata=j6sQGvabHDZHDmRBFwMrq8P8QCuDmChuJ/H5/8hDRUw=&reserved=0 to learn more about why you should work at USC.
To apply, please visit: https://apptrkr.com/9759027
EEO Statement
The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities on the basis of race, sex, gender, gender identity, transgender status, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, protected veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.
je-341953902a8d45268f1900e9539f0ad8
Salary : $63,557 - $79,446