Associate Project Director - Seminary Extended: Strengthening Pastoral Leadership

Purpose:

Union Presbyterian Seminary seeks an organized and collaborative Associate

Project Director to support Seminary Extended, an innovative partnership with

Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Eastern Mennonite University and

Seminary. Supported by the Lilly Endowment, this initiative prepares theologically

grounded, contextually aware pastoral leaders through embedded congregational

education, shared faculty resources, and collaborative degree programs.

The Associate Project Director will manage operations and lead assessment activities,

reporting to the Project Director. This role provides essential coordination across three

institutions while ensuring data-driven program improvement and seamless logistics.

This role calls for a detail-oriented leader who excels at coordination, assessment, and

supporting collaborative work across multiple institutions.

Responsibilities and Duties:

Project Director Support and Operations Management

• Provide comprehensive operational support to the Project Director across all

grant activities

• Manage day-to-day operations for all Seminary Extended strategies, ensuring

smooth coordination across three institutions

• Assist with strategic planning, decision-making, and problem-solving

• Serve as key liaison when Project Director is unavailable

Assessment and Evaluation Leadership

• Lead comprehensive assessment activities across all program components

• Coordinate data collection including baseline assessments, leadership

competency evaluations, and congregational vitality surveys

• Work with external evaluator to ensure rigorous evaluation framework

implementation

• Monitor progress toward performance indicators and prepare reports for

leadership review

Academic Support and Coordination

• Support Academic Deans in oversight of the joint DMin program and shared

course offerings

• Facilitate communication between Academic Deans regarding shared faculty and

curriculum coordination

• Coordinate student learning assessment activities for joint DMin program

• Assist with student recruitment coordination and cohort formation processes

Inter-Institutional Communication and Logistics

• Serve as communication hub between Union Presbyterian Seminary, LPTS, and

EMU for operational matters

• Facilitate coordination between Project Coordinators at partner institutions

• Coordinate technology platform management and digital resource integration

• Support Grant Manager in inter-institutional coordination as needed

Knowledge, Skills, and Personal Qualities:

• Master's degree in educational administration, leadership, or related field

required; familiarity with theological education a plus

• Minimum 3 years of experience in program management, preferably in higher

education or ministry contexts

• Strong project management and coordination skills

• Demonstrated experience with assessment, evaluation, and data analysis

• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills

• Proficiency with digital platforms and distance learning technologies

Working Conditions:

• Full-time, exempt position with hybrid arrangements considered

• Occasional travel required for inter-institutional meetings and program activities

• Standard work hours with flexibility for evenings and weekends as needed

• Position funded for five years through a Lilly Endowment grant

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications within higher education

• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and retirement

plan with employer contribution

• Professional development support and generous paid vacation and holidays

Application Process:

Please submit a cover letter, CV or résumé, and the names of three professional

references to shawn.oliver@upsem.edu. The cover letter should specifically address

experience with program coordination, assessment, and supporting collaborative

academic initiatives. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the

position is filled.