Program Coordinator McNair

Position Classification:

Regular, full-time, salaried, exempt and benefit-eligible staff position. For more benefit information visit Why Work at UCO?

General Schedule:

Position typically works Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm in-office at UCO's main campus in Edmond, Oklahoma. Will work occasionally in the evening and weekends and travel.

Position Overview:

The program coordinator works in tandem with the director to develop and implement programming that supports the academic success of program participants, with the goal of preparing each participant for successful entry into and completion of graduate study. The coordinator has the most direct contact to participants and is responsible for providing individual services (conducting comprehensive needs assessments, assisting students in developing an individualized plan, advising, monitoring their growth) and facilitating group services (seminars, workshops, graduate school visits, the McNair Showcase, and conference attendance).

The position’s primary duties (more than 50% and most important) require the exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance, including responsibility for planning, coordinating, administering, and making substantive decisions concerning organizational programs, operations, and services.

This position is grant funded and contingent upon continued funding from the federal government. The program is in its final grant year but will seek a renewal once the competition opens for the next five-year cycle

Department Specific Essential Job Functions:

• Supervise graduate student workers and support staff, including onboarding and training,
• assigning duties, coordinating work schedules, evaluating performance, and providing ongoing feedback to support program operations and participant services.
• Recruit and coordinate faculty research mentors, matching faculty expertise with scholars’ research interests, communicating mentoring expectations, and maintaining partnerships that support research completion and preparation for graduate study.
• Lead Summer Research Institute coordination, including developing the instructional schedule, coordinating faculty and presenters, monitoring research milestones, and evaluating participant learning and program effectiveness.
• Develop and implement a structured graduate school preparation curriculum addressing graduate program selection, application materials, funding opportunities, faculty engagement, interviews, and the transition to doctoral study.
• Lead alumni engagement and longitudinal outcome tracking, developing consistent outreach procedures to document graduate enrollment, degree completion, and professional accomplishments.
• Coordinate day-to-day program operations in the director’s absence, exercising judgment within delegated authority, addressing time-sensitive participant needs, and escalating matters requiring director approval.
• Overseeing the recruitment efforts to serve 25 eligible participants annually.
• Planning and coordinating McNair workshops, seminars, and/or classes.
• Providing consistent, regularly scheduled appointments with scholars.
• Coaching participants as they seek ways to overcome challenges.
• Facilitating opportunities for participants to engage in scholarly activities, including conference attendance and graduate school visits, as well as to network with others in academia.
• Planning trips and traveling with participants.
• Assisting the director in overseeing compliance with federal regulation.
• Tracking performance measures, updating program database, and assisting in preparing annual performance report, including gathering data on McNair Alumni.
• Maintain the website, social media and alumni tracking system.
• Responsible for personal safety and the safety of others; must always exercise due caution and practice safe work habits.

Qualifications/ Experience Required:

• Completed or in-progress master’s degree
• Equivalent work experience.
• At least one year of experience in higher education, program planning, academic or financial advising, instructional experience, or government reporting.
• Must have valid driver's license, clean driving record, and be able to operate a typical motor vehicle.

Qualifications/ Experience Preferred:

• Master’s in education, counseling, social sciences, STEM, or a related field and/or evidence of pursuit of doctoral degree.
• One or more years of experience developing programming designed to support low-income, first generation, and underrepresented students.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience conducting a start-to-finish research project such as a thesis or capstone.
• Experience in developing and coordinating programming.
• Ability to plan and travel with participants on graduate school visits and to conferences. Technology proficiency.
• Experience with data tracking/collection.
• Knowledge of evidence-based research and High-Impact practices related to the persistence and graduate degree attainment.
• Familiarity with how diagnostic, formative, interim, and summative assessments can be used to assess growth.

Physical Demands:

Reasonable accommodation (in accordance with ADA requirements) may be made, upon request, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Salary : $45,000