Program Coordinator

JOB PURPOSE:

The purpose of this position is to serve as the Program Coordinator for the NSF Research Coordination Network on Assessing and Predicting Job Outcomes in AI (RCN APJO-AI). The Program Coordinator provides comprehensive administrative, operational, financial, and communications support to ensure the effective coordination and execution of network activities. This role supports convening logistics, cross-institutional collaboration, website maintenance, stakeholder communication, travel coordination, financial tracking, deliverable monitoring, and reporting activities. The Program Coordinator serves as the central operational hub for the Network and works closely with the Principal Investigator, project leadership team, Steering Committee, and national partners to ensure milestones and reporting requirements are met on schedule. The position reports directly to the Principal Investigator, Dr. Talitha Washington.

SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY:

Has no supervisory responsibility.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

Serve as the Program Coordinator for a national, NSF-funded Research

Coordination Network interfacing with internal contacts across Howard University, including faculty,

research administration, communications, finance, and students, and external partners, including

Steering Committee members, collaborating institutions, industry and nonprofit partners, federal

agencies, vendors, and the broader public. This position supports day-to-day project management and ensures the effective coordination of network-wide collaboration across institutions and

sectors.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Provide administrative and operational support to the Principal Investigator and Network

leadership team.

• Coordinate logistics for RCN convenings, workshops, symposia, virtual meetings, and hybrid

events, including registration, travel arrangements, venue coordination, catering, audiovisual

support, and scheduling.

• Maintain the public-facing RCN APJO-AI website and support the preparation of newsletters,

social media updates, announcements, and dissemination materials.

• Serve as liaison for communications across the PI team, Steering Committee members,

collaborating partners, and general membership.

• Track project milestones, deliverables, and timelines in coordination with the PI to ensure NSF

reporting requirements are met.

• Assist with the preparation of annual and final reports, progress documentation, presentations,

and briefing materials.

• Manage day-to-day project expenditures, track transactions, reconcile budgets, and maintain

accurate financial records in compliance with University and sponsor requirements.

• Process payments to vendors, consultants, and external partners, ensuring timely execution and

compliance documentation.

• Coordinate travel authorization and reimbursements for faculty, staff, and external

collaborators.

• Maintain contact databases for network members, partners, and stakeholders.

• Support coordination of Steering Committee meetings and record proceedings, notes, and

action items.

• Assist with onboarding and scheduling of student workers or temporary staff assigned to

support project activities.

• Support data collection and basic analysis related to network outputs and workforce research

activities.

• Ensure adherence to Howard University policies, sponsor regulations, and administrative

compliance requirements.

• Perform other related duties as assigned to support the success of RCN APJO-AI.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge of office administration, project coordination, and research support practices.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint), Google

Workspace, and related productivity tools.

• Experience managing websites, newsletters, and communication platforms is preferred.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with

diverse academic, government, industry, and nonprofit stakeholders.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize competing tasks, manage complex

logistics, and meet deadlines independently.

• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, track expenditures, and maintain detailed financial

records.

• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.

• High attention to detail and reliability in supporting compliance and reporting requirements.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s degree and 4–6 years of relevant professional experience in academic, nonprofit, or research program administration. Up to ten (10) years of directly related professional experience may be substituted for educational qualifications. Prior experience supporting grant-funded research projects is highly desirable.