Program Operations Manager

Program Operations Manager

The Program Operations Manager serves as the operational backbone of the Wisdom Keepers, Hope Seekers (WKHS) project, a five-year, multi-institutional initiative funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. to strengthen Black theological education and build sustainable pathways for faith leadership across seven Historically Black Theological Institutions (HBTIs). This position manages day-to-day administrative functions, communications, meeting coordination, and grant administration support, working closely with the Executive Director to ensure smooth project operations across all seven HBTI partner institutions and maintaining the systems and processes necessary for multi-institutional collaboration.

Internal contacts include the Executive Director, Principal Investigator, Assistant Dean of Finance & Administration, Howard University Sponsored Programs Office, and Howard University School of Divinity faculty and staff. External contacts include HBTI partner institution contacts across all seven partner institutions, consultants, UNCF staff, and event vendors.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Grant Administration & Compliance Support (30%)
• Communications & Information Management (25%)
• Meeting & Event Coordination (25%)
• Partnership Support & Coordination (20%)

Core Competencies:

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong written and oral communication abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Experience with project management software (Asana, Monday.com, or similar).
• Comfortable with virtual meeting platforms (Zoom, Teams, WebEx).
• Basic financial tracking and budget monitoring capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Professional demeanor and discretion with confidential information.
• Effective leadership and management skills in coordinating cross-institutional activities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and harmonious work relationships with staff, partner institutions, and external stakeholders.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Communications, Higher Education, or related field required; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of administrative, project coordination, or program support experience required, preferably in higher education, nonprofit, or grant-funded project environments.
• Prior experience with sponsored programs, grant administration, or compliance preferred, along with demonstrated experience in event planning and meeting coordination. 8 years of related work experience may be substituted in lieu of educational qualifications.

Compliance Salary Range Disclosure

$70,000-$80,000