Academic Program Manager

Traditional office hours, M-F 8 am – 5 pm with some evening and weekend commitments, as required. Location Salt Lake City, UT Pay Range $50,000 - $61,710 Job Summary The Science Research Initiative (SRI) in the University of Utah’s College of Science invites applications for a Program Manager. SRI is a dynamic, rapidly growing program that connects undergraduate students with research experiences, career development, and a community of scientists through several integrated initiatives, including SRI research streams, the Career Accelerator Program (CAP), First Experience (SCI 1500), and ACCESS Scholars programming. Since its founding, SRI has served more than 700 undergraduate students, and in the coming year will support 13 Postdoctoral Research Fellows alongside continued program expansion. The Program Manager leads the operational side of SRI, working alongside the Director, Associate Directors, Postdoctoral Fellows, and stream leaders to ensure programs run smoothly, scale effectively, and deliver a high‑quality experience to students and Fellows. This role recruits, supervises, and develops a team of SRI student ambassadors who carry out day‑to‑day logistical and administrative tasks — allowing the Program Manager to focus on program strategy, systems, partnerships, and team leadership. This is a high‑level, high‑visibility role within a program that is growing quickly and has strong institutional support. The right candidate is an experienced program leader who thrives in a dynamic environment, builds and develops effective teams, and is committed to the success of undergraduate researchers. Responsibilities Program Leadership & Operations Lead day‑to‑day operations across all SRI initiatives — research streams, CAP, SCI 1500, SCI 2715, and ACCESS programming — ensuring consistent, high‑quality delivery Partner with the SRI leadership team to translate program priorities into operational plans, timelines, and systems Identify opportunities to improve, scale, or evolve programs based on student outcomes, feedback, and growth Recruit, supervise, train, and develop a team of SRI student ambassadors who support program logistics, events, communications, and student onboarding Hold responsibility for hiring, scheduling, and performance management of the ambassador team Foster a cohesive, high‑quality student experience across SRI’s integrated initiatives Events, Recruitment & Course Coordination Oversee SRI and CAP event programming, including retreats, speaker series, the annual symposium, and Postdoctoral Fellow interview processes Direct the SRI student application, review, and onboarding processes Coordinate course operations for SCI 1500 and SCI 2715, including section requests, scheduling, and TA onboarding Finance, Travel & Procurement Oversee program travel, scholarship administration, and conference/publication funding for students, Fellows, and stream leaders Manage program purchasing through UShop and the university PCard in line with U of U policy Help maintain operational systems for budget tracking and policy documentation in collaboration with leadership Marketing & External Engagement Oversee program communications, including the weekly SRI newsletter and student‑facing updates Partner with College of Science marketing on website, materials, and promotional campaigns Represent SRI at College of Science and university‑wide events, and at external conferences Strategic Contribution & Continuous Improvement Contribute insights and recommendations to strengthen SRI’s impact and inform leadership decisions Adapt to evolving priorities and take on new areas of responsibility as the program grows Work Environment Nearly Continuously: Office environment. Physical Requirements Nearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking. Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in a related area plus three years of experience in budget, grant and program management or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience) required. Develops and implements program ideas into successful academic and research programs; demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills also required. Preferences Experience working in a university, research, or academic program setting Familiarity with University of Utah systems (CIS, UShop, PeopleAdmin, MyTime) Experience supervising student workers, ambassadors, interns, or other emerging leaders Demonstrated ability to take ownership of complex projects and drive them forward with minimal direction Entrepreneurial mindset and comfort operating in a dynamic, evolving environment Experience with student recruitment, onboarding, or academic advising support Experience managing budgets, processing reimbursements, or administering scholarship programs Demonstrated ability to develop and document administrative processes and policies EEO & Inclusion Statement The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possesses a strong commitment to improving access to higher education. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. The University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy‑related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. #J-18808-Ljbffr