Program Specialist, OLLI

Job No: 498675 Work Type: Staff Full-Time Location: Denver, CO Categories: Business Operations / Services, Admin / Executive / Office Support, Community Engagement About The University Of Denver The University of Denver (DU), a private university, is the oldest independent university in the Rocky Mountain region, with over 12,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. DU is classified as an R1: Doctoral University. As a top-tier private institution, we are dedicated to making positive change in the world through innovative education, lifelong learning, and community contribution. About OLLI At DU OLLI at DU is a vibrant lifelong learning community serving over 2,000 members annually - adults aged 50 and older. Our mission is to enrich the lives of our members through a high-quality learning and social environment. We offer a wide range of courses, lectures, webinars, social events, and travel opportunities across five metro Denver locations and online. Our member-driven organization relies on volunteer facilitators who share their expertise and passion with fellow learners. OLLI at DU, part of a national network of more than 120 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, is the College of Professional Studies' community-centered home for lifelong learning. Position Summary The Program Specialist oversees member programs and events, manages communications with facilitators, supports facilitator recruitment and retention, and fosters member engagement to enhance experiences, grow membership, and improve retention across all OLLI locations. This role combines event coordination, communications, and hands‑on site support. Reporting to the Director of Programming, the Program Specialist manages webinar series, field trips, Lunch & Learns, member events, and on‑site operations. This position requires strong organizational and communication skills and a commitment to cultivating an engaged and growing membership. Reporting Relationship This position reports to the Director of Programming. Essential Functions Webinar & Event Coordination Webinar Series: Coordinate all webinar series including Summer Shorts, Fall Recess, and Friday STEM, including speaker recruitment and communication, scheduling, technical setup, and follow‑up. Lunch & Learns: Organize Lunch & Learns across all sites and terms, recruiting speakers, coordinating schedules, and managing event logistics. Field Trips: Plan and execute monthly member field trips, working with Membership Committee volunteers to identify locations, manage logistics, event costs, and participant coordination. Course Preview Events: Oversee and assess course preview events, open houses, and site activities; develop and implement strategies to promote programs and engage prospective members. Member Engagement & Communications Facilitator Newsletter: Develop and curate facilitator newsletter content, collaborate with facilitators to gather feedback and contributions, and submit finalized content for design and distribution. Member Newsletter: Provide program content for weekly member newsletter and event descriptions for marketing flyers; submit to the Digital Communications and Technology Specialist. Class Announcements: Produce and distribute weekly class announcements. Facilitator Support: Assist the Director of Programming with facilitator recruitment, training, recognition, and retention, including planning of facilitator‑specific events. Membership Committee: Provide administrative and organizational support to the Membership Committee to advance initiatives that foster community, improve member experience, and drive membership growth and retention. Shared Interest Groups: Oversee Shared Interest Groups (SIGs), supporting existing groups, vetting new suggestions, and fostering member‑led programming. Site Operations & Member Support On‑Site Coordination: Serve as on‑site Specialist approximately three days per week during terms, overseeing facility access, AV and room set‑up, welcome table preparation, coffee service as applicable, facilitator support, member greeting, and end‑of‑day cleanup; conduct brief check‑ins during sessions to ensure smooth operations and class quality. Course Surveys: Manage Qualtrics course survey process including set‑up, distribution to course participants, and data summarization; share results with Director of Programming. Backup Support: Provide backup support for office phone, email, and website inquiries; assist with course registration during high‑volume periods. Member & Facilitator Relations: Build rapport with members and facilitators on‑site, proactively addressing questions and troubleshooting issues. Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Strong organizational and program management skills with ability to manage multiple events and deadlines. Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to engage stakeholders including members, facilitators, volunteers, and facility managers. Strong verbal and written communication skills with experience creating newsletters or other marketing communications. Experience coordinating events, webinars, or programs, including speaker recruitment and logistics. Ability to work effectively with volunteers and committees; strong customer service orientation with commitment to inclusive member experiences. Strong problem‑solving skills with flexibility to handle changing priorities. Technical proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, email marketing platforms, webinar tools (Zoom), and database systems. Proven ability to effectively use AI‑powered tools to streamline workflows, generate insights, and support program delivery. Enthusiasm for lifelong learning and working with adult learners aged 50 and older. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree or equivalent training and experience. 3-5 years of experience in program coordination, event management, communications, or related field. Experience with email communications platforms. Demonstrated strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills enabling clear, professional interaction with a variety of audiences and colleagues. Preferred Qualifications Experience in nonprofit, education, or membership‑based organizations. Experience coordinating webinars or virtual events. Experience working with volunteers or committees. Familiarity with adult education or senior programs. Working Environment Office environment with regular travel to OLLI program sites across metro Denver. Occasional evening and weekend work for events, webinars, and field trips. Moderate stress level with multiple concurrent deadlines and event coordination. Physical Activities Ability to sit in front of a computer for extended periods. Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds occasionally. May be required to move office furniture such as tables and chairs for meetings or events. Ability to travel to multiple sites across metro Denver with the capability of transporting materials and supplies. Work Schedule Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm. This is a full‑time benefited position with flexible scheduling to accommodate site visits, webinar coordination, and events. Occasional evening and weekend work required. Hybrid work arrangements may be available in consultation with the Director of Programming and in accordance with the University's remote work policies. Salary The salary range for this position is $58,000 - $65,000. Benefits The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. Equal Opportunity Statement The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement. Background Check All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check. #J-18808-Ljbffr Inside Higher Ed