Program Manager

Job Description
Organization Overview

To embrace and honor a diversity of lived experiences, it is critical that we all listen with an open mind. We do this to translate those conversations into collective actions that lead to outcomes grounded in our longstanding mission to benefit humanity. Our understanding of humanity is inclusive of all human beings and oriented toward compassion and generosity.
Overview

Reporting to the Vice President for University Life and Community Engagement, the Program Manager plays a central role in building a connected, engaged, and supportive Rockefeller University community. The Program Manager develops, implements, and evaluates programs and initiatives that bring members of the University together, strengthen relationships and connections across the community, support professional and leadership development, and enhance the experience of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and staff.

Engagement is a central focus of the position. The Program Manager develops opportunities for members of the Rockefeller community to connect with one another, participate meaningfully in the life of the University, build relationships across roles and disciplines, and contribute to a strong academic and scientific environment. The position works across the University to understand community needs, identify opportunities for connection and engagement, and translate those needs into thoughtful programs, events, learning experiences, and other initiatives.

The Program Manager assesses community needs, develops programs, manages resources, evaluates outcomes, and recommends improvements based on assessment findings. The position serves as a key contributor to initiatives that strengthen community connection, professional growth, participation, and the overall University experience.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Develop, implement, manage, and assess programs and initiatives that build community, strengthen engagement and connection, and support professional and leadership development. Create opportunities for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, staff, and other members of the University community to connect across roles, disciplines, backgrounds, and areas of the institution.
Develop and facilitate programs, events, workshops, learning experiences, and other initiatives that foster meaningful participation in University life and strengthen relationships within the Rockefeller community.
Develop and facilitate a scientific professional development curriculum or learning module that addresses topics relevant to the academic research environment, including mentoring, leadership, communication, collaboration, career development, research culture, and professional effectiveness. Apply knowledge of the scientific research environment to the design of community and professional development programs, ensuring they are relevant to the experiences and needs of scientists and scientific trainees.
Support graduate student and postdoctoral communities through programming, outreach, relationship-building, professional development, resource development, and individualized support.
Develop educational resources, facilitator guides, workshop materials, and other tools that support community engagement and the professional and leadership development of members of the University community.
Assess community needs through data collection, feedback, consultation, and program evaluation, and use findings to inform program development and decision-making. Manage multiple projects and initiatives simultaneously, ensuring timely execution and achievement of established goals and objectives.
Collaborate with campus stakeholders to identify opportunities for new programs, services, community-building efforts, professional development offerings, and engagement initiatives. Collect, analyze, and report participation, assessment, and outcome data to evaluate program effectiveness and guide continuous improvement.
Manage program budgets and resources, including monitoring expenditures and ensuring responsible stewardship of University funds. Coordinate and oversee vendors, consultants, facilitators, and external partners as needed to support program implementation.
Develop communications, newsletters, reports, presentations, educational materials, and other resources that support community engagement, professional development, and Office priorities.
Represent the Office of University Life and Community Engagement on committees, working groups, and collaborative initiatives as assigned.
Demonstrate knowledge of The Rockefeller University's mission, values, scientific environment, and strategic priorities, and incorporate them into the performance of duties.
Other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree and at least five (5) years of related experience.
Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and evaluating community engagement, educational, professional development, or related programs or initiatives.
Working knowledge of the academic scientific research environment, including familiarity with the experiences and professional development needs of scientists, graduate students, or other members of the research community. Demonstrated experience creating and facilitating workshops, educational programs, professional development experiences, or community-building initiatives.
Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. Experience managing budgets, resources, and complex projects.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with scientific and non-scientific audiences. Demonstrated ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with faculty, scientists, staff, trainees, and other stakeholders.
Strong interpersonal, diplomacy, and relationship-building skills. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to use assessment and evaluation data to inform decisions.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn and use program-management and data-tracking platforms.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Advanced degree in a scientific discipline, education, higher education, student affairs, organizational development, or a related field. Experience working in a biomedical research university, academic research environment, graduate education, postdoctoral affairs, faculty development, community engagement, or a related setting.
Experience designing and facilitating professional development programs for scientists, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, or other members of an academic research community.
Experience developing scientific, research, or professional skills curricula or educational modules.
Experience training or supporting graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, research mentors, or other members of the scientific community.
Experience developing educational resources, curricula, facilitator guides, mentorship tools, or other learning materials.
Experience assessing program outcomes and using data and participant feedback to drive continuous improvement. Demonstrated success in building partnerships across organizational units and stakeholder groups.
Familiarity with the culture, structures, and professional pathways of academic biomedical research.
Experience using Airtable or similar project-management, database, or participant-tracking platforms.