Program Coordinator, Student Involvement

About the Role

The Coordinator supports the planning, coordination, implementation, and assessment of major university-wide signature events, including winter and spring commencement ceremonies and Family Weekend, under the direction of the Senior Coordinator. This position plays a key role in the operational and logistical execution of programs by managing detailed planning tasks, maintaining accurate data and records, and providing exceptional customer service to students, families, faculty, staff, and campus partners. The Coordinator actively contributes to the planning and execution of Welcome Week and collaborates closely with other Coordinators and Student Involvement Center staff to support large-scale events such as Festival ISU and Parent and Family programming and other major initiatives that foster a welcoming, engaging, and inclusive campus environment.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, implement, and assess major university-wide signature events including winter and spring commencement ceremonies and Family Weekend
• Manage detailed planning tasks for operational and logistical execution of programs
• Maintain accurate data and records
• Provide exceptional customer service to students, families, faculty, staff, and campus partners
• Contribute to the planning and execution of Welcome Week
• Collaborate with other Coordinators and Student Involvement Center staff to support large-scale events such as Festival ISU and Parent and Family programming
• Support other major initiatives that foster a welcoming, engaging, and inclusive campus environment

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or equivalent degree in Hospitality, Marketing, Public Relations, Communications, Business Administration, Higher Education Student Affairs, or a closely related field
• At least one year (12 months) of full-time experience that includes event coordination, program support, customer service, or administrative responsibilities
• Demonstrated attention to detail with strong organizational and time-management skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, with a strong emphasis on Microsoft Excel for data tracking, reporting, and reconciliation
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Hospitality, Marketing, Public Relations, Communications, Business Administration, Student Affairs, Leadership, or a closely related field
• Experience with coordinating commencement ceremonies, large-scale events, ceremonial programs, or other complex university-wide programs
• Experience collaborating across departments and working as part of a team on major events

Work Schedule

Core Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm Monday through Friday, with occasional nights and weekends.

Physical Requirements

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:

During programs:

• Stand, bend, reach, carry, and move for long periods of time
• Lift and transport up to 50 lbs. of program supplies, using a cart
• Drive a golf cart
• Provide clear verbal directions using a two-way radio

Other times/majority of the year:

• Effectively communicate with campus partners, students, and families on a daily basis
• Remain at a workstation for extended periods

Pay

$46,000 - $50,000 annual, in addition to an excellent benefits package.

Benefits

• Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
• Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
• Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
• Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
• Paid benefit time

Additional Information

Proposed Starting Date: September 2026 or ASAP.

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is authorized to do business within the State of Illinois. All work under this appointment is required to be performed from within the State of Illinois. If hired, out-of-state candidates must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days from the start date for this position. Illinois residency requires proof of a valid Illinois driver's license or a valid State of Illinois ID card. Failure to produce the required documentation within 180 calendar days will result in immediate termination of employment.

Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for Illinois State University in the United States. Illinois State University will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. Illinois State University is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12-month OPT may be used to work at Illinois State University.

This response is AI-generated, for reference only.