Inside Higher Ed
SPARK PROGRAM OPERATIONS COORDINATOR, Office of the Provost
Inside Higher Ed, Boston, Massachusetts, us, 02298
SPARK PROGRAM OPERATIONS COORDINATOR, Office of the Provost
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SPARK PROGRAM OPERATIONS COORDINATOR, Office of the Provost
role at
Inside Higher Ed
Job Description Founded in 2017, Spark! is an innovation and experiential learning lab for interdisciplinary computing and data science projects. Based at BU’s Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, Spark! serves as the experiential learning engine for students majoring in computer science, data science, computer engineering and related disciplines, providing opportunities for students to work on real‑world projects focused on the application of data science, machine learning, and software engineering skills.
Position Summary The Program Operations Coordinator is a new position in a dynamic growing unit. This role reports directly to the Spark! Operations Director and works closely with other members of the Spark! and CDS team to help deliver high‑quality experiences for students, university faculty and staff, and external partners engaging with Spark! experiential learning programs.
This role will support day‑to‑day administrative operations across Spark! programs including, but not limited to, academic courses, external projects and partnerships, event planning, and management of communication with internal and external community members. The coordinator will administer and coordinate workflows across various program areas and be responsible for specific initiatives as determined by Spark!’s needs and the candidate’s interests. The position will supervise an average of 35 student employees.
Essential Functions Course Support – 40% Support program administration across Spark!’s three initiatives: Innovation (student‑driven projects), X‑Lab (external projects for clients), and Community and Inclusion. Assist the application and acceptance process for XCC courses, coordinate with the BU XCC team, Spark! staff, and instructors to ensure students are registered and their questions are answered. Coordinate two hackathon events per year and other signature events that serve as critical on‑ramps for the Spark! X‑Lab program and future course enrollments. Assist with project assignments for students and external partners involved with practicum courses, support project management processes for the X‑Lab program, contribute to project scoping, and aid in class schedule planning and course registration.
Student Employee Administration – 25% Supervise student employees that support program initiatives and X‑Lab course support. Facilitate hiring and coordinate performance assessments, resolve any performance issues, conduct student training, review and approve hours weekly, and follow up with payroll issues.
Partner and Community Management Support – 15% Support positive relationships with the Spark! community including current and prospective students, instructors, mentors, partners, and BU faculty and staff. Track stakeholder participation using developed workflows and support initiatives that expand engagement from community members. Coordinate annual mentor application processes and data collection, and collect hiring documentation including letters of engagement and, if needed, NDAs and Master Sponsor agreements.
Program Evaluation and Reporting Assistance – 15% Assist with the evaluation of Spark! programs through collection, analysis, and reporting of key metrics. Design and update surveys and other feedback methods to improve effectiveness and accuracy of data collection. Organize and maintain evaluation data including external community survey responses, program participation numbers and demographics, and qualitative reflections. Provide data as requested.
Other – 5% Other miscellaneous tasks as required.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree
1–3 years relevant operations and program delivery experience
Fluency in Google and Microsoft productivity tools (e.g., Google Drive, Docs, Sheets; MS Office, Zoom, etc.)
Position requires being physically present a minimum of four days per week to engage students and community members, availability for one weekend per semester required for specialized university events (dates are pre‑set by the University calendar)
Preferred Skills
Experience or comfort with administrative program management in a university context
Strong process and project management skills
Excellent organizational and writing skills
Outstanding communication and people skills with stakeholders ranging from students, university staff and faculty, volunteers, and community partners
Experienced working with project management processes and tools (e.g., Airtable, Trello, Notion, Slack, etc.)
Ability to identify and resolve problems, engaging relevant team members when needed
Experience working independently towards collective goals
Ability to provide advice, problem solve, and interact with individuals at all levels from students to senior government officials to distinguished alumni
Comfort working with uncertainty and in a fast‑paced, dynamic start‑up environment
Commitment to curiosity and learning
Flexibility, a strong team orientation, and positive mindset are critical
EEO Statement We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy‑related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
Job Details Location:
Boston, MA
Position Type:
Full‑Time/Regular
Salary Grade:
$50,000.00 – $62,500.00
How to Apply To apply, visit
https://jobs.silkroad.com/BU/External/jobs/316004
#J-18808-Ljbffr
SPARK PROGRAM OPERATIONS COORDINATOR, Office of the Provost
role at
Inside Higher Ed
Job Description Founded in 2017, Spark! is an innovation and experiential learning lab for interdisciplinary computing and data science projects. Based at BU’s Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, Spark! serves as the experiential learning engine for students majoring in computer science, data science, computer engineering and related disciplines, providing opportunities for students to work on real‑world projects focused on the application of data science, machine learning, and software engineering skills.
Position Summary The Program Operations Coordinator is a new position in a dynamic growing unit. This role reports directly to the Spark! Operations Director and works closely with other members of the Spark! and CDS team to help deliver high‑quality experiences for students, university faculty and staff, and external partners engaging with Spark! experiential learning programs.
This role will support day‑to‑day administrative operations across Spark! programs including, but not limited to, academic courses, external projects and partnerships, event planning, and management of communication with internal and external community members. The coordinator will administer and coordinate workflows across various program areas and be responsible for specific initiatives as determined by Spark!’s needs and the candidate’s interests. The position will supervise an average of 35 student employees.
Essential Functions Course Support – 40% Support program administration across Spark!’s three initiatives: Innovation (student‑driven projects), X‑Lab (external projects for clients), and Community and Inclusion. Assist the application and acceptance process for XCC courses, coordinate with the BU XCC team, Spark! staff, and instructors to ensure students are registered and their questions are answered. Coordinate two hackathon events per year and other signature events that serve as critical on‑ramps for the Spark! X‑Lab program and future course enrollments. Assist with project assignments for students and external partners involved with practicum courses, support project management processes for the X‑Lab program, contribute to project scoping, and aid in class schedule planning and course registration.
Student Employee Administration – 25% Supervise student employees that support program initiatives and X‑Lab course support. Facilitate hiring and coordinate performance assessments, resolve any performance issues, conduct student training, review and approve hours weekly, and follow up with payroll issues.
Partner and Community Management Support – 15% Support positive relationships with the Spark! community including current and prospective students, instructors, mentors, partners, and BU faculty and staff. Track stakeholder participation using developed workflows and support initiatives that expand engagement from community members. Coordinate annual mentor application processes and data collection, and collect hiring documentation including letters of engagement and, if needed, NDAs and Master Sponsor agreements.
Program Evaluation and Reporting Assistance – 15% Assist with the evaluation of Spark! programs through collection, analysis, and reporting of key metrics. Design and update surveys and other feedback methods to improve effectiveness and accuracy of data collection. Organize and maintain evaluation data including external community survey responses, program participation numbers and demographics, and qualitative reflections. Provide data as requested.
Other – 5% Other miscellaneous tasks as required.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree
1–3 years relevant operations and program delivery experience
Fluency in Google and Microsoft productivity tools (e.g., Google Drive, Docs, Sheets; MS Office, Zoom, etc.)
Position requires being physically present a minimum of four days per week to engage students and community members, availability for one weekend per semester required for specialized university events (dates are pre‑set by the University calendar)
Preferred Skills
Experience or comfort with administrative program management in a university context
Strong process and project management skills
Excellent organizational and writing skills
Outstanding communication and people skills with stakeholders ranging from students, university staff and faculty, volunteers, and community partners
Experienced working with project management processes and tools (e.g., Airtable, Trello, Notion, Slack, etc.)
Ability to identify and resolve problems, engaging relevant team members when needed
Experience working independently towards collective goals
Ability to provide advice, problem solve, and interact with individuals at all levels from students to senior government officials to distinguished alumni
Comfort working with uncertainty and in a fast‑paced, dynamic start‑up environment
Commitment to curiosity and learning
Flexibility, a strong team orientation, and positive mindset are critical
EEO Statement We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy‑related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
Job Details Location:
Boston, MA
Position Type:
Full‑Time/Regular
Salary Grade:
$50,000.00 – $62,500.00
How to Apply To apply, visit
https://jobs.silkroad.com/BU/External/jobs/316004
#J-18808-Ljbffr