Job no: 525551

Work type: Staff Full Time/Part-Time

Location: UMass Amherst

Department: CNS Advising Center

Union: PSU

Categories: Academic Advising & Learning Resources, Program Administration/Management, College of Natural Sciences, PSU A

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

In collaboration with the Driving Change leadership team, the Program Manager will be coordinating and providing oversight for the UMass Driving Change program and its related activities.

Essential Functions

• Coordinating the day-to-day operations of the Driving Change Program, acting as a first responder to items of urgency and managing workflow to ensure the execution of grant activities, including strategic initiatives.


• Providing the Driving Change leadership team(s) with strategic support and project management to move activities forward by information gathering, communicating with stakeholders, developing and monitoring plans, and providing appropriately synthesized information, and reports.


• Managing the budget, including tracking expenditures, placing orders, payments, and completing budget amendments as needed.


• Coordinating and responding to Driving Change communications and reporting needs between HHMI and the Driving Change leadership team.


• Overseeing, developing, and directing the management of events related to executing the goals of the Driving Change program, ensuring all constituent and attendee needs are met with a high degree of professionalism and that all logistical arrangements are effectively coordinated.


• Informing and coordinating the creation and dissemination of resources to support the Driving Change program aims, including, curating content, and working with partners as needed to ensure timely updates to the Driving Change website, that will host the online resources.


• Serving as the Driving Change Program liaison to Driving Change stakeholders, (e.g., STEM Deans, Undergraduate Deans Council, STEM Heads and Chairs, STEM academic advisors) as well as allied programs on campus such as the Partnership for Advancing Completion Equity (PACE).


• Tracking ongoing activities and preparing annual progress and budget reports to the funding agency.

Other Functions

• Working collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness.


• Working in partnership with colleagues across the campus community to support the University's strategic priorities.


• Performing other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the UMass Driving Change Program

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master's degree and three (3) years of administrative experience -OR- Bachelor's degree and at least (5) five years of administrative experience, preferably with some experience in higher education or a non-profit organization, including at least two (2) years of experience managing projects to implementation.


• Excellent demonstrated verbal and written communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills necessary to effectively relate with diverse constituencies. Strong organizational skills, project management experience, and attention to detail.


• Ability to work independently with little guidance. Ability to exercise good judgment in a variety of situations. Ability to maintain a realistic balance among multiple priorities with the ability to work under pressure.


• Familiarity with diversity issues required.


• Proficient in desktop office software. Microsoft Office preferred.


• Ability to maintain confidential matters with discretion.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5pm.


• Required to work some nights and weekends as needs dictate.


• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Level 27

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter, and a Contributions to Inclusive Excellence Statement (see below). References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Search will remain open until a suitable candidate has been identified.

At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. You can find these values and goals here: https://www.umass.edu/strategicplan/strategic-plan. For this reason, we request that all applicants submit a Contributions to Inclusive Excellence Statement that addresses how you see yourself contributing to our community and campus climate and/or our shared goals of building a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse community.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised: Oct 31 2024 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close: Feb 2 2025 Eastern Standard Time