At Heinz College, we are looking for a Senior Academic Coordinator to join our School of Public Policy (PPM) team. In this role, you will be the heartbeat of our program operations, ensuring our students, faculty, and external partners have the support they need to succeed.
Your core responsibilities include:
Program & Project Support: Coordinating special initiatives for our Associate Dean and Program Directors, from research assistance to co-curricular development.
Event Management: Bringing our community together by planning capstone presentations, speaker series, and student treks.
Student Mentorship: Recruiting and supervising our student work-study team, helping them develop professional skills in a supportive environment.
Operational Excellence: Serving as a primary point of contact for the School, handling everything from financial transactions and travel requests to adjunct hiring logistics.
Capstone Coordination: Guiding student teams through their final projects, managing partner agreements, and celebrating their final presentations.
Additional responsibilities may include:
Assists with tracking timelines, action items, and implementation progress for select cross-program initiatives, special projects, and operational priorities.
Assists with organization and coordination of presentations, reports, briefing materials, agendas, and meeting documents for academic leadership activities.
Coordinates communications, meetings, scheduling, and follow-up activities related to cross-program academic initiatives and special projects.
Coordinates meetings and communications involving academic leadership, faculty, staff, and university partners.
Assists with drafting and coordinating operational communications, updates, summaries, and meeting materials.
Adaptability, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within Carnegie Mellon University. We are in search of a team member who can optimally interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.
You should demonstrate:
Self-starter with excellent interpersonal and culturally adaptable communication skills.
Ability to handle contending priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office Products and other technology platforms.
Comfortable with G suite (G drive, G calendar, G docs, etc).
Ability to solve problems independently and a resourceful approach.
Professional and friendly interaction with the university and external partners.
Proficiency in composing emails and handling confidential information.
Strong organizational and planning skills.
Handles sensitive and confidential information with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.
Qualifications:
Associate's degree required; Bachelor's degree preferred.
3-5 years of administrative support, student services, and higher education experience.
A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.
Requirements:
Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.
Additional information:
Sponsorship: Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for CMU in the United States. CMU will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. Carnegie Mellon is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12-month OPT may be used to work at Carnegie Mellon.
Work Posture: This position is operating on a hybrid schedule, with an on-campus/in-office presence of 3 days per week through December 31, 2026. Effective January 1, 2027, the expected work posture will transition to four (4) days on-site and one (1) day remote per week. Continuation of any hybrid work arrangement is not guaranteed and will be subject to further evaluation based on university policy, business needs, and institutional approval.
Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.
Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays, and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance.
Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and much more!
For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.
At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.
Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?! Apply today!
Location
Pittsburgh, PAJob Function
Academic Program Support and CoordinationPosition Type
Staff – RegularFull Time/Part time
Full timePay Basis
HourlyMore Information:
Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world.
Click here to view a listing of employee benefits
Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.
Statement of Assurance
Skills Required
- Associate's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- 3-5 years of administrative support, student services, and higher education experience
- Successful completion of a pre-employment background check
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office products and other technology platforms
- Comfortable with G Suite (Google Drive, Google Calendar, Google Docs)
- Experience coordinating events, meetings, and academic presentations
- Experience supervising student workers and mentoring
- Ability to handle confidential information, compose professional communications, and exercise discretion
- Experience managing financial transactions, travel requests, and adjunct hiring logistics
Carnegie Mellon University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Carnegie Mellon University and has not been reviewed or approved by Carnegie Mellon University.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as a standout, with automatic employer contributions to a TIAA-administered plan at 8% of base salary (and 9.78% for 9‑month academic appointments), plus optional employee deferrals. Vesting after three years is clearly specified, which helps set expectations for long-term value.
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Parental & Family Support — Parental and family support is strengthened by 100% paid parental leave for six weeks and 100% paid maternity leave for 6–8 weeks (delivery-type dependent), effective July 1, 2024. Childcare support is also referenced through a Cyert Center subsidy up to $5,000 per family, alongside no-cost EAP access.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing and lifestyle benefits include free Pittsburgh Regional Transit access and access to fitness classes and facilities, adding recurring non-cash value to the overall package. Pittsburgh’s relatively affordable cost of living can further increase the perceived adequacy of a given salary compared with higher-cost coastal hubs.
Carnegie Mellon University Insights
What We Do
Carnegie Mellon University founder Andrew Carnegie said: "My heart is in the work." No statement better captures the passion and drive of our people to make a real difference. At Carnegie Mellon, we're not afraid of the work. Our educational environment creates problem solvers, drivers of innovation and pioneers in technology and the arts. Employers in every field say our graduates are ready to hit the ground running the day they graduate. So, join us. Whether you're looking for a career or an education. Or both.
