Position Title: Academic Partnerships Project Coordinator
Classification: Full-time; exempt level position
Salary: $67,000 - $72,000 based on experience
Position available Immediately / Position is in Boulder, CO
The Position
WICHE is seeking a highly organized and collaborative Project Coordinator, Academic Partnerships to support programs and convenings for academic leaders across the WICHE region. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys coordinating events, supporting external partners, managing details, and helping complex projects move forward smoothly.
Organizational Responsibility
The Project Coordinator will work closely with the Director of Academic Partnerships, Learning, and Development to plan and support virtual and in-person meetings, workshops, and convenings. The position also supports communications, stakeholder engagement, project tracking, and day-to-day operations for Academic Partnerships programs, including the Western Academic Leadership Forum, Western Alliance of Community College Academic Leaders, Western Academic Leadership Academy, WICHE Institute for Leaders in the Humanities, and related grant-funded projects.
Duties and Responsibilities
Event and Meeting Coordination and Delivery
-
Work in collaboration but independently in coordinating and delivering virtual meetings and in-person events for Academic Partnerships programs, including member meetings, executive committee meetings, annual convenings, webinars, workshops, and leadership development programs.
-
Develop event planning timelines, work plans, run-of-show documents, and other tools to support successful program delivery.
-
Exercise discretion and sound decision-making in preparing for events, including evaluating venue contracts, assessing catering needs, coordinating audiovisual needs, and arranging transportation.
-
Lead event logistics including managing registration portals, printing event materials, and leading event setup and takedown.
-
Develop contingency plans for any program delays, changes, or interruptions.
-
Serve as a primary point of contact for venues and vendors, engaging with venue staff virtually and in person as needed.
-
Lead event evaluation efforts after convenings to ensure a high-quality experience and level of satisfaction for participants and stakeholders.
Project and Operations Support
-
Track project timelines, deliverables, deadlines, risks, and follow-up items across multiple initiatives, including grant-funded projects.
-
Support Academic Partnerships operations, including managing monthly newsletters, webpage updates, program materials, and other communications-related activities.
-
Collaborate with WICHE’s Communications team to ensure public-facing materials align with organizational standards.
-
Assist with internal coordination for event budgets, vendor contracts, invoices, and expense tracking, as determined by organizational policy and procedures.
-
Prepare meeting summaries, document action items, and help ensure timely follow-up.
Stakeholder and Participant Support
-
Build and maintain professional, responsive relationships with external stakeholders across the WICHE region, including member institutions, senior academic leaders, program participants, sponsors, and other partners.
-
Serve as a point of contact for Forum and Alliance member institutions regarding membership, engagement, and program-related questions.
-
Support executive committee and advisory group members, including coordination for regular meetings and onboarding activities.
-
Serve as a point of contact for leadership development program participants regarding nominations, applications, logistics, and program experiences.
-
Support sponsor, partner, and philanthropic communications related to Academic Partnerships convenings and events.
-
Represent WICHE professionally in meetings, events, and communications with internal and external stakeholders.
Additional Support
-
Support other Programs and Services projects, programs, or initiatives, such as the area of cost-savings partnerships, as necessary or assigned.
-
Carry out related duties and responsibilities that support the goals of Academic Partnerships and the broader Programs and Services unit.
Required Education, Skills, and Experience
-
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
-
At least two years of experience in project coordination, event planning, stakeholder support, higher education, nonprofit work, philanthropy, or a related field.
-
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools, including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, and related scheduling or collaboration platforms.
-
Experience with, or willingness to learn, tools such as WordPress, Cvent, online survey platforms, and newsletter or constituent relationship management systems.
-
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
-
Demonstrated ability to work independently, stay organized, solve problems, and manage multiple priorities.
-
Excellent attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness.
-
Ability to build and maintain effective, collaborative, and professional relationships.
-
Flexibility and willingness to learn new skills as needed.
-
Commitment to providing high-quality support for internal and external stakeholders.
-
Interest in higher education, academic leadership, or regional collaboration.
Preferred Education, Skills, and Experience
-
Master’s degree in higher education, educational leadership, student affairs, public administration, nonprofit management, or a related field.
-
Experience working in higher education or with college, university, system, or state-level stakeholders.
-
Experience coordinating events, meetings, or programs for academic or professional audiences.
-
Experience supporting membership organizations, leadership development programs, or grant-funded projects.
Work Schedule
-
This position follows a hybrid work schedule, with at least two days per week in the office.
-
Some evening and weekend work is required in connection with events and convenings.
Travel
Approximately 2–4 out-of-state trips per year are expected for meetings, conferences, site visits, or other designated work.
The Programs and Services Unit
Academic Partnerships Project Coordinator will be a member of the Programs and Services unit, where students thrive and institutional leaders collaborate. The unit's primary goals are to broaden student access and success and to foster higher education collaborations that address institutional strategic goals. The Programs and Services unit manages WICHE's three Student Access Programs and other initiatives that help institutions and students — undergraduate, graduate, and health professional — save money and efficiently use available resources. The unit also oversees initiatives that bring together the West's higher education leaders to address shared goals and concerns and develop a new cadre of college and university leaders. The Programs and Services unit notes when a particular topic or issue warrants further exploration. The unit works with campus leaders to create communities of practice, often grant-funded, to examine these issues and explore solutions. Additionally, the unit helps institutions achieve cost savings through several programs in collaboration with the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC), which created and administers the joint purchasing programs.
About WICHE
The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) is a regional interstate higher education compact of 15 Western states and the U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States. Since 1953, WICHE has focused on its mission of expanding educational access and excellence for all residents of the West. By promoting innovation, cooperation, resource sharing, and sound public policy, WICHE strengthens higher education’s contributions to the region’s social, economic, and civic life.
Benefits
WICHE offers a competitive benefits package which includes medical insurance with generous employer contribution to health savings account (H.S.A.), dental, life, and disability insurance; flexible spending accounts (medical and dependent care); 403(b) retirement plan with employer match of 200% on employee contributions up to 5% after six full months of employment; and vacation accrual, paid family leave, sick leave, paid holidays, and personal leave time.
WICHE does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status.
