As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive.

GENERAL SUMMARY

With significant latitude for independent judgement and decision-making, develops, leads, and evaluates inclusion and culture initiatives that foster interest among elementary, high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, for careers in medicine and scientific research. This individual serves as the subject matter expert and key driver of pathway programming, proactively interacting and consulting with faculty, staff, students, area schools and organizations, and other external stakeholders to promote awareness and achieve measurable results aligned with the University’s commitment to inclusive excellence in education and training.
This position assumes management and operational responsibility in the strategic planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of pathway programs.
In addition, this position is responsible for grant management, including identifying funding opportunities, leading proposal development, managing budgets, ensuring compliance with grant requirements, and preparing reports to demonstrate program outcomes and impact.
This is a multi-project, deadline-driven position that demands strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities. The role is hybrid, with occasional evening and frequent weekend hours required for program administration.

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree Required
• 3 years of relevant experience Required
• or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Required
• Experience related to student initiatives and programming. PreferredExperience working with or managing grants. Preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Excellent organization, communication and analytical skills Required
• Strong interpersonal skills, problem-solving ability, writing and multi-tasking skills Required
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, students, community partners, and maintain confidentiality of information at all times RequiredExperience with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint Required

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Program Development and Management

• Develops and oversees programming to expand and increase community engagement programs, marketing, and recruiting.
• Manages project scope, timeline, and milestones; identifies, tracks, and manages risks and issues to resolution.
• Monitors progress of programs and activities.
• Ensures all critical implementation criteria are met. Identifies issues and barriers and works to resolve them.
• Develops and manages pathway program budgets in coordination with the Director of Budget and Operations ensuring alignment with NYSED grant requirements and with endowed and restricted purposes.
• Collaborates with program leadership to develop comprehensive project plans including timelines, milestones, resource requirements, and measurable objectives.
• Exercises a high degree of autonomy, managing all phases of project planning and execution with minimal supervision.

Communication and Relationship Management

• Develops and fosters positive relationships with community members, vendors, program stakeholders, funders, other university departments, and other pathway program leaders in the region and state to support program visibility, sustainability, and growth.
• Builds on prior experience to further enhance key sustained relationships with donors.
• Collaborates with Advancement to coordinate donor engagement, including cultivation meetings and site visits.
• Establishes and facilitates relationship opportunities and fosters engagement from faculty and/or departments functioning as Principal Investigators (PI) for high school and undergraduate students.
• Connects PIs with mentees and programs that need PIs.
• E stablishes and executes a project communication plan, ensuring clear and effective communication to relevant stakeholders.
• Maintains and communicates program schedules, metrics, and ongoing status of programming.
• Delivers content and obtains ongoing feedback from program participants.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for guardians of minor participants, ensuring consistent communication, clear expectations, and adherence to university policies and program guidelines.

Grant Management

• Completes and maintains all phases of the grant lifecycle for pathway programs, including proposal development, application submission, program implementation, reporting, interim and final year program narratives and budget reports ensuring compliance with funder guidelines and institutional policies.
• Responsible for grant writing and proposal efforts to secure funding for new and existing initiatives and serves as the primary liaison with grant funders in collaboration with PIs and the Director of Budget and Operations.
• Pr ovides regular project updates to project sponsors and stakeholders.
• Collaborates with the Director of Budget and Operations to manage vendor relationships where applicable, including contract review as required.

Program Assessment and Evaluation

• Leads gap analyses on the University’s pathways for secondary and post-secondary learners.
• Consults with other leaders to identify programmatic needs.
• Helps identify success metrics and helps determine if goals are achieved through regular monitoring of progress across assigned projects.
• Analyzes and synthesizes data and reports; interprets feedback from stakeholders to determine short-term and long-term success of programming.
• Recommends, designs, and implements improvements to continually improve program outcomes.
• Conducts business case analysis of proposed projects and presents to leadership for prioritization.
• Develops and maintains formal mechanisms for collecting and analyzing participant and staff feedback.
• Tracks educational and career trajectories of program participants in a centralized database to support reporting, improvement, and long-term impact assessment.

Staff and Student Management

• Provides strategic leadership and direct supervision for a team of medical and graduate student employees engaged in the design, implementation, and delivery of pathway programs.
• Recruits qualified student instructors, coordinators, and curriculum developers on a rolling basis to support and sustain pathway programming.
• Reviews applicants for programs. Oversees the scheduling of interviews. Selects successful candidates.
• Onboards and trains student workers. Provides ongoing supervision and training and manages personnel issues.

Advocacy and Community Engagement

• Serves as a visible and active advocate for educational equity and access through participation in community events, policy discussions, advisory boards, and regional coalitions focused on college and career readiness.
• Builds and maintains relationships with K-12 schools, community-based organizations, civic leaders, and other key stakeholders to support and advance pathway program goals.
• Represents the university and pathway programs at public meetings, outreach events, and forums to raise awareness and amplify the impact of programming.
• Engages with local, state, and national organizations to remain informed on trends and best practices in pathway development, student success, and community-based programming.
• Coordinates volunteer opportunities, community-based learning projects, and service initiatives that involve students, faculty, and staff in meaningful community engagement.
• Advocates for student needs and experiences in institutional and partner conversations, ensuring that programming remains student-centered and responsive to community input.
• Tracks and reports on community engagement efforts, documenting partnerships, participation levels, and outcomes to support transparency and continuous improvement.

Other duties as assigned