Administrative Coordinator - School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs

Northeastern University•Boston, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Administrative Coordinator for the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs (The Policy School) within the College of Social Sciences and Humanities serves as a strategic operational partner and central hub for the School's multi-campus administration, core academic programs and several interdisciplinary programs. Reporting directly to the Associate Director of Finance and Operations, this position manages the comprehensive administrative infrastructure across the Policy School's three campuses: Boston (MA), Arlington (VA), and Oakland (CA), ensuring seamless operations, exceptional stakeholder experiences, and mission-aligned programming. It serves as key professional support to the Director of the School and main point of contact for external partners, international collaborators, advisory bodies, and institutional stakeholders. This role combines high-level executive support with hands-on operational management, serving as the principal point of contact for students, faculty, staff, and external partners. The incumbent leads the coordination of complex event programming throughout the year - including student experience initiatives and seminar series, while overseeing the day-to-day administrative functions that sustain the School's academic programs and research initiatives. With responsibility spanning calendar management, fiscal coordination, human resources support, and cross-campus communications, this position requires exceptional organizational acumen, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities with professionalism, discretion, and attention to detail. As an integral member of the Policy School community, the Administrative Coordinator embodies and advances the School's core values of collaboration, communication, inclusion, and community. This position demands initiative, sound judgment, and a service-oriented approach to supporting the Policy School's mission of advancing policy research, education, and social impact across diverse urban contexts. The Policy School brings together doers and dreamers who think and act locally and globally. As we celebrate our 20th Anniversary, we reflect on two decades of interdisciplinary research, policy-relevant professional education, and deepened community engagement. The Policy School operates across 3 Campuses (Boston, MA, Arlington, VA and Oakland, CA), and is a vibrant academic community of more than 400 students at the Master’s and PhD levels, as well as the Undergraduate Human Service Program. The graduate programs include: Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Policy, MS in Urban Informatics, MS in Urban Planning and Policy, MA in International Affairs, MS in Engineering & Public Policy, MS in Environmental Science & Policy, and PhD in Public Policy, as well as several Graduate Certificate Programs. The Policy School is also home to the Policy Innovation Hub, a collaborative platform for 6 research programs and centers to advance policy-relevant scholarship, convene dialogue, and translate research into impact. The College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH) combines Northeastern University’s signature approach to experiential learning with liberal arts education, interdisciplinary research, and community engagement, both locally and globally. The College comprises 20 academic units, including two schools, eight departments, and ten interdisciplinary programs, as well as 15 research centers and institutes. Our faculty connects liberal arts education with the challenges of our time, and fosters ethical reasoning and critical thought, with attention to the enduring significance of history, literature, and culture. CSSH promotes inquiry with global perspectives across interdisciplinary clusters of expertise including: Artificial Intelligence, Resilience, Sustainability, Health, and Equity; Cultural studies, Governance, and Globalization; and Network Science, Computational Social Science, Digital Humanities, and Data Ethics. At the College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH), we believe that a culture of belonging, where every faculty member, staff member, and student feels empowered, respected, and connected, strengthens our shared pursuit of knowledge.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years’ relevant experience in an academic or similar workplace environment.
Knowledge of university administrative procedures and office administration practices and processes.
Experienced level of proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, and Outlook.
Experience setting up meeting technology and coordinating virtual, on-site, and hybrid meetings is required.
Ability to plan, organize and set priorities.
Time management.
Attention to detail.
Interpersonal and written communication skills.
Ability to carry out special assignments by completing activities, monitoring progress, and ensuring work is completed accurately and on time.
Ability to manage complex tasks under time constraints while maintaining strong attention to detail.
Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a team capacity with a broad range of staff.
Ability to use independent judgment, work with discretion, and be entrusted with confidential information.
Ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, and respond efficiently to new, last-minute, and/or revised requests.
Results-oriented sense of responsibility, collegiality and collaboration.
Ability to respond tactfully and professionally to departmental needs.
Interest in and experience working with and supporting students.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of various software applications and programs, including Workday, IntelliBuy and Concur is a significant plus.

Responsibilities

Manages the comprehensive administrative infrastructure across the Policy School's three campuses: Boston (MA), Arlington (VA), and Oakland (CA), ensuring seamless operations, exceptional stakeholder experiences, and mission-aligned programming.
Serves as key professional support to the Director of the School and main point of contact for external partners, international collaborators, advisory bodies, and institutional stakeholders.
Combines high-level executive support with hands-on operational management, serving as the principal point of contact for students, faculty, staff, and external partners.
Leads the coordination of complex event programming throughout the year - including student experience initiatives and seminar series.
Oversees the day-to-day administrative functions that sustain the School's academic programs and research initiatives.
Manages calendar management, fiscal coordination, human resources support, and cross-campus communications.
Embodies and advances the School's core values of collaboration, communication, inclusion, and community.
Supports the Policy School's mission of advancing policy research, education, and social impact across diverse urban contexts.