Program Operations Specialist

University of Washington Medical Center•Seattle, WA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Consulting & Business Development Center with The Michael G. Foster School of Business at the University of Washington has an outstanding opportunity for a Program Operations Specialist to join their team. The Michael G. Foster School is one of the nation’s top-ranked public business schools. Foster serves more than 2,500 students across a broad portfolio of programs, including multiple top 20 MBA programs, seven specialty master’s degrees, an undergraduate business program, two undergraduate minors and a PhD program. Located on the Seattle campus, Foster benefits from strong ties to the global business community. The school is supported by more than 55,000 engaged alumni and a collaborative community of faculty and staff dedicated to advancing business education, research, and student success. About this Opportunity The position will lead program innovation to ensure that (a) experiential learning for Foster School and UW students continues to accelerate skills and knowledge development, (b) programs that serve businesses in underserved communities continue to evolve by incorporating new cutting-edge techniques and business strategies, and (c) strengthen and maintain partnership key stakeholders to ensure program sustainability. This position works closely with the Director of National Programs to plan, execute and manage student consulting projects, faculty-led professional development education, and marketing/communications. The Consulting and Business Development Center is the nation's largest university-based and business-school based center focused on advancing insights about and fostering progress for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. This position is responsible for leading and innovating programs that will expand that national leadership role. ABOUT THE CENTER CBDC delivers high-impact programs that engage undergraduate and MBA students in consulting projects with small businesses, nonprofits, and organizations in underserved communities across Washington State. Through faculty-led programming and hands-on learning, the Center accelerates student career readiness while strengthening the management capacity of diverse businesses. CBDC is recognized as a national model for experiential business education.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree plus a minimum of 2 years’ experience in business, communications, education, economics, ethnic studies, or related fields.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
Ability to adapt to changing priorities and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Demonstrated experience working in multicultural communities and with individuals from under-represented minority backgrounds as defined by the University of Washington's Diversity Blueprint.
At least two years of experience in managing programs and projects
Experience in marketing and promoting programs
Strong verbal and written communications skills
Demonstrated ability to execute and manage a wide range of projects
Demonstrated ability to learn new skills
Proficiency with MS office software.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in working with students and/or small businesses is also desirable.
Experience working in programs or roles where flexibility and responsiveness were key to success.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead projects and programs for the National Team and the center in collaboration with other staff. These will include developing and leading alumni initiatives within Ascend (Ascend is a nation-wide strategy to empower underserved and underrepresented entrepreneurs with change-ready companies poised at critical growth inflection points), supporting the Ascend National Cohort (a program that focuses on supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs) (65%)
Plan, execute and manage day-to-day operations of the projects and programs for the center.
Work with faculty to deliver business seminars and classes.
Evaluate existing programs to make sure they are adding to the competitiveness of businesses in underserved communities.
Identify research opportunities and support faculty interested in conducting academic and professional research related to growing businesses owned by people of color
Manage the production and dissemination of the center's promotional materials
Recruit students, volunteers, and small business participants for student consulting programs that work with businesses owned by people of color (25%)
Recruit and manage students who participate in MBA Ascend Fellows
Support Foster faculty for the successful execution of student consulting programs
Recruit volunteers who support underserved businesses
Expand partnerships with alumni and other key partners to continue to grow the programs
Help Coordinate fundraising activities for the center. (10%)
Assist the director in fund raising related to the Center's national programs
Secure program sponsors for programs
Work alongside the center to create annual reports for donors