Part-Time Project Coordinator, CARAT

Penn State University • University Park, IL

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Plant Science in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences seeks an hourly Project Coordinator for CARAT (Creating Advanced Revenue for Agriculture Transformation in Dairy), a USDA-funded project supporting advances in markets for dairy producers. The position is based at University Park, Pennsylvania, and reports directly to the Project Director, Armen R. Kemanian. The role is paid for hours worked, with anticipated hours of no more than 20 per week. The schedule is flexible, with specifics set by the Project Director, and must accommodate occasional travel within Pennsylvania and project meeting and reporting cycles.

The Project Coordinator supports project operations, meeting coordination, partner communications, financial and payment tracking, and USDA reporting. The role maintains accurate and organized records, helps ensure deadlines and deliverables stay on track, and handles project information through Penn State internal systems to protect confidentiality and support documentation requirements.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Agriculture, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in agricultural projects and grants.
• Strong skills in Excel or comparable spreadsheet tools and GIS tools.
• Attention to detail and a habit of checking numbers twice.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage time, and meet deadlines within a 20-hour weekly cap.
• Valid driver's license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with federal grant reporting or USDA programs.
• Familiarity with university financial and grants systems.
• Background in agriculture, dairy, or rural economic development.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate internal project meetings, including agendas, materials, records of decisions and action items, and follow-up until items are closed.
• Keep the Project Director and team aligned on deadlines, deliverables, and open issues.
• Track funds committed and paid to producers throughout the award period.
• Maintain the USDA-provided reporting spreadsheet so entries are current, complete, and consistent with source records.
• Reconcile producer payment records with university financial data and flag discrepancies early.
• Prepare reporting packages for USDA deadlines and support the Project Director in reviewing and submitting them.
• Maintain organized files that are ready for audit.
• Serve as a point of contact for project partners (CDE and PDMP) and third parties working with CARAT.
• Perform other project-related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time