Project Coordinator - Theological Studies

Eastern Mennonite University•Harrisonburg, VA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

Eastern Mennonite Seminary seeks a collaborative Project Coordinator to serve as institutional liaison for Seminary Extended, an innovative partnership between Union Presbyterian Seminary, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and Eastern Mennonite University and Seminary. Supported by the Lilly Endowment, this initiative strengthens both local church leadership and theological education sustainability through three integrated strategies: A Seminary for Every Congregation (embedded congregational leadership development), shared faculty and courses, and a joint Doctor of Ministry in Adaptive Leadership. Full-time, exempt position with full benefits. Professional development support available. On-campus position in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Position funded for five years through a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The Project Coordinator functions as local program director, managing substantial programming at Eastern Mennonite Seminary including congregational partnerships, student services, and revenue-generating certificate programs. Reporting to the Associate Dean of the Seminary with coordination responsibilities to the Project Director at Union Presbyterian Seminary, this role serves as a full member of the Seminary Extended leadership team while building sustainable systems for long-term institutional integration.

Requirements

Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Ability to maintain confidential information and materials.
Ability to understand and enforce policies and best practices.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally with a diverse community.
Must possess strong attention to detail, organization skills, problem-solving skills, and desire to grow accounting skills.
Ability to set goals, prioritize and organize job tasks and workload in order to meet deadlines.
Ability to function and communicate progress with teammates in a fast-paced environment.
Able to type efficiently and work comfortably with spreadsheet and word processing software (especially in Google Suite).
Demonstrated ability to think strategically, critically, and creatively.
Ability to build relationships that balance the multiple, varying, and sometimes conflicting interest of diverse stakeholders.
Able to work nights and weekends as needed.
Regular travel required for inter-institutional collaboration and congregational visits; quarterly team meetings rotating among Richmond, Charlotte, Harrisonburg, and Louisville.
Master's degree in theological studies or related field required (MDiv preferred).
Minimum 3 years of leadership experience in theological education, continuing education, or congregational leadership.
Demonstrated experience in program development and management.
Understanding of EMU’s theological tradition, constituencies, and denominational relationships.
Strong project management, communication, and relationship-building skills.

Nice To Haves

Collaborative leadership approach with multi-institutional experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Local Program Management and Congregational Partnerships Function as site director for Seminary Extended programming at Eastern Mennonite Seminary
Manage recruitment and support for 5 local congregations per year in Strategy 1 partnerships, conducting monthly check-ins to track leadership development and program progress
Develop and deliver certificate offerings that generate revenue
Oversee integration of shared faculty into local curriculum and programming
Coordinate with EMU personnel in dean’s office and continuing education on program integration
Student Services and Network Development Coordinate placement and supervision of master's students serving as program assistants in congregational settings
Support Doctoral students engaged in congregational transformation research
Manage student recruitment strategies within denominational and regional networks
Cultivate relationships with denominational leaders, judicatory officials, and congregational networks
Coordinate with DMin Director on program development and student support
Institutional Integration and Sustainability Build institutional support for shared faculty positions and collaborative programming
Create local infrastructure for ongoing collaboration beyond grant period
Contribute to digital platform development and ensure effective integration of online learning resources
Manage local budget components and coordinate with Grant Manager on financial transfers
Inter-Institutional Leadership Serve as full member of Seminary Extended leadership team
Coordinate with other Project Coordinator to ensure consistency and shared learning
Contribute to evaluation activities and program refinement processes
Other duties as assigned.