Project Coordinator

Northeastern University•Boston, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Center for the Future of Higher Education and Work (CHEW) at Northeastern University is seeking a Project Coordinator for an 18-month initiative funded by the Education Design Lab. This project, "Transparent, Portable Credentials for Maritime Workforce Pipelines," aims to make the skills of workers in Connecticut's Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (MPI) visible, portable, and verifiable. The project will convert existing credentials into machine-readable, skills-rich formats using open standards and issue them to workers via a digital wallet. The Project Coordinator will manage day-to-day operations, keep partners and workflows on track, and ensure the project meets its deliverables, data collection commitments, and reporting requirements. This role is crucial for the project's success and requires a detail-oriented, proactive professional who can manage multiple workstreams, communicate effectively with diverse audiences, and maintain momentum without constant direction. The role involves administrative precision and a willingness to learn about the credential infrastructure landscape. Some travel to Connecticut is expected for partner convenings and engagement sessions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
4+ years of project coordination or project management experience, preferably in a higher education, workforce development, nonprofit, or research setting
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple workstreams, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously
Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate complex concepts for non-technical audiences
Experience with data collection, tracking systems, and reporting
High proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and project management tools (e.g., Asana, Monday.com, Notion, or equivalent)
Ability to work independently with strong attention to detail and follow-through
Comfort with ambiguity and ability to problem-solve in a fast-moving project environment

Nice To Haves

Experience in workforce development, adult education, digital credentials, or a related field
Familiarity with grant-funded project administration and compliance requirements
Experience working with adult learners or workers in technical trades
Knowledge of or curiosity about open credential standards (CTDL, Open Badges, Verifiable Credentials)
Experience coordinating human subjects research or participant engagement activities
Bilingual or multilingual candidates encouraged to apply

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day project logistics across all three phases: Discovery & Skills Mapping (Months 1–6), Build & Pilot (Months 7–12), and Scale & Document (Months 13–18).
Maintain and update the project workplan, milestone tracker, and risk log; flag delays or issues to the Project Director proactively.
Schedule, prepare agendas for, and document outcomes of all project meetings including the Steering Committee (quarterly), Working Groups (monthly), and STAR Design Advisory (biweekly/monthly).
Coordinate logistics for STAR engagement sessions including journey mapping, skills mapping, and pilot cohort activities — including compensation processing, accessibility accommodations, and participant communications.
Track partner commitments and follow up on action items across CT OWS, Three Rivers CC, Electric Boat, and DCC.
Set up and maintain data collection systems from Month 1: STAR enrollment tracking, demographic data, credential issuance logs, wallet analytics, and survey administration.
Coordinate pre/post surveys with STAR cohorts (intake, post-issuance, and 6-month follow-up) and compile results for the Project Director and evaluator.
Support preparation of monthly activity summaries, quarterly reports to Education Design Lab, and the final project report.
Maintain organized records of all project documentation, deliverables, and correspondence in the shared project management system.
Serve as a primary point of contact for day-to-day partner communications across CT OWS, Three Rivers CC, Electric Boat, and DCC.
Support CT OWS subaward administration including invoice review and monthly activity summary coordination.
Coordinate scheduling and logistics for employer-STAR joint sessions, employer focus groups, and verification workflow testing.
Liaise with the DCC technical team on wallet configuration, credential issuance setup, and beta testing coordination.
Coordinate recruitment of STAR Design Advisory members (8–10) and pilot cohort participants (200+) in partnership with CT OWS and Three Rivers CC.
Process STAR compensation (gift cards, hourly payments) in compliance with Northeastern University financial policies.
Prepare plain-language participant materials, session guides, and communications — ensuring accessibility and clarity for audiences with varying levels of familiarity with digital credentials.
Track STAR participation across design advisory, journey mapping, skills mapping, and pilot cohort activities.
Support development and formatting of field-facing deliverables including the implementation toolkit, skills taxonomy, CTDL credential templates, and methodology documentation.
Coordinate logistics for conference presentations, webinars, and EDL community of practice participation.
Maintain project website or shared resource hub as applicable.