Senior Academic Program Services Specialist

The Ohio State University • Columbus, OH

1d • $55,700 - $72,700 • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Geography, within the College of Arts and Sciences, seeks a Senior Academic Program Services Specialist to join our team. The Senior Academic Program Services Specialist serves as the main point of contact for the graduate program, and acts as liaison between the Department of Geography and the Graduate School. This role also serves as the primary customer service contact for the department office. The Senior Academic Program Services Specialist coordinates the graduate admissions process from application through enrollment, managing applications and facilitating admission decisions for incoming cohort. This role plans and coordinates the preparation and submission of fellowship materials, including determining eligibility, recommending final nominees, and soliciting letters of support. This position maintains and updates graduate associate appointments each semester in partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences HR team. The Senior Academic Program Services Specialist utilizes the student information system (SIS) to aid students with all aspects of their education and progression, and counsels graduate students regarding department, college, and university policies and procedures. The Senior Academic Program Services Specialist manages all course scheduling responsibilities for undergraduate and graduate courses in the department, aids in graduate curriculum revision, and serves as department liaison to the Graduate School, Bursar, Registrar, and other university offices. This role maintains comprehensive student files and complies analytical data on graduate program metrics. The Senior Academic Program Services Specialist provides fiscal and administrative support to the department. This position initiates fiscal transactions in Workday and acts as liaison between department and vendors/contractors The Senior Academic Program Services Specialist coordinates department events including graduate recruitment visits, new student orientation, and GeoWeek events. This position maintains and updates department web pages, manages department social media pages, assists with branding and communication, and acts as liaison between the department and ASC Marketing and Communication. This role manages keys and access for department, and coordinates desk assignments for graduate students. The Senior Academic Program Services Specialist assists visitors, faculty, students, and staff as primary customer service contact for the department office, and performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum of 4 years of relevant experience
• Experience in program planning and administration required
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Adobe Suite
• Strong oral and written communication skills

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree
• 4–8 years of relevant experience
• Experience supervising employees
• Experience with Workday and Student Information Systems (SIS)
• Knowledge of Ohio State administrative policies and procedures

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary contact and liaison for the graduate program, supporting students, faculty, and university offices
• Manage admissions, scheduling, and curriculum support for undergraduate and graduate programs
• Advise students and maintain records, including tracking data and program metrics
• Coordinate fellowships, graduate appointments, and HR-related processes
• Provide financial and administrative support, including vendor coordination and transactions
• Plan and support events, recruitment, and orientation activities
• Manage communications, website, and social media content for the department
• Oversee department operations and customer service, including space, access, and front office support

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision coverage, with Ohio State paying a significant portion of the cost.
• Paid time off, including sick and vacation time and 11 holidays.
• State retirement plan or an alternative retirement plan, both with generous employer contributions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree