Job Description

Description

The Reed School of Communication and Media at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a PIC Lab Program Coordinator.

About the Opportunity

The Program Coordinator reports directly to the Public Interest Communication Research Lab (PIC Lab) founding director and is responsible for coordinating and overseeing a community-engaged communication program including projects that support youth and community development; economic development; and hazard, risk, and crisis communication capacities in West Virginia and Appalachian communities. This position supports the strategic and operational goals of a new grant-funded lab program by managing projects, supervising several student assistants, liaising with community partners, and ensuring the timely and on-budget execution of events, activities, deliverables, and reporting. The role requires a highly organized, detail-oriented individual with a passion for public interest communication, applied research, and experiential teaching and learning.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

37.5-hour work week
13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
15 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s.
Wellness programs
What You'll Do

Coordinate day-to-day operations of a grant-funded, multi-faceted program within a public interest communication portfolio of community-engaged projects.
Serve as a primary liaison between the lab, university departments, community stakeholders, and external partners.
Manage project timelines, deliverables, and reporting requirements across multiple community-based initiatives.
Supervise and mentor graduate and undergraduate student assistants, including scheduling, training, task delegation, feedback, and performance monitoring.
Assist in the development of research protocols, data collection tools, and dissemination materials such as briefs, presentations, reports, and translational deliverables/assets.
Support grant and funding monitoring and application processes, such as proposal writing, reporting, and budget tracking.
Organize and facilitate meetings, workshops, and public-facing events that foster community engagement and collaborative problem-solving.
Maintain organized records of all communications, contracts, approvals, and reports associated with the program portfolio.
Monitor and evaluate program and project outcomes to ensure alignment with lab goals and evidence-based practices.
Promote the lab's work through strategic communication and outreach via web, social media, public relations, and academic activities.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in communication, public relations, sociology, social sciences, or a related field.
Candidates in accelerated bachelors-masters programs who can demonstrate they have completed all requirements for the bachelor’s degree portion will be considered.
Minimum of 2 years of experience in program coordination, project management, strategic communications, research administration, or related experience.
Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered
All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Excellent written and verbal/oral communication skills tailored to academic, public, and community audiences.
Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated flexibility, intuitiveness, and follow-through.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment, including hybrid work environments (a mix of in-person and virtual).
Cultural competence and a demonstrated commitment to listening to, working with, and seeking to empower a variety of communities.
Knowledge of public interest communication and community-based participatory research / implementation science / translational communication science / evidence-based intervention practices.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, experience using design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Suite), virtual/digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Google Suite, Zoom, Teams), and project management tools (e.g., Monday, Asana, or similar).
Preferred experience with and/or desire and self-motivation to learn tools and platforms for video/audio editing, media and social monitoring/listening, social media management, and quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis.
Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience working with West Virginia communities and/or in community-engaged scholarship or implementation science activities.
Supervisory experience, especially with students or early-career professionals.
Experience in a university or nonprofit setting, particularly within communication or research-focused environments.
Demonstrated success in coordinating multi-partner initiatives or grant-funded projects.