Project Coordinator

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How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should describe your specific interest in the position and highlight the skills and experience that directly relate to the position.

Job Summary

The Demography of Aging, Disability and Care Program at University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research (ISR) seeks a Project Coordinator for the Longitudinal Study of Health and Ageing in Kenya (LOSHAK), an NIH-funded collaboration with Aga Khan University, Nairobi examining health and economic well-being among more than 8,000 older adults.

Reporting to the LOSHAK Project Manager, the coordinator will support project administration, meetings, milestone tracking, reporting, stakeholder records, and communications. The role requires close coordination with an international research team and a highly organized, detail-oriented, and service-focused approach.

Responsibilities*

65% - Project Operations & Coordination

• Maintain project calendars, work plans, trackers, shared files, and other project-management resources; provide logistical and administrative support for project activities.
• Track project milestones, deliverables, decisions, and progress across working groups, following up with team members on tasks, deadlines, and outstanding items.
• Schedule and coordinate meetings for binational LOSHAK working groups, attend meetings, record minutes, and distribute summaries and action items.
• Assist with ongoing project reporting, including the annual RPPR and other sponsor or institutional reports.
• Identify scheduling conflicts, missed deadlines, and other potential issues, and elevate them to the Project Manager as appropriate.

20% - Communications and Stakeholder Support

• Maintain accurate project rosters and contact information for investigators, working-group members, staff, and external partners.
• Assist with drafting and distributing a project-wide communication plan, including routine announcements, updates, and reminders.
• Update website content as needed and maintain organized records of project correspondence, decisions, and communications.

15% - Meeting and Event Planning

• Support planning and execution of virtual and in-person meetings, workshops, and events, including complex scheduling across institutions and time zones.
• Arrange meeting logistics (rooms, videoconferencing, registration, catering, materials, technology) and provide day-of and post-event support.
• Support domestic and international travel arrangements for project meetings and activities, as needed.
• Assist with tracking project-related purchases, expenses, and supporting documentation in collaboration with administrative and financial staff.

Perform other responsibilities or projects as assigned by study leadership.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in public health, social sciences, business administration, communications, research administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least two years of experience in project coordination, research administration, program support, or comparable professional support.
• Strong organizational, time-management, and attention-to-detail skills, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, track action items, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to work effectively and professionally with faculty, researchers, staff, and external partners, both independently and as part of a team.
• Sound judgment, including the ability to handle confidential or sensitive information appropriately; demonstrated initiative, reliability, flexibility, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with the Google and Microsoft Suites, Adobe Acrobat, Zoom, and online collaboration tools; ability to remain productive and adaptable under pressure.

Desired Qualifications*

• Experience supporting academic, public-health, social-science, or health-related research, including federally sponsored (e.g., NIH-funded) projects and familiarity with NIH reporting requirements such as the RPPR.
• Experience coordinating projects involving multiple institutions or international collaborators, including scheduling across time zones.
• Experience with survey platforms such as Qualtrics or Google Forms.
• Experience maintaining website content or content-management systems, and organizing virtual and in-person meetings, workshops, or conferences.
• Familiarity with U-M administrative, purchasing, financial, or research systems.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Work Locations

Work location is expected to be onsite in Arbor, Michigan, with flexibility for hybrid work within our overall Center guidelines.

• International and domestic travel may be required.
• As needed, must be willing to work a flexible schedule to attend early-morning or evening meetings and events involving colleagues in different time zones.

Additional Information

The Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan seeks to create a community of respect and authentic collaboration by recruiting and retaining individuals that represent a variety of voices as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of Michigan, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to ground our research in varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.

Benefits at the University of Michigan

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, U-M offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include generous time off; retirement plan with two-for-one matching contributions after the first year; many choices for comprehensive health insurance; life insurance; long-term disability coverage; and flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses. Learn more about U-M benefits.

Sponsorship

We are currently unable to consider candidates who are not authorized to work in the United States. Additionally, we are not offering visa sponsorship for this position. Applicants must have appropriate work authorization at the time of application.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Institute for Social Research job openings are posted for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.