PhD Program Coordinator

Partners In Health; Sewanee (TN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal opportunity employer

Commitment to safeguarding values

Job summary

A leading global health education institution is seeking a PhD Program Coordinator to manage the PhD in Global Health Equity. Responsibilities include coordinating program activities, guiding student research, and administrative reporting. The ideal candidate will have PhD training with experience in global health research and program coordination. Proficiency in English and willingness to be based in Rwanda are required. Join a team dedicated to health equity and global leadership in health care.

Qualifications

• Experience focused on global health and health disparities.
• Experience in coordinating academic programs, ideally PhD programs.
• Skills in managing multiple priorities efficiently.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day coordination of the PhD program.
• Support students in identifying research opportunities.
• Maintain program records and prepare updates for stakeholders.
• Strategic Support: contribute to continuous improvement of research training and practicum modules.

Skills

Research methods experience

Academic program coordination

Excellent organizational skills

Communication skills

Mentoring graduate-level students

Familiarity with doctoral training

Language proficiency in English

Education

PhD training

Job description

Overview

Job Title: PhD Program Coordinator
Reports to: Director, Institute of Global Health
Program: PhD in Global Health Equity, with cross-support to the MGHD program
Location: University of Global Health Equity, Rwanda

Position Overview: The University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented PhD Program Coordinator to support the development, coordination, and delivery of UGHE’s PhD in Global Health Equity. This role emphasizes guiding research activities, supporting student practicum and dissertation work, and ensuring smooth coordination of academic requirements. The Coordinator will work closely with faculty, students, and external partners to facilitate high-quality training in research methods, ensure effective practicum placements, and contribute to program evaluation and improvement. A central part of the role will also be supporting and coordinating the MGHD practicum program, teaching across several MGHD programs and other academic programs at UGHE as requested, aligning master’s and doctoral training to strengthen UGHE’s academic mission.

Responsibilities

Program Coordination (40%)

• Manage the day-to-day coordination of the PhD program, including academic calendars, course scheduling, and communications.
• Support curriculum development and integration of research and practicum components.
• Coordinate the MGHD practicum program, including placement processes, faculty engagement, and evaluation.
• Liaise between faculty, students, and administrative offices to ensure efficient program operations.
• PhD committee membership; chair as applicable.
• Communication with accreditation bodies; responsibility for working with the registrar and EDWC as applicable.
• Develop PhD policies and guidelines.
• Monitor student progress and provide periodic feedback and progressive assessment as appropriate.

Student Research & Practicum Guidance (40%)

• Support PhD and MGHD students in identifying practicum and research opportunities with local, national, and international partners.
• Provide guidance on research design, ethics applications, and progress monitoring.
• Assist with organizing research seminars, workshops, and proposal defenses.
• Track student progress in research milestones and ensure compliance with institutional requirements.
• Teach at research modules MBBS, MGHD, and others as appropriate.

Administrative & Reporting (15%)

• Maintain program records, including practicum placement data, research outputs, and student progress reports.
• Prepare program updates and reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Support accreditation and quality assurance processes.

Strategic Support (5%)

• Contribute to continuous improvement of research training and practicum modules.
• Participate in academic and administrative committees as assigned.
• Provide input into UGHE’s broader strategy for global health education and research.
• Contribute to UGHE’s visions and missions as requested by leadership.

Qualifications

• PhD training that includes significant and diverse research methods experience, especially focused on global health, equity/health disparities, applied biostatistical principles and study design, epidemiology approaches, qualitative and mixed-methods research, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience in academic program coordination, especially in PhD programs, preferably in higher education or research settings.
• Strong background in research methods and practicum coordination.
• Experience mentoring or supporting graduate-level students in research and professional development.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Familiarity with academic requirements of doctoral-level training.
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken); Kinyarwanda or French is an asset.
• Willingness to be based in Rwanda, with travel between Kigali and Butaro campuses.

How to Apply

Applicants should provide: (1) curriculum vitae, (2) Degree, (3) A cover letter describing your interest in UGHE and relevant experience. Please upload these under the ‘Additional Files’ tab on the application page.

UGHE is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Organizational Profile

UGHE is a new kind of university focused on training the next generation of global leaders in health care delivery. The university launched in Rwanda in September 2015. Through an academic experience rooted in the values of equity, students are empowered to ease suffering at the bedside and drive transformational, systemic changes to the health system.

UGHE is an initiative of Partners In Health (PIH), an internationally recognized non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care. In over nearly three decades of operating alongside public sectors in countries around the world, PIH has developed a model to deliver high quality healthcare to some of the world’s most marginalized communities. In Rwanda, Inshuti Mu Buzima—PIH’s sister organization—and our government partners have driven innovation for a decade.

Members of the UGHE community are tenacious and resolute in our drive to attain social justice, make common cause with those in need, listen to and learn from others, and operate with honesty and humility as we uphold academic integrity and intellectual curiosity. The University of Global Health Equity seeks individuals committed to these values to join the team.

Commitment to Safeguarding and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Sexual Harassment: UGHE is committed to ensuring that those who benefit from our work—including community members—as well as our students, contractors, staff, and visitors to our campus are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment and any form of systemic abuse, whilst reducing risk and vulnerabilities. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with UGHE’s policy. UGHE will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of fraud, harassment, or sexual harassment and any form of systemic abuse or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By applying, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.