Program Manager

State of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Retirement Programs

Paid Tuition

Dependent Scholarships

Annual Leave

Sick Leave

13 Paid Holidays

Paid Parental Leave

Professional Development Opportunities

Job summary

University of South Carolina's Center for Science Education seeks a Program Manager to lead outreach programs and coordinate discipline-based education research (DBER) in undergraduate STEM.

The role oversees the annual Science and Engineering Fair and related events, working with K–12 educators, districts, partners, and donors to expand participation and strengthen STEM engagement in South Carolina.

Qualifications

• Experience with teacher observations and data collection/analysis of educational research.
• Expert in data cleaning and analysis, running virtual meetings, and collaborating with secondary teachers and university instructors (or faculty).
• Experience and passion for running logistics for outreach events (e.g Science and Engineering Fair).

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute outreach events and SEF competitions, including budgeting and scheduling.
• Recruit participants and volunteers; manage records and communications; coordinate event logistics.
• Support design, implementation, and dissemination of DBER research and instructor feedback reports.
• Assist with grant proposals, reports, and publications; coordinate external funding opportunities.

Skills

Observations in education

Data analysis

Outreach logistics

Tools

Google Docs

Google Sheets

Google Slides

Google Forms

Job description

Program Manager

Department: CAS Center for Science Education

Advertised Salary Range:

Part/Full Time: Full Time

About UofSC

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor's degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Inclusive Excellence Statement

Advertised Job Summary

The Center for Science Education (CSE) at the University of South Carolina invites applications for a Program Manager who will play a central role in advancing the Center's outreach, research, and educational missions. This position combines leadership of high-impact STEM outreach programs with coordination of innovative discipline-based education research (DBER) focused on improving undergraduate STEM teaching and learning.

The Program Coordinator will oversee the planning, organization, and implementation of the annual Science and Engineering Fair (SEF), including elementary, middle, and high school competitions and related recognition events. The Coordinator will also support additional science outreach and competition programs, working collaboratively with K–12 educators, school districts, community partners, judges, donors, and university stakeholders to expand participation and strengthen STEM engagement across South Carolina.

Key outreach responsibilities include event planning and execution, budgeting, scheduling, recruitment of participants and volunteers, management of records and communications, coordination of event logistics, and maintenance of institutional knowledge and documentation. The Coordinator will build and sustain relationships with educators, administrators, community partners, and external stakeholders while ensuring compliance with university, state, and federal policies.

In addition to outreach responsibilities, the Program Coordinator will serve as an operational leader for the CSE's research mission. Working closely with the Center's Co-Directors, the Coordinator will support the design, implementation, and dissemination of research examining evidence-based teaching practices in STEM courses. Particular emphasis will be placed on coordinating classroom observations, managing undergraduate observer programs, maintaining research datasets, preparing instructor feedback reports, and supporting faculty reflection communities focused on instructional improvement.

The Coordinator will recruit, train, and supervise undergraduate research assistants; ensure data quality and observer reliability; coordinate observation schedules; support data analysis and visualization; assist with IRB and research documentation; and contribute to grant proposals, reports, presentations, and publications. The position also includes identifying and pursuing external funding opportunities that support both STEM outreach initiatives and education research activities.

Minimum Qualifications (Classified and Unclassified positions)

Preferred Qualifications

• - Experience with teacher observations and data collection/analysis of educational research.
• - Expert in data cleaning and analysis, running virtual meetings, and collaborating with secondary teachers and university instructors (or faculty).
• - Experience and passion for running logistics for outreach events (e.g Science and Engineering Fair).

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• - Proficiency in observing college instructors as well as qualitative and quantitative educational research methods.
• - Proficiency with cloud computing including Google documents, spreadsheets, slides, and forms.
• - Able to work with and around secondary teacher's schedules, communication skills with parents, teachers, and community partners in-person, virtually, and with digital forms of communication.

Job Close Date

09/26/2026

Special Instructions to Applicant

Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.

We are only accepting applications submitted by September 26, 2026.

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

• - Health and Life Insurance
• - Retirement Programs
• - Paid Tuition
• - Dependent Scholarships
• - Annual Leave
• - Sick Leave
• - 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• - Paid Parental Leave
• - Professional Development Opportunities

EEO Statement

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities on the basis of race, sex, gender, gender identity, transgender status, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, protected veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.