Program Manager

University of Minnesota; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work environment

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

The University of Minnesota, Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS Office) seeks a Program Manager to design, develop, and manage initiatives for graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. This role focuses on postdoctoral programs while collaborating across GPS Office teams and other Medical School offices.

The position is hybrid with two days on campus, and requires effective recruitment, retention and career development support as part of our commitment to flexible work

Qualifications

• BS degree in the biomedical sciences or public health-related fields.
• Minimum of 6 years of relevant work experience in program management or a Master's degree plus at least four years of relevant experience.
• MS or EdD/PhD in higher education, leadership, biomedical sciences or education policy & analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, implement and manage program initiatives and activities for graduate students and postdoctoral trainees.
• Increase recruitment and diversity of applicants to graduate and biomedical research programs.
• Develop and implement tools and processes for performance tracking and analytics.

Skills

Program management

Stakeholder engagement

Workshop facilitation

Education

BS degree in biomedical sciences or public health-related fields

MS or EdD/PhD in higher education, leadership, biomedical sciences or education policy & analysis

Tools

Smartsheet

Qualtrics

Tableau

Job description

The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS Office) is a core unit in the Medical School and serves to oversee and support the training of graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. The GPS Office develops and manages programs aimed at enhancing recruitment, retention, research training, and career development for graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. The Program Manager will be assigned primarily to focus on postdoctoral trainee programs, but will also collaborate with and provide assistance to other GPS Office team members including assisting with graduate student programming.

The position reports to the Associate Director of the GPS Office and works closely with a number of internal stakeholders including the Medical School Office of the Dean, Office of Research, and the Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion. Other internal stakeholders specific to the programs include:
Graduate Student Programs: Directors of Graduate Programs (DGS), Council of Graduate Students (CGS) in the Medical School, and Graduate Program Coordinators (GPC).
Postdoctoral Trainee Programs: UMN Postdoctoral Association, Graduate School Office of Postdoctoral Initiatives, and Medical School Postdoctoral Council.
The Medical School is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a flexible work environment that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Flexible work arrangements may include flexibility in schedule and/or work location. All UMN employees are expected to follow applicable public health and safety procedures. This position is hybrid with an expectation of two days on campus; additional days on campus may be needed depending on programming responsibilities.

Job Duties/Responsibilities:

• The position works to design, develop, implement and manage program initiatives and activities for graduate students, and postdoctoral trainees to:
• Increase the number, quality and diversity of graduate students and postdoctoral trainees applying to and being accepted into graduate and biomedical research programs in the Medical School through the development of and travel to targeted recruitment initiatives and outreach efforts.
• To support and create initiatives and programming elements to enhance advanced research education, research training outcomes and career development.
• Assist the Associate Director of the GPS Office in executing strategic plans for structured academic support activities to enhance the training quality and activities for graduate students and postdoctoral trainees.
• Develop and implement tools and processes for performance tracking, analytics and quantitative/qualitative measurements to evaluate success outcomes and training environments for key programs.
• Assist programs in generating data of key metrics, outcomes and productivity for intramural and extramural funded programs.

Primary Responsibilities:

Primary responsibilities are listed below. Note that incumbent will be primarily assigned to Postdoctoral Studies Programs, with an expectation for collaboration and coverage across the GPS

Office responsibilities:

Postdoctoral Trainee Programs

40%: Design and manage outreach and recruiting initiatives for prospective trainees in biomedical research for the Medical School

• In collaboration with the Program Manager for Graduate Studies, develop program recruitment initiatives and outreach approaches to bolster the recruitment of top-tier prospective trainees to research laboratories across the Medical School, with a chief focus on increasing the number of women and trainees from underrepresented groups. This includes identifying and employing best practices for outreach, developing recruiting content, establishing and building relationships with institutional partners, identification of and travel to recruitment fairs and webinars, among other activities.
• Manage communication plans to drive prospective postdoctoral trainee awareness of and interaction with Medical School Centers, Institutes, and Departments to result in increased application submissions.
• Collaborate with various Medical School Offices and Departments to recruit top-tier postdoctoral trainees for research positions using various online tools, databases and social platforms.
• Maintain an internal postdoctoral trainee application database that Departments, Faculty Members and Administrative Units can utilize to post available positions for mentor identification and postdoctoral trainee placements.

45%: Create and support programming elements and initiatives to enhance retention, research education, and career development training outcomes for current postdoctoral trainees in the

Medical School:

• In collaboration with the Program Manager for Graduate Studies, develop and implement seminars and workshops to enhance career development and postdoctoral training outcomes, which include, but not limited to: CV development and resume building seminars, networking opportunities, and career exploration services.
• Develop and implement seminars and workshops to enhance research education, which include, but not limited to: scientific writing and grantsmanship, grant application submission, and laboratory management.
• Serve as a resource for postdoctoral trainees and assist in matters related to onboarding, orientation, financial assistance (i.e. fellowships, grants), health benefits, and other postdoctoral trainee support resources.
• Implement program activities in conjunction with Medical School Basic Science Departments to foster networking and research education opportunities for current postdoctoral trainees.
• Establish relationships with key administrative units for continual dialogue on how to provide best practices and support for postdoctoral training activities.
• Advise and direct administrative support to assist the Medical School Postdoctoral Council in consultation with the Medical School Administrators and Associate Director of the GPS Office.
• Additionally, serve as a liaison to or a representative for committees and working groups focused on postdoctoral trainee initiatives and enhanced training outcomes.

15%: Effort - Develop and implement performance tracking, analytics and quantitative and qualitative measurements for evaluating student outcomes and research education environments.

• Develop and evaluate information technology methods to provide the following: trainee recruitment and entry outcomes, performance metrics (i.e. fellowships, publications, honors and awards), departure dates, and career progression of former trainees.
• Define and employ information technology for record keeping, data analytics, survey/evaluative assessments and performance tracking of trainees.
• Oversee and implement key analytics and data reporting to support individual Department and Administrative units for extramural research funding efforts.
• Manage the data acquisition and analytics to provide key metrics for T32 grant PIs and document diversity recruiting plans for new or renewing proposals.
• Develop and implement a survey administered to postdoctoral trainees, faculty and staff to gauge current research climate, measurable diversity goals achieved, trainee wellness and other analytical metrics important for enhancing the research education climate. Utilize these surveys to determine barriers to trainee retention by assessing research education culture and climate, as well as identifying and employing best practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Assess visibility of existing Department and Administration Units website (WebSEO software). Analyze traffic to postdoctoral training program websites (Google Analytics). Make recommendations to individual Departments and Administrative Units to bolster trainee engagement and retention.
• Create methods to assess the effectiveness of the complex constellation of activities, diverse research climates, and changing/evolving base to pivot as necessary in modification of best practices to compete for the most talented postdoctoral trainees.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• BS degree in the biomedical sciences or public health-related fields
• Minimum of 6 years of relevant work experience in program management
  OR Master's degree plus at least four years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications

• MS or EdD/PhD degree in higher education, leadership, biomedical sciences or education policy & analysis
• Familiarity with Smartsheet, Qualtrics and Tableau
• Understanding of biomedical graduate training and NIH guidelines
• Experience in a higher education environment involving students and administration
• Experience in leading workshops for graduate students or postdoctoral trainees
• Understanding of leadership principles either through application or training
• Experience collecting survey and outcome data and gaining stakeholder input

About the Department

Committed to innovation and diversity, the Medical School educates physicians, scientists, and health professionals; generates knowledge and treatments; and cares for patients and communities with compassion and respect. We value excellence, inclusiveness, collaboration, and discovery.

The mission of the regional campus located in Duluth is to be a national leader in improving healthcare access and outcomes in rural Minnesota and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. In partnership with CentraCare, the regional campus in St. Cloud offers a wide range of patient experiences throughout students’ education in Greater Minnesota and prepares them to become exceptional clinicians and leaders for rural and immigrant populations.

Founded in 1888, the University of Minnesota Medical School has three campuses. A four-year MD program and the MD/PhD program are located on the Twin Cities campus in addition to MD programs at regional campuses in Duluth and St. Cloud.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $68,000-$72,000 annually ; depending on education/qualifications/experience

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the
time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures
that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while
maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and
equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates
will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.