Program Support Specialist

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT); Blacksburg, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech's Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education seeks a Program Support Specialist to provide administrative, fiscal, and programmatic support for faculty-led research, Extension, outreach, and grant-funded initiatives.

The role coordinates sponsored projects, budgets, travel, and reporting, working with faculty, department leadership, CALS Business Services, and campus offices to ensure compliant, efficient program delivery.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience providing administrative, fiscal, programmatic, or project support in a professional office environment.
• Experience coordinating events, meetings, conferences, or educational programs.
• Experience supporting budget monitoring, maintaining financial records, processing purchasing activities, or completing fiscal transactions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, Adobe Acrobat
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative, fiscal, and programmatic support for faculty-led research, Extension, outreach, and grant-funded initiatives.
• Coordinate events, conferences, leadership programs, and educational activities.
• Assist with reporting and compliance activities and manage purchasing and financial processes.
• Serve as a central coordination point for sponsored projects and center operations.

Skills

Administrative support

Event coordination

Budget monitoring

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Organization

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, education, communications, agricultural sciences, community development, or related field

Tools

Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Creative Suite

Canva

Ensemble or similar communication app

Job description

Job Description

The Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education (ALCE) seeks a highly organized, collaborative, and detail-oriented Program Support Specialist to provide administrative, fiscal, and programmatic support for faculty‑led research, Extension, outreach, and grant‑funded initiatives. The position serves as a central coordination point for sponsored projects, conferences, leadership programs, community engagement activities, and center operations within the department.

This role supports the execution of externally funded grants and contracts, manages financial and purchasing processes, coordinates events and educational programs, assists with reporting and compliance activities, and provides operational support to faculty, staff, students, external partners, and stakeholders.

The Program Support Specialist will work closely with faculty principal investigators, the Department Head, departmental administrative staff, CALS Business Services, and Virginia Tech offices to ensure efficient delivery of programs and responsible stewardship of sponsored project resources.

The position supports a diverse portfolio of department initiatives, including research and Extension programs associated with the Center for Cooperative Problem Solving, Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation, VALOR, Virginia Agricultural Education Centers of Innovation, leadership development programs, community engagement initiatives, and other externally funded projects.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience providing administrative, fiscal, programmatic, or project support in a professional office environment.
• Experience coordinating events, meetings, conferences, or educational programs.
• Experience supporting budget monitoring, maintaining financial records, processing purchasing activities, or completing fiscal transactions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, Adobe Acrobat
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting sponsored research, grants, contracts, or Extension programs.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Ensemble or similar communication applications.
• Experience with Virginia Tech financial, procurement, travel, or sponsored project systems.
• Experience in higher education, Virginia Cooperative Extension, non‑profit, or community-based organizations.
• Experience with event management and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Experience preparing financial reports and budget tracking documents.
• Familiarity with grant proposal development and award management processes.
• Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, education, communications, agricultural sciences, community development, or a related field.

Pay Band

3

Overtime Status

Non‑Exempt: Eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

50,000 - 53,000

Hours per week

40

Review Date

09/04/2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto,Ut Prosim(That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands‑on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem‑solvers. A comprehensive land‑grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive communitydedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Dr. Kim Niewolny at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.