University Program Specialist

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 66,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is hiring a University Program Specialist as part of the School of Civic Life and Leadership. The role involves program management, operational coordination, and brand stewardship to ensure excellence across initiatives and public presence.

The position reports to the Associate Dean of Finance and Operations and collaborates with faculty directors, communications, and development teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and one year of experience related to the area of assignment.
• All degrees must be from accredited institutions.
• Experience in brand strategy, visual communication, and messaging consistency is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic partner to four faculty program directors and SCiLL leadership.
• Lead planning and execution of public lectures, seminars, and events.
• Coordinate logistics, calendars, and budgets for programs.
• Create collateral for programs involving fellows, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Ensure brand consistency across communications, marketing materials, and donor communications.
• Support development efforts with donor-facing and project content aligned to the School’s brand.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication

Relationship management

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Canva

Adobe Illustrator

Job description

Department:

Civic Life and Leadership-312500

Career Area:

Administrative/Clerical Support

Is this an internal only recruitment?:

No

Posting Open Date :

09/28/2026

Application Deadline:

10/05/2026

Position Type:

Permanent Staff (SHRA)

Position Title:

University Program Specialist - Journey

Salary Grade Equivalent:

NC12 / GN11

Working Title:

University Program Specialist

Position Number:

20078703

Vacancy ID:

P021414

Full-time/Part-time Permanent/Time-Limited:

Full-Time Permanent

Hours per week:

40

Work Schedule:

Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm

Work Location:

CHAPEL HILL, NC

Position Location:

North Carolina, US

Hiring Range:

$65,500 - $75,500

Pay Band Information:

To learn more about the pay band for this branch and role, please see the Career Banding rates spreadsheet.

Notice to Applicants:

This position is not eligible for H-1B sponsorship.

Be a Tar Heel!:

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:

The School of Civic Life and Leadership (SCiLL) is the newest independent schools at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. SCiLL was established to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to engage thoughtfully in public discourse and prepare them to become informed, responsible citizens and leaders. The School serves as a hub for the study and practice of civic life, civic leadership, democracy, and the American political experience while fostering meaningful dialogue, research, and public engagement. SCiLL is home to the Program for Public Discourse and supports a variety of campus-wide and public-facing initiatives that advance its mission of promoting civic education and constructive dialogue.

Position Summary:

As a new school at the University, the School of Civic Life and Leadership operates with a startup mindset, building systems and roles where talent meets efficiency. Reporting to the Associate Dean of Finance and Operations, the Program Manager will collaborate closely with the Associate Dean of Faculty Development & Curriculum, the Director of Communications, the Chief Development Officer, program directors, and other School leaders to ensure program excellence. Through these partnerships, the position will strengthen the School’s visibility, reputation, and engagement with key audiences. The Program Manager will dive into a role that will have increased programmatic needs as the school grows. They will play a central role in advancing the School’s mission by ensuring the successful implementation of its programs while supporting a clear, consistent institutional identity. This integrated role combines program management, operational coordination, and brand stewardship to ensure excellence across the School’s initiatives and public presence. The Program Manager oversees the full lifecycle of SCiLL’s program operations, ensuring seamless execution from concept through post-event evaluation. This includes coordinating logistics, managing timelines and budgets and supporting faculty and program leaders, and partnering closely with the Director of Communications to ensure programs are presented in a manner that reflects the School’s brand and strategic priorities. Key to successful project management is the successful execution of materials that are visually compelling, strategically aligned, and consistent with the School’s standards. Therefore, the ideal candidate for this position will have both the strategic mindset to lead projects and the design expertise to create the collateral for projects and proposals. This position will partner closely with the Chief Development Officer to develop donor-facing proposals, presentations, campaign materials, stewardship communications, and other fundraising collateral, ensuring all materials align with the school’s brand. An ongoing priority will be creating materials in support of the School’s National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) matching challenge, including campaign collateral and donor communications that effectively communicate impact and inspire philanthropic investment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to four faculty program directors, including the directors of the Public Fellows Program, Civ-Comm, Health and Democracy and the Program for Public Discourse as well as SCiLL’s participation in joint university initiatives.
• Lead the planning and execution of public lectures, seminars, and events, ensuring high-quality participant experiences and operational efficiency.
• Serve as a liaison among program fellows, faculty, staff, and internal and external partners.
• Creating and managing all collateral for programs involving with fellows, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders, including drafting correspondence and program materials.
• Maintain program calendars, budgets, records, and documentation to support reporting and evaluation.
• Oversee program operations, including logistics, scheduling, and administrative coordination.
• In coordination with the Director of Communications, ensure brand consistency and standards across all communications, marketing materials, development materials, events, and public-facing touchpoints.
• Create brand
• In coordination with the Chief Development Officer, create donor-facing and project content aligned with the School’s brand to increase philanthropy to the school.
• Help shape messaging that promotes awareness, engagement, and a positive institutional reputation.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree and one year of experience related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Management Preferences:

• Exceptional organizational, communication, and relationship-management skills.
• Experience in brand strategy, visual communication, and ensuring consistency in messaging and presentation
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
• Proficiency with project management systems and design tools such as Canva and Adobe Illustrator.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities:

Not Applicable.