Job Details

Program Specialist

Position Number: 6744399
Location: Dallas, TX
Position Type: Sponsored Programs, Grants, and Contracts

Program Specialist

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Program Specialist will oversee all marketing and administration of the Center for Presidential History's new Department of Education three-year grant to conduct a one-week K-12 teacher seminar, each Summer, over three consecutive years, beginning in Summer 2026. The Program Specialist will be responsible for identifying ideal markets, contacting potential participants, and organizing applications for the program. They will also be processing travel payments, making logistical arrangements, assisting participants and scholars, compiling and distributing all seminar materials, managing the budget, and assisting with the required Federal grant reporting paperwork. As the primary point of responsibility, the Program Specialist will manage the project from inception to completion, ensuring all grant objectives and compliance requirements are met.

Essential Functions:

Build digital marketing advertising to reach potential teachers participants via website, social media, and email. This will include building a master seminar application.
Assess teacher participant applications for completeness, accuracy and overall quality. Assist in making final selection of teacher participants for the seminar.
Complete financial paperwork to process teacher participant travel stipends, guest lecturer honorarium and travel expenses, and extra compensation salary payments.
Make travel arrangements for guest lecturers. Work with SMU Conference Services to make housing and meal arrangements for teacher participants. Schedule all meeting rooms and daily catering for seminar. Arrange off-campus field trips for teacher participants, including ticketing and transportation.
Develop a post seminar evaluation form, both written and digital. This will include a "bulletin board" blog for teachers to share their future classroom experiences with the group. We will follow up with these summer groups monthly to provide additional support and resources.
Work with Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigators to complete Federal grant reporting requirements.
Occasional evening/weekend hours required for the seminar program.
This position is a FIXED TERM (3 year) grant funded position.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

A Bachelor's degree is required. A Master's degree is preferred. A Master's degree in History or Education is highly preferred.

A minimum of three (3) years of experience is required. Experience in accounting and budgeting is required. Experience running or coordinating national-level programs, particularly in an academic or nonprofit setting, is highly desirable.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.

Candidate proficiency in digital marketing, including managing program budgets and online outreach is a plus.

Candidate knowledge of popular social media platforms and demonstrated ability to promote events using social media is required.

Candidate familiarity with Microsoft Office software, Creative Adobe, Canva, DocuSign, Sitecore and other software systems used for marketing is essential.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

Sit for long periods of time
Carry/lift 25 lbs.

Deadline to Apply:

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by December 12, 2025

This position is open until filled.

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

Primary Location: USA-TX-Dallas

Job: Office and Administrative Support

Organization: Dedman College

Schedule: Regular

Shift: Staff

Employee Status: Individual Contributor

Job Type: Full-time

Job Level: Day Job

Travel: No

Job Posting: Nov 21, 2025, 9:54:44 PM

To apply, visit https://smu.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=DED00000448&tz=GMT%2B00%3A00&tzname=UTC