Pennsylvania State University
Education Program Specialist
🇺🇸 Hybrid - University Park, PA
🕑 Full-Time
💰 $46K - $67K
💻 Other
🗓️ December 24th, 2025
Edtech.com's Summary
The Pennsylvania State University is hiring an Education Program Specialist to support the Center for Economic and Community Engagement (CECD) within the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education. The role involves advancing interdisciplinary, community-engaged, and applied research by providing administrative and programmatic support, including event planning, project tracking, website management, and supervising undergraduate research assistants.
Highlights
- Assist with ideation, planning, and coordination of CECD events such as speaker series and research symposia.
- Support interdisciplinary and community-engaged research initiatives and collaborate with university research efforts.
- Manage communication and networks of CECD-affiliated faculty and track research funding opportunities.
- Coordinate logistics and agendas for research meetings; track and report on research and educational projects.
- Oversee CECD website management, content creation, and updates.
- Prepare internal and external reports, including budget reports, and manage peer review processes ensuring accessibility standards.
- Supervise research communications interns and undergraduate research assistant programs, including hiring and professional development.
- Required bachelor's degree; relevant work experience may substitute for education.
- Salary range: $46,400 to $67,300; benefits include medical, dental, vision, retirement plans, paid time off, and a 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible family members.
- Work closely with faculty, students, and community partners to strengthen collaborative applied research and community-university partnerships.
Education Program Specialist Full Description
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
- CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS
The Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education (AESE) and the Center for Economic and Community Engagement (CECD, housed in AESE) are seeking applications for an Education Program Specialist to advance the CECD's interdisciplinary, community-engaged, and applied research portfolio. This position plays a key role in supporting strategic research initiatives, strengthening collaborative partnerships, and enhancing the CECD's engaged and applied research infrastructure and visibility.
The successful candidate will work closely with the CECD director to provide administrative and programmatic support for CECD research initiatives and operations, including meeting and event support, supervision of undergraduate research assistants, assisting with project planning, tracking, and reporting, website management, and budget support (among other tasks.) This position involves relationship-building inside and outside the university and knowledge about/experience with community-university collaborations or community engaged and applied research.
The ideal candidate will have strong organization skills, be detail-oriented, and committed to supporting high-impact, community-engaged research. This role offers the opportunity to work closely with faculty, students, and partners across the University and beyond to advance CECD's engaged and applied research mission. Experience with project management and community-engaged or applied work (in some capacity) is preferred.
Key Responsibilities:
Research and Educational Programming Support:
- Assist in ideation and planning of CECD events (e.g. speaker series, engaged research symposia and convenings, and project meetings).
- Support College priorities and efforts around interdisciplinary, community-engaged, and applied research and liaise with other University engaged research efforts.
- Facilitate communication with and manage network of Center-affiliated faculty.
- Track funding opportunities for interdisciplinary, community-engaged, and applied research grants.
CECD Administrative Support:
- Coordinate logistics and agenda development for research project-related meetings, planning and tracking research and educational projects alongside faculty and staff.
- Oversee CECD online presence through website management, content creation, and updates.
- Assist in preparing reports, including budget reports, for internal and external dissemination.
- Manage internal peer review processes for research and policy briefs and other publications, ensuring accessibility standards.
Student and Intern Supervision:
- Supervise research communications intern, including around website maintenance.
- Manage CECD undergraduate research assistant program (e.g. advertising, hiring, supervision, occasional professional development).
Work Location: This role operates out of University Park, with the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule (minimum 3 days in the office).
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONSBachelor's DegreeNo prior relevant work experience required; previous relevant work experience accepted in lieu of
education.Required Certifications:None
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $46,400.00 - $67,300.00.
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $46,400.00 - $67,300.00.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.
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