Program Coordinator, STEM Learning Institute

Summary 
SSP International, Inc. (SSPI) is a non-profit organization that is synonymous with excellence in science education. At SSPI, we are guided by a mission to offer students transformational opportunities to learn, do, and belong in science. Since 1959, SSPI’s flagship program, the Summer Science Program, has offered immersive summer research experiences that ignite curiosity and inspire a lifelong passion for discovery. Guided by our mission, SSPI is focused on embracing collaboration, building a lifelong community, and fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where participants, alumni, staff, and stakeholders feel valued, supported, and empowered.  With a global network of over 4,300 alumni, we continue to pave the way for the next generation of leaders.  
More information on our mission, vision, values, and programs can be found at www.ssp.org.  

About the STEM Learning Institute 
In January 2026, SSPI launched the STEM Learning Institute. The STEM Learning Institute pairs research-based instructional materials developed in partnership with BSCS Science Learning, an industry leader in inquiry-based instruction for over 65 years, with ongoing professional learning. This model supports educators in refining their instructional practice over time and fosters a strong, collaborative community. Currently, the STEM Learning Institute is implementing a year-long high school introductory chemistry course and professional learning program designed to support teachers and students through relevant, inquiry-driven, and engaging classroom experiences.  

Why You’ll Love This Role 
We're partnering with leading science educators, school districts, and curriculum experts to create high-quality instructional materials and professional learning that empower teachers and inspire students. As one of the Institute's early team members, you'll have the opportunity to help build a growing national initiative from the ground up. As an essential member of a collaborative team, you’ll have a visible impact every day by helping create the systems, relationships, and experiences that allow educators to focus on what matters most: helping students discover the excitement of science. 

If you’re energized by organizing complex projects, solving problems, supporting talented colleagues, and building something meaningful, you’ll find this work both challenging and deeply rewarding. 

Position Summary 
The Program Coordinator provides operational and administrative support for the STEM Learning Institute. Working closely with the Director, this role ensures that the day-to-day activities of the Institute run efficiently by coordinating projects, supporting educator professional learning, maintaining documentation, managing logistics, and facilitating communication among staff, partners, and participating school district educators and administration. 

The Program Coordinator serves as the central point of coordination for the Institute, helping translate strategic priorities into well-organized action plans and ensuring projects move forward on schedule. This role requires exceptional organizational skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.  
 

Success in this Role Includes: 

• Ensure Effective Program Execution: Coordinate day-to-day program operations so that projects remain organized, major milestones are achieved on schedule, and implementation activities are completed efficiently with minimal oversight. 

• Deliver Exceptional Professional Learning Experiences: Coordinate high-quality virtual and in-person professional learning events by ensuring logistics, participant communications, travel, materials, and technology are organized, resulting in positive experiences for educators and facilitators. 

• Foster Strong Partnerships and Communication: Maintain timely, professional, and responsive communication with participating educators, district leaders, consultants, and external partners, ensuring action items are tracked and follow-up occurs consistently. 

• Maintain Organized Systems and Documentation: Develop and maintain accurate, organized, and accessible project documentation, resources, meeting records, and shared files that support efficient collaboration, informed decision-making, and organizational continuity. 

• Provide Reliable Operational and Financial Support: Support efficient program operations by accurately tracking budgets and expenditures, coordinating stipends and reimbursements, processing purchasing requests, and maintaining complete administrative records. 

• Support Research and Evaluation: Coordinate logistics for research and evaluation activities, including surveys, classroom observations, educator communications, and reporting, ensuring data collection is well-organized, timely, and minimally disruptive to participating educators.  

• Drive Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve processes, increase efficiency, and strengthen collaboration by recommending and implementing practical solutions that enhance the effectiveness of the STEM Learning Institute. 

Essential Responsibilities 

Program Coordination 

• Coordinate day-to-day operations across curriculum development, professional learning, coaching, implementation, and field testing.  

• Maintain project timelines, implementation schedules, and task management systems.  

• Track milestones and proactively follow up on outstanding deliverables.  

• Identify potential scheduling conflicts or implementation risks and communicate them promptly.  

• Support the Director in implementing strategic initiatives.  

Project Management 

• Schedule and coordinate project meetings and agendas. 

• Record meeting notes; track decisions and action items.  

• Monitor deadlines and remind team members of upcoming deliverables.  

• Organize shared files and maintain document version control.  

Professional Learning Coordination 

• Coordinate logistics for educator learning experiences including, but not limited to: registration, participant communications, travel, hotel reservations, catering, ground transportation, meeting space, instructional materials printing, shipping, technology, attendance tracking, and evaluations.  

• Support facilitators before, during, and after events. 

District Partnerships 

• Serve as an operational contact for participating districts by scheduling meetings, coordinating communications, tracking district needs, maintaining implementation calendars, supporting teacher onboarding, coordinating coaching schedules, and responding to routine questions.  

Curriculum Support 

• Coordinate curriculum development activities by scheduling review meetings, organizing reviewer feedback, maintaining version control, tracking revisions, preparing curriculum documents, and organizing digital resources.  

Research & Evaluation 

• Coordinate implementation activities related to evaluation, including survey administration, participant communication, consent documentation, scheduling observations, classroom implementation calendars, and data collection logistics.  

• Collaborate closely with the research and evaluation team to reduce the burden on participating educators while maintaining high-quality implementation. 

Budget & Administrative Support 

• Assist with budget tracking, expense reconciliation, consultant payments, teacher stipends, reimbursements, purchasing, contracts, and invoice tracking.  

• Maintain accurate program records. 

Communications 

• Support internal and external communications through meeting coordination, website content, district updates, presentation preparation, board reports, document formatting, and proofreading.  

Systems & Organization 

• Maintain organized systems for project documentation, implementation resources, curriculum files, contracts, district contacts, meeting notes, professional learning materials, and evaluation documentation.  

• Maintain organized documentation using Asana, SharePoint/Google Drive, and other collaboration tools.  

• Organize and file curriculum review documents, meeting notes, implementation guides, and shared resources.  

• Recommend improvements to increase efficiency and consistency across the Institute. 

Education and Experience 

Required: 

• 2-year degree in any field 

• Two years of experience in program, project, or office administration or an equivalent combination of education and experience 

Preferred: 

• Bachelor’s degree in education, business administration, project management, communications, nonprofit management, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).  

• Experience working with K-12 education programs (formal or informal)  

• Experience supporting educator professional learning.  

• Experience coordinating travel, meetings, or conferences.  

• Experience preparing reports, presentations, and executive materials.  

Qualifications 

• Familiarity with STEM education.  

• Experience with project management software and collaboration tools (e.g., Asana or similar platforms)  

• Experience with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.  

• Experience using Zoom, Teams, Canva, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, or similar platforms.  

• Self-motivated with a demonstrated ability to work independently in a fully remote environment, effectively managing time, prioritizing tasks, and meeting deadlines while staying responsive and communicative. 

• Demonstrates commitment to SSPI’s Mission and Values in their daily work and interactions.  

Working Conditions 

The working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Constantly operates a computer. 

• The ability to observe details at a close range and the ability to adjust focus. 

• The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.  

• On-site program assistance requires the ability to lift and move materials and climb stairs. 

• Travel to twice-yearly in-person staff meetings and other program-related travel. 

• Travel may involve extended time away from home in airports, hotels, and prospective/existing partnering districts and conferences. 

• The position may require the flexibility to work outside standard business hours during key program periods such as the Summer Institute or Unit launches. 

Clearance Requirements 

• Authorization to work in the United States 

• Background clearance, including possibly Level 2 fingerprinting