QMSS Program Officer Associate

Program Officer Associate

The Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences (QMSS) program is seeking a dynamic, organized, and collaborative Program Officer Associate to lead daily operations, student advising, and strategic initiatives for our growing program. As the primary full-time staff lead, you will serve as a core member of the QMSS Leadership Team alongside the Chief Administrator and Program Director.

In this multifaceted role, you will oversee academic advising for 150+ undergraduate minors, manage program budgets and faculty/GSI hiring processes, lead student staff, build community and corporate partnerships, and deliver hands-on skills workshops. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of a highly interdisciplinary program, support student success in data-driven fields, and engage in creative instructional and professional development activities.

Key Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To, The Following:

Strategic Planning and Overall Operations (35%)

• Manage day-to-day administrative operations for the QMSS undergraduate unit to support the student cohort.
• Analyze enrollment trends and program metrics to inform long-range operational planning and maintain organizational continuity across rotating faculty Director transitions.
• Represent QMSS across campus, collaborating with advising teams, academic departments, and institutional leadership.
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise 10 to 18 temporary student staff per semester (front office, peer mentors, content creators).

Curricular Leadership, Workshop Delivery & Student Advising (35%)

• Design and facilitate non-credit technical skills workshops (Excel, R/Python, Data Visualization) and professional development series for undergraduate students.
• Serve as the primary staff academic advisor for 150+ declared QMSS minors, guiding students on course selection, degree progress, transfer credits, and graduation releases.
• Evaluate quantitative elective requests using program rubrics, maintain curriculum records, and draft formal updates for the LSA Curriculum Committee.
• Oversee GSI onboarding, deliver teaching orientations, and coordinate TA allocations.
• Maintain instructional readiness to cover credit-bearing courses or independent studies on an emergency basis as unexpected programmatic needs arise.

Financial and Administrative Responsibility (15%)

• Assist in budget tracking, payroll monitoring, financial reporting, and co-curricular event funding in partnership with the Chief Administrator.
• Process routine unit purchasing, travel reimbursements, and guest honoraria.

Policy Development and Program Evaluation (10%)

• Review student petitions, grade grievances, and transfer credit requests, providing expert administrative guidance and recommendations to program leadership.
• Track student outcomes and prepare analytical reports and summary papers for LSA committees and unit directors.

External Relations and Outreach (5%)

• Identify, scope, and establish corporate and community partnerships for the QMSS 451 capstone course, coordinating NDAs and legal agreements.
• Support unit outreach, alumni engagement, and annual development campaigns (e.g., Giving BlueDay).

The Program Officer Associate will report directly to the Chief Administrator.

Required Qualifications*

Advanced Degree Required: Masters degree or Ph.D. in a Social Science discipline, Data Analytics, Quantitative Methodology, Higher Education, or a closely related academic field. Experience: 3+ years of progressive administrative experience in an academic, non-profit, or educational setting, including program management or student advising.Student-Centric Focus: Demonstrated experience in academic advising, student mentorship, or student service delivery.Data & Technical Literacy: Proficiency with data management, basic statistical concepts, and data tools.Communication & Collaboration: Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong relationships across diverse faculty, student, campus, and industry partner groups.Organizational Skills: Exceptional project management abilities with proven success in handling multiple competing priorities independently.

Desired Qualifications*

Institutional System Experience: Direct experience working with university administrative platforms and systems (e.g., Wolverine Access, AEM website management, Canvas, eRecruit, or similar student information and HR systems).Event & Logistics Management: Proven track record of planning, budgeting, executing, and evaluating academic or student-focused events, guest speaker engagements, and program orientation series.Financial Administration: Experience with unit-level budget tracking, purchasing procedures, travel reimbursements, credit card reconciliation, and working with central finance/business offices.

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

The salary range for this position is $68,000 to $85,000. Please note a higher salary may be offered based on the selected candidates experience and equity.

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The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.