Senior Professional Development Program Officer, School of Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources

The Senior Professional Development Program Officer serves as the operational and strategic lead for the Geotechnical Center of Excellence (GCE) Professional Development Program, overseeing the planning, coordination, and execution of industry-focused courses and events. Working closely with GCE technical staff, industry experts, and university partners, the position ensures that projects move from concept to completion on schedule, within budget, and with a high standard of participant experience.

In addition, this role is responsible for member relations and event planning to support industry engagement and strengthen the Center's partnerships.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Professional Development Program Management

• Leads the planning, development, coordination, and delivery of multiple annual professional development courses, seminars, and workshops.
• Develops and maintains master schedules, workplans, and tracking systems to ensure projects remain on-time and within budget.
• Collaborates with industry experts to ensure high-quality academic content and course execution.
• Designs and refines operational workflows, procedures, and tracking tools to improve efficiency and reporting.
• Collects and analyzes program data; evaluates program effectiveness; prepares reports, metrics, and recommendations for leadership, faculty, and Board members.
• Utilizes University systems and tools to support registration, communication, financial tracking, and program administration.

Stakeholder, Industry, and University Partners Coordination

• Serves as primary liaison between University partners, industry technical leads, course advisors, and external collaborators.
• Facilitates planning meetings; maintains communication channels; tracks deliverables, timelines, and milestones.
• Provides input on program development, curriculum design, and strategic program direction.
• Represents the Professional Development Program in internal and external discussions regarding policies, standards, and processes.

Member Relations & Event Planning

• Builds and maintains relationships with GCE members, sponsors, and industry collaborators.
• Coordinates member-facing events, meetings, mixers, and special engagements that promote GCE initiatives.
• Assists with planning and coordinating GCE participation in industry conferences and sponsor-related activities.
• Serves as a primary contact for member communication, inquiries, and engagement activities.
• Ensures communication strategies align with Center outreach goals and program priorities.

Strategic Planning & Program Innovation

• Identifies opportunities for program growth, new course offerings, and funding opportunities.
• Contributes to the development of proposals, program enhancements, and long-term strategic initiatives.
• Recommends improvements to university partners and administrators based on advanced data analysis, industry trends, and participant feedback.

Supervision, Leadership, and Program Management

• Supervises student workers and an administrative assistant supporting professional development and membership programs.
• Assigns tasks, provides coaching and mentorship, and ensures adherence to University and Center standards.
• Recommends improvements to management related to program processes, operations, and resource allocation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge of project management principles and best practices.
• Ability to develop new approaches, methods, and techniques to address complex programmatic challenges.
• Strong communication skills to influence leadership, industry partners, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data for program improvement.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strategic and proactive problem solver who anticipates challenges.
• Collaborative team leader who models professionalism and mentorship.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and meet strategic objectives.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

• Experience working in higher education and/or in professional development program management.
  
• Expertise in event logistics, budget oversight, and coordination with vendors or external partners.
  
• Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Monday.com, Notion, Mailchimp).
  
• Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication experience to both academic and industry audiences.
  
• Experience supervising staff and leading collaborative teams.