Junior Project Coordinator

TITLE: Junior Project Coordinator

DEPARTMENT: College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources 

REPORTS TO: Principal Investigator

CLASSIFICATION: Staff-12 months

EFFECTIVE DATE: TBD

STANDARD WORK HOURS: 37.5 hours per week

LOCATION: Martin County, Kentucky, with regular travel throughout Eastern Kentucky

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full-Time

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

JOB SUMMARY: 

The Junior Project Coordinator provides administrative, operational, field, and program coordination for the Center of Excellence for Preparing a 21st Century-Ready-to-Build Workforce for Economic Revitalization and Ecological Recovery of Degraded Landscapes in Eastern Kentucky. The position supports the daily implementation of a multidisciplinary workforce development and landscape restoration initiative and serves as a primary operational link among Kentucky State University, partner universities, community organizations, Cooperative Extension offices, landowners, trainees, instructors, industry representatives, and project field sites.

The position is based in Martin County and requires regular travel throughout Eastern Kentucky. Responsibilities include coordinating field activities and training programs, supporting participant recruitment and retention, coordinating project partners and instructors, maintaining project records, collecting and organizing data, monitoring project activities and deliverables, supporting grant reporting, and assisting with community outreach and engagement.

This is a grant-funded position with an appointment of up to three years, contingent upon satisfactory performance, continued grant funding, and applicable University requirements.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Coordinate the daily administrative, field, and training activities associated with the project.Develop and maintain annual and monthly schedules for workshops, field demonstrations, online instruction, apprenticeships, community events, and other project activities.Coordinate access, logistics, and activities at the Appalachian Restoration Program Learning Center and other project sites in Martin, Pike, and surrounding counties.Support the recruitment, enrollment, communication, engagement, and retention of trainees, including landowners, displaced workers, farmers, students, youth, and community members.Coordinate instructors, technical specialists, partner universities, Extension personnel, community organizations, industry representatives, and other project partners.Assist faculty and technical personnel with field demonstrations, site preparation and assessments, participant-based data collection, and documentation of restoration activities.Support the collection and organization of quality-of-life, business, soil, vegetation, water-quality, biodiversity, land-management, and workforce-development data, including household surveys as applicable.Maintain accurate field records, photographs, location information, monitoring data, participant records, attendance logs, training documentation, consent forms, evaluations, and other project materials.Arrange meeting spaces, transportation, materials, equipment, meals, and other logistical requirements for project activities.Assist the project team in tracking outputs and outcomes, including curricula developed, participants trained, credentials earned, apprenticeships completed, and employment or enterprise outcomes.Collect and organize monitoring and evaluation data in collaboration with faculty, graduate students, project personnel, and the external evaluator.Prepare activity summaries, meeting minutes, progress updates, and supporting documentation for institutional and Appalachian Regional Commission reporting.Monitor project timelines, milestones, deliverables, expenditures, and procurement needs and promptly communicate potential delays or implementation concerns to the appropriate project personnel.Support project communication and outreach through newsletters, flyers, email lists, social media, websites, community partner networks, and other communication methods.Represent the project at community meetings, workforce development events, conferences, partner meetings, and other public or professional activities.Collaborate with the KSU Eastern County Director and participate in regular Cooperative Extension meetings and activities involving Kentucky State University and University of Kentucky Extension personnel in Martin, Pike, and surrounding counties.Promote project activities in collaboration with Extension agents, community partners, landowners, workforce organizations, and other stakeholders.Ensure project activities are conducted in accordance with applicable University requirements related to safety, purchasing, travel, data management, participant protection, and grant administration.Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Knowledge of project coordination, program administration, workforce development, community engagement, Extension programming, or related areas.Knowledge of agriculture, forestry, environmental science, natural-resource management, ecological restoration, community development, or related disciplines.Ability to coordinate schedules, records, events, field activities, training programs, and multiple concurrent project activities.Strong written, verbal, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with faculty, staff, students, community members, landowners, partner organizations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholders.Ability to work independently while coordinating effectively with multidisciplinary and geographically dispersed teams.Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records and documentation.Ability to collect, organize, and maintain program, participant, field, monitoring, and evaluation data.Ability to monitor project timelines, milestones, deliverables, and expenditures and communicate issues that may affect project implementation.Ability to support grant-funded project reporting and documentation requirements.Ability to use Microsoft Office applications, virtual meeting platforms, spreadsheets, electronic recordkeeping systems, and other technology necessary to perform assigned duties.Ability to communicate effectively with participants from varied educational, professional, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.Demonstrated cultural responsiveness and commitment to community-based workforce development and economic revitalization.Ability to work effectively in office, community, training, and outdoor field environments.Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.Ability to travel regularly throughout Eastern Kentucky and work occasional evenings and weekends as required for training programs, community events, and other project activities.Ability to perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

May provide coordination, direction, or oversight to student workers, trainees, volunteers, or other project personnel as assigned.

OTHER DUTIES: 

Other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:
 

Bachelor’s degree in project management, agriculture, forestry, environmental science, natural-resource management, community development, workforce development, Extension education, public administration, or a related field.At least two years of experience coordinating projects, educational programs, community initiatives, workforce training, Extension activities, field operations, or a related area.Demonstrated ability to coordinate schedules, records, events, programs, and multiple concurrent activities.Valid driver’s license and ability to travel regularly throughout Eastern Kentucky.

Preferred:
 

Master’s degree in a relevant field.Experience working in Appalachia or with rural, economically distressed, or coal-impacted communities.Experience or knowledge related to workforce development, ecological restoration, reclaimed mine lands, agriculture, forestry, natural-resource management, or related areas.Experience coordinating grant-funded projects involving universities, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, community organizations, or other external partners.Experience with participant recruitment, program evaluation, data collection, monitoring, and grant reporting.Knowledge of Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension or other land-grant university programs.Established professional or community relationships in Martin, Pike, or surrounding Eastern Kentucky counties. 

Licensing and Certifications:

Valid driver’s license required

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The position is primarily based in Martin County, Kentucky, and requires regular travel to training, demonstration, and project sites throughout Eastern Kentucky, as well as occasional travel to Kentucky State University and partner institutions. Field activities may involve uneven terrain, variable weather conditions, reclaimed mine sites, farms, forested areas, and other outdoor environments. The position may require occasional evening and weekend work in support of training programs, community events, and other project activities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided in accordance with applicable law.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. At this time, Kentucky State University is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa

Internal candidates are encouraged to apply.

 

 

 

 

KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The functions, qualifications, knowledge/skills, and physical requirements listed in this job description represent the essential duties of the job, which the incumbent must be able to perform either with or without reasonable accommodation. The Job Functions listed do not necessarily include all activities that the individual may perform.