Senior Program Coordinator

Job Title: Senior Program Coordinator **Position located on site in Durham, NC** Job Description This six-month temporary contract role provides continuity across key program areas by maintaining day-to-day operations and advancing strategic initiatives. The Senior Program Coordinator plans and oversees the Student Associate Program, manages operational cadence and project delivery, coordinates and executes investor events across the United States, leads marketing and communications efforts, supports fundraising initiatives, drives growth and engagement across core stakeholder groups, and provides reporting and operational support for portfolio companies. Responsibilities

- Lead core operations by setting agendas and facilitating operations and pipeline meetings, tracking pipeline activities and action items, and maintaining deal flow across programs.
- Support budgeting for the current and upcoming fiscal years, ensuring resources align with strategic priorities and program needs.
- Create, monitor, and evaluate program effectiveness using qualitative and quantitative measurements, and produce timely periodic reports on the Student Associate and portfolio management programs for a team of approximately six full-time staff.
- Oversee the Student Associate Program with more than 40 students by managing day-to-day operations, facilitating weekly meetings focused on deal flow, sourcing, and project updates, assigning associates to deals and projects, and tracking participation and engagement.
- Provide comprehensive onboarding for new and Senior associates by clearly communicating program goals, expectations, processes, and ongoing reminders throughout each cohort.
- Design and deliver an educational curriculum by recruiting, scheduling, and preparing guest speakers for learning sessions that support associate development.
- Coordinate program events by organizing two to three networking happy hours and managing logistics for nearly weekly in-person meetings across various locations, including venue selection and catering arrangements.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for Student Associates, handling questions, scheduling, and availability, and ensuring clear and consistent communication.
- Plan and execute investor events across the United States from end to end, including event design, speaker and host coordination, run-of-show development, guest list management, invitations and RSVP tracking, venue and logistics support, branded materials, and post-event follow-up.
- Oversee and guide temporary support staff on event logistics to ensure smooth execution and high-quality attendee experiences.
- Contribute to the vision for future immersion programs, including a potential Silicon Valley initiative focused on company visits, engaging speakers, and meaningful connections across the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Lead marketing and communications for operations by developing and managing a marketing roadmap and daily communications activities.
- Delegate and manage content development with the Student Associate team to ensure timely, high-quality social media posts, newsletters, promotional materials, press releases, advertisements, and other publications.
- Drive fundraising enablement by developing materials, educating fundraisers, building relationships with high-net-worth donor networks, planning budgets to support funding targets, managing reporting, strengthening alumni and fundraiser relations, and expanding development outreach.
- Build and maintain relationships with investor members and external partners to advance strategic objectives and support program growth.
- Execute goals to grow investor membership and the Executive Advisory Board by supporting outreach, engagement, and relationship management.
- Support investor engagement through proactive outreach, coordination of investment processes, management of deal diligence logistics, and timely operational support.
- Work closely with a diverse set of stakeholders, including students, investor members, university partners, alumni, and portfolio companies, to maintain strong engagement and alignment with program goals.

Essential Skills

- At least 5 years of project management experience leading initiatives from inception through completion.
- Strong organizational and project coordination skills, with demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-step initiatives.
- Experience managing multiple stakeholders and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-changing environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Proficiency with Google Workspace tools for collaboration and communication.
- Experience using Airtable for organizing information, tracking projects, or managing workflows.
- Experience using Mailchimp or similar tools for email marketing and communications.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and professionally with diverse audiences.
- Ability to work independently, proactively identify needs, and take initiative without close supervision.
- Willingness to travel for events as required by program and investor engagement activities.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse and numerous stakeholders at once while maintaining strong attention to detail.
- Comfort working in person and thriving in environments that require direct, face-to-face collaboration.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

- Previous experience supporting a university or higher education environment is preferred.
- Experience leading teams, interns, students, or volunteers is highly valued.
- Adaptable and flexible approach, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and changing priorities.
- Self-motivated mindset, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
- Proactive problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate issues and implement effective solutions.
- Strong leadership presence and the ability to influence and coordinate teams without direct authority.
- Resilient, efficient, and hardworking personality that perseveres with grit in dynamic settings.
- Bachelors degree is not required, making this role accessible to candidates with diverse educational backgrounds.
- Interest in innovation, entrepreneurship, venture investing, and startup ecosystems.
- Enthusiasm for working at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and impact, contributing to transformative companies addressing global challenges.

Work Environment This is a six-month, in-person contract role within a fast-paced, impact-driven environment at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and venture investing. The position involves close collaboration with visionary founders, investors, students, alumni, and industry leaders, offering exposure to startup growth, cutting-edge technologies, and venture capital activities. Work typically centers around office-based operations with frequent in-person meetings, events, and networking activities, and may require travel across the United States for investor events and ecosystem engagement. The environment emphasizes continuous learning, meaningful mentorship, and hands-on experience, encouraging team members to contribute to innovations that create lasting economic, scientific, and societal impact. Professional, event-appropriate attire is expected for meetings, networking functions, and investor events.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Raleigh, NC.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $21.55 - $24.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Raleigh,NC.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 5, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.