Job Description SummaryThe Program assistant will support and report to the Director of the Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability. The Program Assistant will assist the Director with the development of PALS policies, procedures, and standardized forms for faculty and students, and other paperwork related to PALS courses, including faculty supply requests. The program assistant will schedule scoping meetings with PALS staff, faculty and PALS sponsors to identify project matches, and help to manage relationships between faculty, students, and sponsors throughout the school year. This will include ensuring that all PALS paperwork is completed and that all required meetings between faculty, students, and sponsors occur. They will also assist with planning the PALS Showcase and support the Director in developing new partnerships across the region.
The responsibilities of this position include:
- Assist the Director with the development of PALS policies, procedures, and standardized forms for faculty and students, and other paperwork related to PALS courses, including faculty supply requests.
-Schedule scoping meetings with PALS staff, faculty and PALS sponsors to identify project matches, and help to manage relationships between faculty, students, and sponsors throughout the school year. This includes ensuring that all PALS paperwork is completed and that all required meetings between faculty, students, and sponsors occur.
-Assist with planning the PALS Showcase and support the Director in developing new partnerships across the region.
Physical Demands:
Sedentary work performed in a normal office environment; exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Ability to attend meetings . Spending long hours in front of a computer screen.
Licenses/ Certifications: N/A
Minimum Qualifications:
-Bachelor's degree in policy, planning, natural sciences, or related fields.
-Excellent written and verbal communication skills
-Ability to periodically attend classes as well as on campus and off campus meetings during the day.
Preferences:
-Master’s degree in policy, planning, natural sciences, or related fields.
-Outreach and community engagement experience.
-Knowledge and work experience in the District-Maryland-Virginia metropolitan region.
-Experience with Canva, PowerPoint, Excel, and Adobe creative suite.
-Experience with social media engagement.
-Candidates should be able to work in a diverse, high-paced environment and have strong administrative skills, writing and editing skills, proficient oral and interpersonal communications skills, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
-1-3 years of work experience in a nonprofit, academic, or policy setting.
-Willingness to support administrative, logistical, outreach, communications, and research tasks on a small team.
UMD will not sponsor the successful candidate for work authorization in the United States now or in the future.
Additional Job DetailsThis position is funded for approximately 1 year.
Required Application Materials:
1. Cover Letter
2. Resume
3. List of 3 references
Best Consideration Date: 8/24/2026
Posting Close Date: 8/24/2026
Open Until Filled: No.
Financial Disclosure RequiredNo
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DepartmentARCH-Center for Smart Growth Research & Education
Worker Sub-TypeFaculty Regular
Salary Range$49,072.90 - $138,298.38
For more information on Regular Faculty benefits, select this .