POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Coordinator, Ph.D. Programs and Training Grants
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 2651
GRADE 44
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Dean, Graduate College
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Ph.D. Programs and Training Grants Coordinator for the Graduate College assists the Dean of the Graduate College in the development, implementation, and ongoing administration of Missouri State University's interdisciplinary Ph.D. program and its approved tracks. The Coordinator serves as the central administrative point of coordination among the Graduate College, participating academic units, faculty governance bodies, Ph.D. faculty, students, and external partners. The position tracks program-development and approval processes, supports consistent implementation of doctoral policies and milestones, coordinates student and faculty administrative processes, and helps build the operational infrastructure necessary for high-quality research doctoral education. The Coordinator also advances external funding for graduate education, with particular emphasis on federal, state, foundation, and industry-supported training grants, education grants, workforce-development initiatives, graduate student support, and research-capacity-building proposals. This position identifies funding opportunities, convenes and supports interdisciplinary proposal teams, coordinates proposal-development activities, and develops training and resources that strengthen the University's competitiveness for externally funded graduate training programs.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Bachelor's degree is required. A Master's degree is preferred. An equivalent combination of years of experience and education may be considered for substitution of educational requirements.
Experience: Demonstrated experience managing academic and graduate education programs, complex projects, and cross-functional initiatives within higher education or related environments. Proven success in grant writing, proposal development, and the administration of externally funded programs, including collaboration with faculty, research, and administrative teams. Experience supporting doctoral education, interdisciplinary programs, graduate student funding, and training initiatives. Strong record of building and maintaining effective relationships with academic departments, funding agencies, nonprofit organizations, industry partners, and community stakeholders. Experience providing leadership, coordination, and supervision of staff, student employees, and project teams. Knowledge of developing university policies, sponsored programs administration, compliance requirements, accreditation standards, and academic administration systems.
Skills: Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and organizational communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse stakeholders and disciplines. Proven project management abilities, including coordinating multiple priorities, managing timelines and deliverables, maintaining accurate records, and meeting deadlines. Ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate complex programmatic, technical, financial, and statistical information. Knowledge of higher education administration, graduate education, sponsored programs, research compliance, accreditation requirements, and funding regulations. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, databases, project management tools, and enterprise university systems. Strong problem-solving, critical-thinking, and decision-making skills, with the ability to work independently and adapt effectively to complex or non-routine situations.
OTHER: Continuation of this position is based on the availability of budgeted funds.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
2. Serves as the central administrative liaison for the Ph.D. program among the Graduate College, academic units, faculty governance bodies, Ph.D. faculty, students, and campus offices; coordinates meetings, prepares materials, documents decisions, and follows up on assigned actions.
3. Monitors program milestones, curriculum and policy approvals, faculty-status processes, admissions and student-progress workflows, assessment requirements, external review cycles, and other administrative responsibilities established for the interdisciplinary Ph.D. program.
4. Supports Ph.D. faculty and students by coordinating orientation, advising resources, annual progress reviews, milestone documentation, dissertation-related administrative processes, professional-development activities, and connections to research, funding, and partner-engagement opportunities.
5. Maintains accurate program records and develops reports, dashboards, calendars, templates, handbooks, and other operational resources needed for effective Ph.D. program administration, institutional review, accreditation, and continuous improvement.
6. Identifies and communicates external funding opportunities, with particular emphasis on training grants, education grants, graduate fellowship and traineeship programs, workforce-development initiatives, graduate student success, and interdisciplinary research-capacity-building programs.
7. Collaborates with faculty and academic leaders to develop competitive training and education grant proposals by helping organize interdisciplinary teams, clarify program goals, establish timelines, coordinate institutional commitments, define partner roles, and align student recruitment, mentoring, curriculum, assessment, and support components with sponsor requirements.
8. Coordinates proposal-development activities for selected external funding opportunities, including planning meetings, task assignments, document collection, internal reviews, partner communications, submission-readiness tracking, and coordination with the University's sponsored-program and compliance offices.
9. Develops, coordinates, or facilitates workshops, templates, resource materials, and consultations related to training-grant preparation, externally funded graduate education, interdisciplinary proposal development, and effective administration of funded training programs.
10. Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with other universities, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, community organizations, economic-development entities, and private employers to support Ph.D. education, experiential learning, workforce preparation, and externally funded training initiatives.
11. Assists with implementation and coordination of funded training and education projects, as assigned, by supporting communication, participant tracking, reporting timelines, program activities, and coordination among principal investigators, the Graduate College, campus offices, and external partners.
12. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, professional contacts, and participation in relevant professional development, training, and conferences as directed by the Dean.
13. Contributes to and supports the overall mission and success of the Graduate College by performing other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Ph.D. Programs and Training Grants Coordinator may supervise full-time professional staff, part-time staff, student employees, and graduate assistants as assigned.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED JULY 2026
