GenForward Operations Coordinator

Genforward Operations Coordinator

This position will support the work of Professor Cathy Cohen's Gen Forward and Black Youth Project research projects. The Gen Forward Survey provides the most consistent and robust collection of public opinion data on young adults' attitudes and perceptions in the country. The Black Youth Project is a platform and research "unit" meant to highlight the ideas, actions, and culture of young adults with a focus on Black youth and young adults.

The job performs routine assignments related to academic, research, clinical or administrative programs. The Gen Forward Operations Coordinator supports the administrative, financial, logistical, development, and programmatic operations of the Gen Forward project. This role serves as a central coordination point for internal team operations, budget tracking, invoice management, grant and fundraising support, special projects, and general administrative workflows. The Operations Coordinator works closely with Gen Forward leadership, development staff, university administrative offices, and project partners to ensure that Gen Forward's daily operations are organized, timely, and aligned with project goals.

This position requires strong attention to detail, discretion, communication skills, financial tracking ability, and the capacity to manage multiple overlapping responsibilities.

• Coordinate and manage Gen Forward team meetings by initiating scheduling polls, confirming availability, and managing calendar invitations.
• Maintain and manage clear communication across Gen Forward staff, leadership, and collaborators.
• Support Gen Forward leadership with the coordination and execution of special projects related to Gen Forward operations, programming, and partner engagement.
• Coordinate logistics for complex specialized events.
• Coordinate and assist with preparation for meetings, events, and project-specific initiatives at the discretion of Gen Forward faculty director.
• Provide flexible support for time-sensitive or individualized project needs.
• Coordinate, process, and manage invoices related to Gen Forward expenses.
• Support compliance with institutional procedures, budgetary guidelines, and grant requirements.
• Track and reconcile GEMS and Concur transactions, pending appropriate system access.
• Maintain oversight of subscriptions, purchases, reimbursements, and other project-related financial activities.
• Ensure accurate financial records and assist with resolving discrepancies.
• Strengthen and assist in the development of internal financial documentation and assist with maintaining system accountability.
• Assist Gen Forward development staff with university-oriented fundraising and development-related tasks.
• Compile, edit, and organize grant materials, proposals, reports, and partner deliverables.
• Conduct, organize and maintain background research to support fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and outreach.
• Help expand Gen Forward's outreach network and strengthen relationships with partners, funders, and collaborators.
• Support BLE development and potential digital content work for BYP/BLE, including writing or content preparation.
• Create, maintain, and update detailed project budgets.
• Track expenses against allocated amounts and monitor spending in relation to available account balances.
• Maintain oversight of multiple grant budgets, including Mac Arthur, Open Society, RWJF, and other funding sources.
• Monitor grant compliance, organizational subscriptions, employee salary allocations, and budget impact across accounts.
• Support leadership in understanding current financial standing and projected spending needs.
• Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.
• Interacts with faculty, researchers and staff for committee work or information.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through less than 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to manage administrative, financial, development, and programmatic tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail, especially in budget tracking, invoice management, and grant documentation.
• Ability to work independently while coordinating with faculty, staff, administrators, and external partners.
• Comfort handling sensitive financial, personnel, and grant-related information with discretion.
• Familiarity with nonprofit, research, development, or university administrative environments.