Program Specialist

Job Description - Program Specialist (MEA) Job Description Program Specialist - ( MEA ) Description

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

SMU Meadows School of the Arts educates visionary artists, scholars and arts and communications professionals to create sustainable and transformative impact on both local and global society. Today, the Meadows School has achieved prominence as one of the foremost arts education institutions in the United States and offers training in an unusual mix of the arts – visual (art and art history), performing (dance, music, and theatre) and communications (advertising, film and media arts, corporate communication and public affairs, and journalism) – as well as a preeminent program in arts management and arts entrepreneurship.

The SMU Impact Lab serves the University’s entrepreneurial students, faculty and alumni in the spaces of social, creative and arts entrepreneurship. Through investments, experiential learning opportunities, course work, cross-disciplinary educational workshops, and structured mentoring, the SMU Impact Lab will invest in those who desire to have a net positive impact in the world through entrepreneurial action.

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Program Specialist for the SMU Impact Lab provides high-level administrative, operational, and project management support to advance the mission of the Impact Lab. This position plays a key role in coordinating cross‑campus and community partnerships, managing program operations, supporting investment‑ and impact‑related initiatives, and serving as a liaison between the Fund Manager, SMU stakeholders, and external partners.

Program Coordination and Operations - Coordinate day‑to‑day operations of the SMU Impact Lab, including scheduling, event logistics, communications, and administrative processes. Support planning and execution of classes, pitch days, workshops, and student engagement events. Maintain project timelines, deliverables, and milestones to ensure smooth execution of Lab initiatives.

Project Management - Serve as project manager for select Impact Lab initiatives, ensuring timely completion of tasks and effective collaboration among students, faculty, and community partners. Develop and maintain project management systems (e.g., Airtable, Asana, or university‑approved platforms) for tracking progress across multiple programs.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication - Serve as primary liaison between the Fund Manager and university stakeholders including faculty, administrators, and student leaders. Draft and send correspondence, meeting invitations, and follow‑up communications on behalf of the Fund Manager. Coordinate engagement with members of the Investor Committee, Advisory Board, and community partners.

Event and Meeting Coordination - Plan and execute all logistics for Impact Lab events, including venue coordination, catering, AV set‑up, guest communication, and registration. Coordinate class and meeting schedules with faculty, students, and external participants. Support investor and advisor participation in key Lab events and…