Program Coordinator

Position Summary

The Wond’ry, Vanderbilt University’s Center for Innovation and Design, serves as a hub for creative problem‑solving, human‑centered design, prototyping, and new product development. We are seeking a highly organized and motivated Program Coordinator to support the operational coordination, administrative support, and execution of both new and established courses, programs, and events under the direction of the Center’s leadership. This position supports the planning, execution, and ongoing delivery of the IMPACT program (Innovation, Market‑Driven Productization, and Commercialization of Deep Technologies), serves as the administrative coordinator for the Center’s growing academic portfolio, and assists with other innovation activities and initiatives at the Wond’ry as time and interests permit.

The Program Coordinator plays a central role in coordinating logistics, tracking student progress, and ensuring the smooth delivery of signature events that advance innovation and commercialization s is an on‑site position, working the Center’s hours from 9:00 AM–6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. There is some flexibility for hybrid work.

The Wond’ry is the university’s center for innovation and design. We are an outwardly facing, customer service‑oriented unit that serves the entire Vanderbilt community of faculty, staff, and students from all colleges and schools. We provide a variety of courses, programming, and resourcing opportunities to help our constituents express and test their ideas, to develop design and systems thinking skills and an innovation mindset, as well as facilitate interdisciplinary and immersive learning experiences.

Because we assist with the development of innovations and collaborations across all disciplines, we look for dynamic, self‑starting, curious individuals with a variety of background experiences who are interested in helping people along their innovation journey.

• Student Activity Coordination and Administrative Support
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  Support the Wond’ry’s academic portfolio and IMPACT program by executing and supporting cyclical activities, including the annual IMPACT application process, tabling events, informational sessions, and rotating speaker series. Track and maintain records of student progress and promotion for the key academic and programmatic activities. Assist in the development, implementation, and maintenance of a standardized tracking mechanism for student projects from ideation through implementation for the IMPACT program.
  
  Use tracking tools and databases to support program operations, data integrity, and internal reporting for continuous improvement. Track student participation in skills workshops, shop classes, and NSF I‑Corps opportunities for the IMPACT program. Maintain accurate records and documentation to support program reporting and assessment. Document Standard Operating Procedures. Support student engagement by facilitating communication, scheduling, and milestone tracking. Support the faculty hiring process for Wond’ry-sponsored courses, including scheduling meetings, following up on appointment letters, and other administrative duties identified.
  
  Serve as a front‑line administrative point person for students and mentors, triaging inquiries and conducting meetings as necessary. Ensure timelines, calendars, and deliverables are up to date and communicated clearly. Ensure a positive participant experience across programs and events.
• Event Management
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  Coordinate logistics for end‑of‑semester and summer project showcases. Support and implement the planning of major innovation events, including the Invention Summit, the flagship event for IMPACT in the fall semester, and the Summer IMPACT Experience. Coordinate and execute event operations, including invitations, catering, parking, nametags, registration, and run‑of‑show planning. Solicit and manage volunteers as applicable. Propose and coordinate event space setup, rentals, and vendor coordination.
  
  In conjunction with applicable partners, develop marketing and promotional materials to drive awareness and participation in the program.…