Project Director Jobs in Rio Rancho, NM (NOW HIRING)

Program Coordinator
Requisition ID
req35987
Working Title
Program Coordinator
Position Grade
10
Position Summary
The Program Coordinatoris a central, high-level administrative position responsible for ensuring theseamless continuity and strategic institutionalization of the Indigenous Designand Planning Institute (iD+Pi) during its critical three-year leadershiptransition, as supported by the Mellon Foundation. The incumbent serves as thebackbone for operational logistics, grant compliance, and collaborativeengagement required to move from founding director leadership to a permanent,sustainable structure. This role requires familiarity with academic governance,strategic planning processes, and a commitment to Indigenous methodologies andcommunity-engaged scholarship.
Term Position: Three (3) Years, .5FTE,tied directly to the Mellon Grant funding period. Position after year one maybecome full-time depending on availability of Mellon funding.
Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Transition & Institutionalization Support
1) Coordination of Strategic Planning: Independently initiate, organize, and manage all logistics for the strategic planning sessions, faculty retreats, and community engagement meetings required to synthesize findings and set the Institute's future vision.
2) Governance Development: Provide dedicated administrative support to the Director and Institute affiliates in developing and formalizing key institutional documents, including iD+Pi bylaws and the comprehensive plan for the Board of Advisors
3). Director Search Assistance: Serve as administrative support for the SA+P faculty/staff search committee composed to hire the director, working with the Dean of the School and the School's AOO in coordinating all phases of the Director hiring process, including assisting in the drafting the formal job description, scheduling public presentations for finalists, and securing necessary institutional approvals.
4) Board Management: Organize, manage, and facilitate all administrative requirements for the newly appointed Board of Advisors retreats and meetings, including agenda preparation, material distribution, and minute-taking.
II. Grant and Fiscal Administration
1) Mellon Compliance & Reporting: Maintain meticulous records of all grant activities and expenditures; collect and compute necessary data (quantitative and qualitative) to assist the Program Manager and Director in compiling yearly annual and final programmatic reports for submission to the Mellon Foundation.
2) Budgetary Monitoring: Track and administer dedicated grant expenditures, ensuring alignment with the approved budget for transitional staff, meeting logistics, travel, and stipends.
3) Resource Coordination: Coordinate the work and activities of the Emeritus Project Director (Dr. Jojola), the Program Manager, the external Facilitator, and the Program Process Report Writer to ensure all transitional activities are completed on schedule.
III. Programmatic Support & Dissemination
1) Programmatic Implementation: Serve as the administrative hub for existing iD+Pi community-engaged studios and projects, applying specialized knowledge to support the accomplishment of program objectives and the P.L.A.C.E.S. Framework methodology.
2) Curriculum Development Support: Assist in gathering input from university partners and tribal communities to support the continued development and eventual launch of the online Indigenous Planning (IP) Certificate
3)Documentation: Oversee and coordinate the Program Process Report Writer's deliverables, ensuring that all outcomes of the strategic planning sessions are captured in a clear, organized, and professional foundational document for the new Director and Board of Advisors.
See the Position Description for additional information.
Conditions of Employment

• If this position is assigned to the Athletics Department, either administratively or functionally, compliance with all NCAA rules and regulations is required.
• Employees who provide services or work in patient care or clinical areas are required to be in compliance with the University's influenza vaccination requirement.
• All regular, non-temporary positions assigned to this classification are represented by a labor union and subject to the terms and conditions of the US-UNM Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Minimum Qualifications
High school diploma or GED; at least 5 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a humanities discipline (e.g., Planning, Public Administration, Indigenous Studies, or related field) is strongly preferred.
• Three (3) years of demonstrated, high-level administrative or project management experience within a university setting or non-profit organization, specifically managing complex, multi-year grant-funded projects.
• Grant Management: Deep working knowledge of complex grant compliance, fiscal administration, and reporting procedures required by major private foundations (e.g., Mellon, NEH, NSF).
• Organizational Leadership: Proven ability to manage large-scale strategic initiatives (e.g., leadership searches, strategic planning) and coordinate diverse high-level stakeholders (faculty, community leaders, external consultants).
• Scholarly Communication: Advanced writing, editing, and professional correspondence skills necessary to produce formal governing documents, official reports, and high-quality program communications that reflect the Institute's mission.
• Community Engagement: Demonstrated commitment to and/or experience with Indigenous-led initiatives, community organizing, and culturally grounded methodologies such as the P.L.A.C.E.S. Framework.
• Problem Resolution: Ability to independently make procedural decisions and judgments to resolve day-to-day operational issues across a complex transitional project.
• Proficiency in data collection, analysis, and report generation for both internal and external progress assessments.

Additional Requirements
Campus
Main - Albuquerque, NM
Department
Sch Arch Planning Gen Admin (515B)
Employment Type
Staff
Staff Type
Term - Part-Time
Term End Date
3-years from date of hire
Status
Non-Exempt
Pay
Hourly: $19.56 - $26.58
Benefits Eligible
This is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. See the Benefits home page for a more information.
ERB Statement
As a condition of employment, eligible employees working greater than .25 FTE as determined by the New Mexico Education Retirement Act must make mandatory retirement contributions. For more information, review the Benefits Eligibility at a Glance grid.
Background Check Required
For Best Consideration Date
3/23/2026
Eligible for Remote Work
No
Eligible for Remote Work Statement
Application Instructions
Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.
Please attach the following documents in UNM Jobs as part of your application: 1) Resume2) Cover letter describing your interest in the position and how your knowledge and skills directly relate to the duties described3) Contact information for three (3) supervisory references
Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.
The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.
The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.