Technical Program Assistant Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

Announcement
Details
Open Date
06/30/2026
Requisition Number
PRN45529B
Job Title
Program Assistant
Working Title
Education Justice Coordinator
Career Progression Track
C
Track Level
FLSA Code
Nonexempt
Patient Sensitive Job Code?
No
Standard Hours per Week
40
Full Time or Part Time?
Full Time
Shift
Day
Work Schedule Summary
8 - 5PM, some weeknights
VP Area
Academic Affairs
Department
02235 - Undergrad Studies Advocacy Prg
Location
Campus
City
Salt Lake City, UT
Type of Recruitment
External Posting
Pay Rate Range
50,000 - 55,000
Close Date
07/31/2026
Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)
07/10/2026
Job Summary
The University of Utah Prison Education Project (UPEP) seeks an Education Justice Coordinator to lead the coordination and support implementation of its Student Center Training Lab, a national-facing initiative designed to support college-in-prison programs in adopting and adapting UPEP's Student Center model.
This position is funded through the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and contributes to UPEP's broader commitment to advancing educational access and justice for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. The position is a grant-funded and continuation after one year is contingent upon performance, while continuation after three years is contingent upon availability of funds. Individuals with direct lived experience and expertise with the criminal legal system are strongly encouraged to apply.
UPEP is a multidisciplinary initiative that provides on-site college-level curriculum and educational enrichment programming to students incarcerated at the Utah State Correctional Facility (USCF). The program offers a bachelor's degree, credit-bearing and non-credit-bearing courses, workshops, and guest lectures grounded in the humanities and educational justice frameworks.
Since 2024, the University of Utah's Prison Education Project (UPEP) has been developing a Student Center inside the women's-designated unit at USCF. The center is an educational hub led by incarcerated Education Advocates that centralizes academic resources, peer tutoring, and humanities programming for all incarcerated learners in the unit. More information about the Student Center can be found here: https://prisoneducationproject.utah.edu/student-center.php.
The Education Justice Coordinator will play a dual role supporting the launch and implementation of a Training Lab to assist college-in-prison programs across the country to adopt the model. The Coordinator will work closely with staff, instructors, community partners, and volunteers to ensure that programming at USCF remains responsive and aligned with UPEP's mission.
Responsibilities
Primary Responsibility: Student Center National Training Lab Coordination
The Coordinator's central responsibility will be supporting the development of the Student Center Training Lab. They will significantly contribute its design by engaging in the following:
• Coordinate the development and implementation of Training Lab curriculum and materials
• Organize and help facilitate trainings for partner programs
• Schedule and coordinate meetings and training sessions on the University of Utah campus
• Coordinate and support site visits to the Utah State Correctional Facility
• Manage logistics for visiting practitioners, including communication, preparation, and follow-up
• Support ongoing technical assistance and relationship-building with partner sites
• Track participation, outcomes, and continuous improvement of the Training Lab
UPEP Student Center Coordination
In addition to providing key coordinating support for the Training Lab, the Coordinator will provide onsite support and coordination for the day-to-day functioning of the Student Center at USCF. This work includes:
• Facilitate weekly Student Center programming at USCF
• Support incarcerated Education Advocates in implementing programming through planning, communication, resource distribution, and coordination
• Assist off-site with center scheduling, materials preparation, and program logistics
• Help sustain the Student Center as a responsive, student-driven educational hub through ongoing off-site support and collaboration
• Participate in weekly UPEP meetings at USCF
• This job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.
Work Environment and Level of Frequency typically required
Nearly Continuously: Office environment.
Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be required
Nearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking.
Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking.
Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead.
Minimum Qualifications
Associate's degree in a related field, or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience), plus two years of related experience required; ability to use logic and reasoning to prioritize tasks; computer skills including word processing, spreadsheet software, and/or database software preferred; demonstrated human relation and effective communication skills also required.
Bachelor's degree in a related field may be preferred.
Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.
Preferences
Minimum Qualifications • bachelor's degree or two years related professional experience
• Demonstrated interest in education justice, prison education, or carceral studies
• Evidence of strong organizational, communication, and project management skills
• Ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and manage multiple priorities
• A valid driver's license and reliable transportation
• Ability to successfully pass a criminal background check required to work at the Utah State Correctional Facility
Type
Benefited Staff
Special Instructions Summary
Additional Information
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems ("URS"). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS' post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
Veterans' preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non-Discrimination page.
Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu
https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/ This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.
As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members, a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.