In the program coordinator job, one has to deal with the coordination of activities or functions involved in a particular program. They must know how to interact with people and they must have several skills. A program coordinator has to ensure that all the participants in a program are doing their job well by supervising them and all the goals are met. If you have good organizational skills, then becoming a program coordinator might be one of your career goals. In this article, we will talk about what a program coordinator is and will provide relevant information regarding this particular job.
A program coordinator is a pretty tough and hardworking job. All those who want to become one must know that the main task of handling a particular program well is up to them. They must have communication skills, organizational skills, analytical thinking, good information about areas in which a program would take place, and also must have a pleasing personality so that the people around them are convinced to work in an according way. Let’s go more into detail.
Duties of a Program Coordinator –
A program coordinator has to supervise and monitor the activities of program employees and volunteers. The program goals and objectives must be met by using strategies effectively. A program coordinator must also revise the activities done in a program carefully so that all the needs of participants are met. Priorities must be determined and educational workshops, conferences, and meetings must be facilitated. Brochures, newsletters, and flyers must be developed well in a grammatically correct manner. The budget limitations of a program must not be crossed and program expenditures must be approved well on time. Paperwork must be completed and outside sponsors must be allowed. New employees and volunteers must be trained well to ensure the smooth operation of programs and the staff must be advised well. Technical assistance must be provided and participants must be recruited using a judicious method. The program’s policies and procedures must comply whilst also applications of potential employees must be reviewed. Reports and financial statements regarding the operations of a program must be prepared well. The effectiveness of a program must be evaluated and analyzed well to achieve greater success.
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities Required –
Extensive knowledge must be present regarding all sorts of programs. Networking abilities should be displayed by a good program coordinator. Accounting, budgeting, and financial skills should be possessed. A program coordinator must also have the ability to attract and recruit participants. Well-organized, interpersonal, and management skills must also be present. Strong leadership and public speaking skills are also important in a program coordinator. Having exceptional verbal and written communication skills is also a must. A program coordinator must also have abilities to motivate, encourage and inspire others. Marketing skills and the implementation of innovative ideas and solutions to promote programs should also be present.
What education and experience should a program coordinator have?
A program coordinator can have any of the following degrees –
- Associate’s degree in marketing or accounting.
- Bachelor’s degree in management or business.
- Masters degree in business administration.
- Certification in a particular area that is related to a program, for example – education, technology, healthcare, etc.
What work environment should a program coordinator work in?
A program coordinator must interact with people in public places, such as schools, churches, parks, hospitals, etc to find program participants who are potential to become a part of a particular program.
Functions in a community must be regularly attended to promote a program. Locations, where a program is being held, must be visited and fundings from individuals, businesses, or branches must be solicited. Talking on a phone and using a computer must be done in a climate-controlled office.
Salary for a Program Coordinator –
On average, the salary of a program coordinator may range from $40,000 to $100,000 depending on various factors such as – budget of a program, level of experience, or education. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a program coordinator is $48,582 per year in the United States.
A few things about Program Coordinators –
Program coordinators are dynamic individuals who have to ensure many things before, during, and after a program. A person must have excellent computer knowledge and must be tech-savvy to become a program coordinator. A person must also have time management and multitasking abilities. Understand that it’s a tough job, however, if you work hard then the benefits you will have will be even more.
To work as a program coordinator, an individual should :
- Get a proper degree in the fields described above. If you have any of those degrees, then considered your education as the basis of it all. For example – a Master’s degree in business administration (MBA) is the best in becoming a program coordinator. You can get this degree from any reputed university after completing your bachelor’s. Make sure that you are paying attention to your education well because educational qualifications are the highest in demand to become a program coordinator.
- Apply for internships at various organizations that specialize in administrative abilities, marketing, management, and business-related skills. Make sure that you join good and reputed organizations that aren’t fraudulent. Earn a certificate. Remember that you must have at least 3-5 years of experience in such administrative or management-related jobs because people will hire you based on relevant education and quality experience.
- You can gain expertise in a variety of fields such as – programs at multinational corporations, schools, hospitals, or even something of your own. The broader your area of expertise, the broader are your chances to work successfully.
- Start something on your own. You could make your business cards and issue those to reputable companies or organizations. Make sure that the data you’ve entered is correct, especially about your education and work experience. Never lie to companies and never behave in an unprofessional way, this could lead to the end of your career as nobody would hire you for such reasons because word of mouth spreads quickly. A professional manner and courteous behavior are looked at for all program coordinators.
- Once you’ve started your own business, several recruiters will come to hire you for managing and maintaining programs in a good and acceptable manner. Make sure to follow their guidelines diligently and if you have any suggestions, then ask them first and then go ahead and do it.
Understand that it can take several years of experience to become a successful program coordinator and you must work hard to achieve this goal. You must also have teamwork skills because it is highly unlikely that you would be working together on a program alone. There’s usually a team that does this job and hence, good teamwork abilities are a must.
Therefore, we would conclude that being a program coordinator requires a great level of experience, skills, education, and mindset.
There are several opportunities associated with this job and a person can get a wide range of experiences, especially in healthcare and educational fields. Also, once successful, a program coordinator will get tons of unlimited access to several benefits and perks. Most of them can also establish themselves overseas, resulting in a large multinational business. Plus, they will also get insurances such as – life, vision, dental, health, etc. Since they will be involved in public relations, then they can also get free stuff and retirement plans.
They may also take some time off from their busy schedule and go on vacations. However, the corporate field is also one of the busiest fields when it comes to jobs, and so a program coordinator is no exception. A typical 9 to 5 job does not take place when it comes to this particular field. People working as program coordinators must be ready to work flexibly, even at midnight due to several reasons, especially when a major event is going to be planned.
Sometimes, a program coordinator may get the responsibilities of organizing programs at two or more places at once. It is these situations that test their skills. Multitasking abilities are therefore required so that all the programs are smoothly operated and all the functions work well according to what is planned. Also, the budget of the program must be kept in mind and the expenditures should be done accordingly.
A program coordinator will also have to interact with a lot of people of different ages and cultural backgrounds. Hence, it is also important to be open-minded in such cases. Being open-minded will increase your chances of being more successful and you will be respected by all people. Hence, prejudices must be avoided. Also, you must know how to interact with people of different age groups, such as school children, young adults, middle-aged employers, or old people. Respecting everyone will also lead to people respecting you.
A good program coordinator will ensure that all the team members are working accordingly to complete the project on time and they are following the schedules assigned to them. They also make and maintain positive relationships with their coworkers and clients. They must also be a good organizer of meetings. They must have the ability to create and maintain a budget.
Hence, to get a job as a program coordinator, you must figure out how to design your resume. Your resume should be designed in such a way that it shows your skills plus your language proficiency. You must mention your excellent communication skills and customer service skills. Explain how you will be able to articulate expectations by supervising the staff, maintain good communication among the heads and colleagues, implement training curriculums, provide customer service professionals, and conduct client evaluations. Also, do let the recruiters know that your PowerPoint skills are up to the mark. Making good presentations to explain the idea and structure of a program must be known to every program coordinator. HR stands for Human Resources and has several responsibilities. They are usually a group of people who work for a company or an organization. A program coordinator can also gain experience in planning, evaluation, selection, or other management processes through HR.
Overall, a program coordinator has to take care of several duties both on or off the workplace. They must have excellent communication skills, interpersonal skills, organization skills, along with time management abilities, and compassion. They must be punctual in their workplace and must be loyal to the company or organization they are working for.
Frequently Asked Questions –
Can I become a program coordinator if I have a high school diploma?
A high school diploma or a GED is required. Apart from this, at least five of experience is also required in the administrative field.
What type of work environments are program coordinators exposed to?
A program coordinator is generally exposed to an interior or office work environment. Very limited physical effort is required as most of the work happens over computers, meetings, or the phone.
On what conditions will a program coordinator be employed?
If a program coordinator has to work in a sports or Athletics Department, then compliance is required with all NCAA rules and regulations. In case someone is involved with patients’ care or clinical areas, then compliance with influenza vaccination is required.
Does becoming a program coordinator have a scope?
Employment growth specifically for program coordinators is not provided in the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, other areas where program coordinators mostly work are provided for job growth projections. For example – the healthcare field, community and social services field, educational field, industries, and organizational field. These fields are projected to grow in the upcoming years, hence, for program coordinators, we do see scope for the future.
What language skills are required to work in this position?
Program coordinators would require to speak on the phone, in person, provide customer service, and mailing or writing to clients and colleagues. In addition, they are also supposed to write reports, take notes and speak in front of people. Hence, being bilingual or multilingual would be a great asset.