Language Program Coordinator, Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations

Coordinates and has direct responsibility for a program, project, event or program. Creates and implements administrative systems to manage area of responsibility. Serves as main source of information, effectively responding to inquiries from potential customers, participants, academic collaborators. Prepares and maintains records, reports, budget and plans. May maintain a web page, website, or program materials. Requires 2 to 3 years of related experience, excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and direction. Able to plan, prioritize, and track work. Basic or better proficiency on common office software.

Job Summary
Works independently performing a wide range of complex and confidential administrative and clerical duties to support the language programs of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (NELC). NELC is home to more than fourteen language programs in a variety of Middle Eastern languages, both ancient and modern. This position reports to the Manager of Administration and works closely with the Director of the Modern Language Programs (DLP), heads of the ancient language programs, and the Student Coordinator. Key responsibilities include administration of the department’s teaching fellow and teaching assistant appointments and support to the modern and ancient language programs.

Job Specific Responsibilities
Assisting with searches for language preceptors. Posts job ads, assists candidates with the submission of their applications, schedules interviews and search committee meetings. Working with the client, supports searches for senior preceptors.
Coordinates the hiring of teaching fellows and teaching assistants to support NELC courses. Works with faculty and the Student Coordinator to identify qualified students within the department to fill these roles and potential TFs and TAs from other client departments and outside the client as needed. Requests teaching sections from the client.
Onboards preceptors and TF/TAs.
Supports the registration process for language courses, including checking prerequisites and petitions.
Assists with the administration of NELC’s language citation programs.
Coordinates language placement exams.
Supports language instructor reviews. Gathers and organizes materials for the review dossiers.
Assists with language program events, student outreach and engagement, and language program communications.
Keeps records for the language programs, including documentation of student exception approvals, changes to language program curricula, and funding for preceptors.
Assists the DLP and heads of the ancient language programs with other projects as needed.
Works with the rest of the departmental staff to support department-wide events and provides general administrative support to the department as needed.

Basic Qualifications
Three or more years of related experience. Education beyond high school may count towards experience.

Additional Qualifications
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills required. Experience working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. Ability to prioritize work in an environment with multiple, sometimes incompatible, interests. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision. Ability to handle complex and confidential information with discretion. Competency using a variety of computer software.

College degree preferred. Knowledge of at least one Middle Eastern language preferred. Arabic is biggest need. Experience with client systems a plus.

Additional Job Details
Administrative experience, communications skills, confidentiality, knowledge of Middle Eastern languages or cultures a plus.

Notes:
Hybrid - partial time on campus/partial time WFH (working/living in MA).
The position is anticipated to begin at approximately 35 hours per week. As the employee gradually returns from leave, hours may decrease over time.