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Are you searching for a program specialist job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a program specialist. Feel free to use our program specialist job description template to produce your own program specialist job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a program specialist.

 

Who is a Program Specialist?

A Program Specialist helps coordinate and administer multiple subject-matter programs inside a corporation. They are responsible for creating team-building events, implementing policies of the program they oversee, and communicating with all parties involved in their area’s work. A program specialist has several tasks, such as generating monthly budgets for company programs and ensuring that all programs match the organization’s objective.

 

Program Specialist Job Description

What is a program specialist job description? A program specialist job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of a program specialist in an organization. Below are the program specialist job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a program specialist job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.

The duties and responsibilities of a program specialist include the following:

• Research trends and gather information on new activities and programs.
• Manage the planning and coordination of new activities.
• Supply guidance on subject-matter initiatives to employees and management teams.
• Plan and attend collaborative meetings to ensure projects are on time.
• Develop monthly and/or quarterly budgets for all company programs.
• Provide advisory services regarding compliance with tax laws, rules, and company practices.
• Supply feedback on the success and/or failure of particular projects and activities.
• Understand customer requirements and offer new programs or enhancements.
• Work with cross-functional teams in the planning and execution of programs.
• Schedule program-related training for new hires.
• Assist with proposal preparation and revision efforts.
• Provide support in designing the program plan, budget and timeline.
• Plan, analyze, and report on programs for management.
• Keep management informed about any financial, schedule, or administrative concerns.
• Work independently or in a collaborative context to execute assigned duties efficiently.
• Attend educational courses, conferences, and training for professional development and career success.
• Utilize effective problem-solving and time-management abilities to accomplish complex programs.
• Analyze and suggest long-term resolutions to program-related difficulties.
• Manage resource allocations and workload assignments.
• Work with program management to undertake contact modification, work order changes, and schedule changes.
• Perform contract agreements with clients as needed.
• Monitor the daily process and detect and rectify bottlenecks.
• Obtain client feedback and offer suitable program modifications.
• Understand customer requirements and offer new programs or enhancements.
• Work with cross-functional teams in the planning and execution of programs.

 

Qualifications

• Earn a Bachelor’s Degree: A program specialist usually has at least a bachelor’s degree and several years of professional experience. Sometimes a master’s degree is required. Normally, a program expert has a bachelor’s degree in an area connected to computer science as a minimum. This is particularly essential if their curricula center on computer applications, which is frequently the case. Knowledge of Management Information Systems (MIS) is extremely crucial.
• Masters Degree: Furthermore, a graduate degree is now usually required. The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is the most popular degree. One of the reasons for this is that it demands practical experience, which further boosts the career possibilities of the program specialist. Indeed, professional experience is highly crucial, with the most senior program experts having as much as ten years of experience in the sector, although this does vary based on the size and age of the company they work for.
• Certifications: Program specialists can be found in any sector of the economy. As a result, they often also have extra credentials in disciplines relating to their particular specialization or sector. This is often not a legal necessity, but it does boost career prospects and it displays a commitment to excellence.
• Proven experience in a management position.
• Strong knowledge of budgeting, research, and report writing.

 

Essential Skills

1. Possession of Communication Skills that Work: Communication is the capacity to deliver information effectively and concisely. Program specialists regularly interact with clients, colleagues, and supervisors regarding program details, progress, and outcomes. Strong communication skills can help you explain complex things in a way that others comprehend them. It also allows you to ask questions when you need clarification on something.
2. Outstanding leadership skills: Leadership qualities are the abilities you have to motivate and guide people. Program specialists generally work with teams of individuals, so it’s crucial to be a good leader who can make your team members feel valued and encourage them to do their best. You may also need leadership abilities when working with clients or pupils on an individual basis. For example, if you’re a program expert for a college admissions office, you may use leadership skills to help students understand the application process.
3. Good Organizational Skills: Program experts frequently have numerous projects happening at once, so it’s crucial for them to be able to prioritize their responsibilities and keep track of deadlines. They also need to manage files and documents linked to the programs they design, which requires organizational skills. Program specialists should also be detail-oriented as they examine program data and make adjustments as appropriate. Having good organizational skills can help program specialists remain on top of their obligations and guarantee they meet deadlines.
4. An Understanding of Policy Analysis: Program experts often use their policy analysis skills to examine and interpret complicated organizational policies. They also employ these abilities while designing new policies for an organization, as they need to comprehend the current system and how a new policy can affect it. Program specialists who have good policy analysis abilities can assist organizations in simplifying their processes by finding inefficiencies and offering adjustments that make operations more successful.
5. Flexibility: Flexibility is the ability to adjust to changing conditions. Program experts generally interact with a variety of people and organizations, so flexibility can help them negotiate varied situations efficiently. For example, if one program doesn’t fulfill its goals, a program specialist may be able to change their focus to another project that’s more effective.
6. Knowledge of Data Analysis: Data analysis is the capacity to comprehend and understand data. Program specialists often utilize data to evaluate their programs’ success, determine what adjustments need to be made, and track student growth. Data analysis demands attention to detail and the capacity to comprehend and evaluate enormous amounts of information.
7. Knowledge of Program Evaluation: Program assessment is the process of reviewing a program’s success and identifying opportunities for improvement. Program specialists regularly analyze programs to verify they are reaching their aims, which can help them improve future projects. They may also employ evaluation skills when conducting research on new initiatives or proposals.
8. Public Speaking Capabilities: Public speaking is the capacity to communicate successfully in front of an audience. Program experts often give presentations on their programs, so public speaking abilities are crucial for this career. You may also need to speak with clients and coworkers on the phone or in person, so it’s helpful to be able to communicate clearly and convincingly.
9. Knowledge of Microsoft Office Packages: Program specialists commonly utilize Microsoft Office to generate and edit documents, presentations, and spreadsheets. This software is a common tool in the office, so it’s necessary for program specialists to be familiar with its functions. Program specialists may also need to coach their pupils on how to utilize these applications, so knowing them yourself can help you teach effectively.
10. People Skills: Program specialists generally work with a number of people, including students, instructors, and parents. Having good interpersonal skills can help you create relationships with these folks and urge them to trust your advice. You may also need to speak with other program professionals or administrators about student development, which needs strong communication skills.
11. Project Management Experience: Project management abilities are vital for program experts because they often oversee many initiatives at once. Program specialists employ project management abilities to design, track, and assess their projects’ success. They also employ these abilities when producing an application for funding, as they need to define the aims of the project, how they will achieve those goals, and what resources they’ll need to do so.
12. Creativity and innovation skills: Program specialists typically use their creativity to establish new programs and events for their organizations. They may also need to be creative when coming up with answers to difficulties they experience in the workplace, such as identifying methods to improve a program or activity that isn’t performing properly. Creativity can help people come up with unique ideas and solutions that others might not have thought about.
13. Competence in Training and Mentoring Others: Training and development are vital abilities for program specialists, as they regularly work with teams of individuals to create learning experiences. Program experts need to be able to instruct people on how to utilize software or other resources successfully, as well as provide feedback that helps employees develop their skills. They also need to design training programs that assist employees to gain new skills and improve in their jobs.
14. Report Writing Capabilities: Program specialists often create reports to summarize their efforts and offer statistics. They may also employ report writing abilities while generating proposals for new projects or seeking grants. Program specialists should be able to properly explain the aim of a program, its goals, and how it will achieve them. This is especially critical if they are collaborating with government organizations that want precise information regarding the programs’ performance.
15. Problem-Solving Capabilities: Problem solving is the capacity to detect and resolve challenges. Program specialists often apply problem-solving abilities when troubleshooting technical faults, managing conflicts between students or parents, or finding solutions for challenges that arise during class activities. Being able to address problems will help you maintain a healthy classroom climate and ensure your pupils receive quality instruction.

 

How to Become a Program Specialist

To become a program specialist, you need a bachelor’s degree in business administration, communications, or program management. Other qualifications you need to be an effective program expert are strong leadership, multitasking, and management skills, as well as financial acumen. Depending on the size of your organization, you may operate solo or you may be a supervisor with a team of other program specialists and staff members at all levels. Your work includes acting as a liaison between staff members, board members, clients, and other stakeholders, so it’s necessary to acquire good communication and organizational skills, too.

There are numerous types of program experts that you can become, including one that works in the fields of disability support, nursing, or human services. Many businesses prefer a candidate to have earned a master’s degree in order to do this type of work, and others even mandate a PhD. It is not unlikely that you will require experience in grant writing to become a program specialist, as well as outstanding analytical and administrative skills. The duties that you must complete to become a program specialist are frequently considerable in number and vary based on the industry in which you operate.

If you are hoping to become a program specialist in the field of education, there are many approved colleges and universities that offer curriculums to allow you to gain the necessary information. Even though some professions in this industry can be filled if you have an associate’s degree, most companies prefer a master’s or higher. Most master’s programs in education concentrate on offering specialized knowledge that you can utilize for elementary and secondary school career roles. It is also possible that you will have to undergo some form of internship to become a program specialist in an education-related sector.

You can get a degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or a similar discipline to work in the field of disability support as a program specialist. The duties that you must accomplish to fulfill this type of career differ among businesses, but most times entail administering an institution’s disability assistance services, as well as making sure that the department is in conformity with federal rules and regulations. Your communication skills and capacity to work with impaired kids should be top-notch, as much of the time you will probably help to assess their needs.

The path to becoming a program expert with a specialty in human resources normally requires getting at least a bachelor’s degree. To secure a senior post, you should aim to obtain a master’s or PhD. Curriculums providing you with the essential knowledge to earn this type of profession are very comparable to those for program specialists in the field of disability support. This is a very popular field in which to work if you seek to detect and address difficulties that occur in people who have drug misuse disorders.

No matter what type of program specialist you decide to become, there are some talents that you should learn. These include those linked to communications, social perceptiveness, and active listening. You must also be able to solve complex problems in this job, so your critical thinking skills must be excellent.

 

Where to Work as a Program Specialist

• Program specialists work in the following industries:
• Computer systems design and related services
• Information
• Finance and insurance
• Management of corporations and enterprises
• Manufacturing

 

Program Specialist Salary Scale.

As of July 31, 2022, the average yearly compensation for a program specialist in the United States is $41,839 a year, which is approximately $20.11 an hour. This is the equivalent of $805/week or $3,487/month.

While ZipRecruiter is seeing yearly wages as high as $77,500 and as low as $17,000, the bulk of program specialist salaries now vary from $32,000 (25th percentile) to $46,000 (75th percentile), with top earners (90th percentile) getting $61,500 annually across the United States. The average salary range for a program specialist varies substantially (by as much as $14,000), which shows there may be many prospects for growth and better pay dependent on skill level, location, and years of experience.

The national average income for a program specialist is £45,464 in the United Kingdom. Filter by location to see Program Specialist salaries in your region. Salary estimates are based on 11 salaries reported anonymously to Glassdoor by Program Specialist workers.

 

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