The most linear career path to become a program coordinator is to secure a position as a program adviser. Both these roles are commonly found in the post-secondary education and health services sectors. A program coordinator is often the person ultimately responsible for the management of a particular program.
The tasks required once you become a program coordinator vary significantly by sector and institute. For example, a patient support program coordinator in the health services sector will be responsible for designing the program and inserting assessments and feedback of patient participation and progress, as well as communicating these changes to the appropriate resources. An undergraduate drama program coordinator is responsible for ensuring students are registered in the appropriate classes, setting up network opportunities, and monitoring student progress.
The training required to become a program coordinator typically includes a undergraduate degree or diploma. In the health services sector, candidates are expected to have successfully completed a training program in nursing, social work, or a related field. In the post-secondary education sector, the program coordinator is typically an administration staff member. He or she usually has a general degree in business, administration, or a related subject.
A program adviser is an administrative position in both industries. In this role, the candidate can see all the aspects of program coordination, including overall program management, managing issues, and procedural concerns. When a new program is starting, a program adviser is typically hired.
As a program grows in size, the program adviser becomes overloaded with responding to front line service inquiries and the overall management of the program. At this stage, the organization typically promotes the program adviser to program coordinator. He or she has the benefit of institutional history and is able to understand the context of issues and past solution attempts much faster.
In most organizations, the program coordinator reports to the department or division head. He or she is responsible for reporting on the status of the program, the challenges, successes, and issues with the current program. Although the program coordinator is responsible for the management of the program, ultimately, the division head must be aware of the program status.
Once you become a program coordinator, the career advancement opportunities are quite good. The skills required in this role are easily transferable to a broad range of management positions. The department management positions can be within the same division or a different area altogether.