About the role
As Program Manager in the Office of International Affairs, you will serve as Lehigh's Alternate Representative to the United Nations, sitting at the intersection of diplomacy, youth leadership development, and academic innovation. Reporting to the Director, the Program Manager coordinates and supports the LU/UN Youth Representative program, manages complex global partnerships, conducts extensive UN-related research, and manages extensive logistics in support of high-profile diplomatic engagements.
Position Number: S72050
This position is a Grade: 8 - 40 with an approximate salary range of $47,570-$57,090 and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications.
Your Role at the UN and Beyond
- Represent Lehigh University in formal and working capacities at the United Nations, engaging directly with diplomats, Member State representatives, and NGO presidents and directors
- Design and manage programs that connect students with UN-related experiential and academic opportunities, embedding global frameworks into Lehigh's curriculum and co-curricular offerings
- Build and sustain relationships across university departments to align international affairs initiatives with institutional priorities
- Coordinate logistics, communications, and strategic follow-through for high-profile engagements involving senior university leadership
- Identify and pursue opportunities for Lehigh students and faculty to participate in UN conferences, committees, and working groups
- Develop and deliver workshops, speaker series, and training programs focused on youth leadership and global citizenship
- Monitor and report on trends in multilateral diplomacy and UN programming to inform Lehigh's strategic international direction
- Collaborate with academic departments to integrate UN Sustainable Development Goals and global policy frameworks into course content and research initiatives
- Prepare briefing materials, correspondence, and reports for university leadership ahead of UN engagements and diplomatic meetings
- Support grant research and proposal development to secure funding for international affairs programming and student opportunities
What You Bring
- Bachelor's Degree
- One to three years of work related experience
- One to two years of entry-to-mid-level administrative or program coordination experience
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, global learning, and youth empowerment
- Ability to travel frequently to the United Nation's Headquarters in New York City
- Strong relationship management skills across diverse stakeholders, including senior institutional and diplomatic figures
- Exceptional written and verbal communication, with the ability to represent Lehigh with credibility and professionalism in high-stakes settings
- Experience coordinating complex projects with multiple institutional partners and competing priorities
- A genuine commitment to Lehigh's mission of developing globally minded, purpose-driven graduates
Why Lehigh
Lehigh is a research university with the intimacy of a liberal arts college and the ambition of an institution that takes its role in the world seriously. This role is genuinely one of a kind - few universities hold formal UN Representative status, and fewer still create staff roles built around it. You will have access to Lehigh's generous benefits package, above-standard retirement contributions, substantial leave entitlements, and meaningful professional development support. The work is substantive, the relationships are global, and the impact on students is tangible. Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse community and we seek qualified candidates to contribute to the university’s mission.
Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh's Accommodations Specialist.
Special Considerations
- The duties of the position do not allow for a remote work option; the employee in this position will be required to work on campus where they can be fully accessible to the Lehigh community.
Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position.
Only complete applications will be considered therefore please complete the application in its entirety. Once the posting is removed from the website applications may no longer be allowed to be completed.