Program Coordinator Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Program coordinators in Tucson keep grant-funded programs running at community health centers, hospitals, the University of Arizona and nonprofits like United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona. El Rio Health has posted program roles at $23.38 to $32.15 an hour. Current openings are below, followed by who hires and what the job takes.
Current Program Coordinator Openings in Tucson, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Program Coordinator Work in Tucson
Tucson's program coordinator jobs follow the grant money. The University of Arizona is a major source, with coordinators running everything from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute to research centers and student programs on its Tucson campus. Health care is next: El Rio Health hires coordinators for funded projects such as reproductive health access at its Cherrybell health center, and Tucson Medical Center on Grant Road employs program coordinators in graduate medical education and quality data.
The nonprofit side is smaller but steady. United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona hires grant-funded program coordinators to track subgrantee data, process invoices and run events across Pima County, Child & Family Resources coordinates youth programs like Teen Impact from Tucson across several Arizona counties, and the Arizona Conservation Corps hires program coordinators in Tucson for its conservation crews. Expect plenty of driving between sites, and Spanish is preferred at most community-facing employers.
Top Tucson Employers for Program Coordinators
These Tucson employers hire program coordinators:
- University of Arizona - program coordinators and senior coordinators in continuing education, research centers, colleges and student affairs.
- El Rio Health - project and program coordinators for grant-funded health initiatives at its community health centers.
- Tucson Medical Center - program coordinators in graduate medical education and healthcare quality data.
- United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona - grant-funded program coordinators handling subgrantee reporting, purchasing and events.
- Child & Family Resources - program coordinators for youth and family programs such as Teen Impact.
- Arizona Conservation Corps - program coordinators supporting conservation crews and Indigenous-focused programs from Tucson.
Program Coordinator Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level (nonprofit program coordinator): roughly $18 to $22 an hour.
- Experienced (university or health center coordinator): roughly $22 to $28 an hour, or about $47,000 to $59,000 a year.
- Senior (senior coordinator, specialized health or research programs): roughly $28 to $34 an hour, or about $58,000 to $70,000 a year.
These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. Child & Family Resources has posted $18.70 to $20.70 an hour and United Way $20 an hour for grant-funded coordinators, the UA has posted Grade 6 program coordinators at $47,356 to $59,195 a year, and El Rio Health $23.38 to $32.15 an hour. Health care, research and grant management experience pay the most, and university jobs add strong benefits including tuition reduction.
How to Become a Program Coordinator in Tucson
There is no Arizona license for program coordinators. Most Tucson postings ask for a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience plus one to three years in program support, education, health or administration, and some nonprofit roles accept an associate degree with more experience. Community-facing employers such as Child & Family Resources and El Rio Health require a Level One fingerprint clearance card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and many want a valid Arizona driver's license and your own car. For social services programs, Pima Community College's West Campus offers a Social Services certificate and AAS, and ASU's School of Social Work runs an MSW at its Tucson location on North Commerce Park Loop for coordinators who want to move into management.
What the Job Involves
A program coordinator handles the moving parts behind a program: scheduling classes, workshops or clinics, recruiting and tracking participants, training volunteers and interns, ordering supplies, and processing purchase orders and invoices. A big share of the week goes to data, entering outcomes into systems such as Salesforce and compiling the reports funders require to keep a grant going.
Skills Employers Look For
- Organization and the ability to juggle deadlines across several projects
- Grant reporting and data entry, often in Salesforce or Excel
- Event and workshop logistics
- Volunteer and intern supervision
- Clear writing for reports, newsletters and member communications
- Bilingual English and Spanish, preferred by many Tucson employers
Career Path and Advancement
Many Tucson program coordinators start in a program assistant or outreach role, step up to coordinator, then to senior program coordinator at the UA or a health system. From there the ladder runs to program manager and program director, with grant management, an MSW or a public health master's opening the larger roles at El Rio, United Way and the university.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the closest alternatives for program coordinators:
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do you need to be a program coordinator in Tucson?
Most postings ask for a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, plus one to three years of relevant work. Some nonprofit roles, such as United Way's grant-funded coordinator, prefer an associate degree with three to four years of program support experience.
How much do program coordinators make in Tucson?
Nonprofit coordinators earn roughly $18 to $22 an hour, university and health center coordinators roughly $47,000 to $59,000 a year, and senior coordinators up to about $70,000. These are estimates that vary by employer and experience.
Do program coordinators need a fingerprint clearance card in Arizona?
Often, yes, when the program serves children, families or patients. Child & Family Resources and El Rio Health ask for a Level One fingerprint clearance card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Are program coordinator jobs in Tucson grant-funded?
Many are. United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona labels its coordinator role grant-funded, and many health center and university coordinator jobs are tied to a specific project, so ask how long the funding runs before you accept.
Which Tucson employers hire the most program coordinators?
The University of Arizona posts program coordinator roles across many departments. El Rio Health, Tucson Medical Center and nonprofits such as United Way and Child & Family Resources also hire for the role.
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