Program Coordinator, Youngstown Innovation Hub (012-26) in Youngstown, Ohio at National Center for Defense Manufacturing & Machining

Program Coordinator, Youngstown Innovation Hub

About Youngstown Innovation Hub

The Youngstown, Ohio-based Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense serves as a national proving ground for advanced and additive manufacturing, accelerating the transformation of ideas from concept to market with speed and scale. The Hub brings together cutting-edge facilities, world-class talent, and strategic partnerships to revolutionize American manufacturing. Its mission is to strengthen U.S. aerospace and defense supply chains, advance next-generation workforce development, and pioneer innovative manufacturing solutions with global impact. Managed by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), in collaboration with America Makes, the Youngstown Innovation Hub is more than a regional resource, it’s a catalyst for national security, global competitiveness, and long-term economic growth.  

About the role and team

As the Program Coordinator, you will be a valued and trusted member of the Innovation Hub and NCDMM team. You will serve as the primary point of contact for inquiries, stakeholder engagement, and ecosystem support within the Hub. This role blends ecosystem development, customer intake and tracking, relationship management, and operational support for Hub programs and activities.

You will manage the flow of inquiries into the Hub, support project and partnership development, coordinate data and reporting systems, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and help advance the overall mission of the Innovation Hub. This position is critical to ensure a seamless, well-supported, and strategically aligned experience for ecosystem partners and regional and locating businesses.

The ideal candidate is organized, collaborative, and highly communicative, with a passion for advanced manufacturing, customer service, and ecosystem building. They thrive in a fast-paced, innovative, and sometimes ambiguous environment where strategic thinking and operational execution are equally important.

Responsibilities of the role include:

Must be able to coordinate and execute stakeholder engagement activities

Effective time management to keep engagement and reporting tasks flowing (both project and non-project)

Serving as the primary point of contact for inquiries from companies, government, universities, and other stakeholders

Managing intake, triage, and tracking systems to ensure timely follow up and clear communication

Engaging regional partners to identify collaboration opportunities and strengthen the ecosystem

Representing the Hub at regional events and coordinating operational needs for meetings, visits, and activities

Partnering with the Communications team on awareness initiatives and stakeholder-aligned messaging

Maintaining comprehensive tracking of inquiries, engagements, pilot projects, and site visits, and identifying key data sources and trends

Producing dashboards and reports that surface patterns, insights, and ecosystem metrics for Hub leadership and stakeholders

Traveling (<30% travel is expected)

On a typical day, you might:

Respond to a new inquiry from a regional manufacturer seeking support in defense supply chain integration.

Prepare briefing materials for a meeting between Hub leadership and local, state or federal stakeholders.

Update tracking metrics and summarize recent inquiries for leadership review.

Collaborate across the NCDMM team to identify opportunities to engage new stakeholders or address regional capability gaps.

Support planning for an upcoming site visit or partner convening.

Work with the Hub Director and partners to align intake findings with emerging project opportunities.

Prepare and support the submission of Hub reporting taskers to internal and external stakeholders.

About our ideal candidate:

Has a B.S. degree in business, economic development, public administration, or a related field.

Has 1-3 years of experience in stakeholder engagement, membership management roles, economic development, technical program coordination, or similar work.

Demonstrated ability to engage diverse partners, identify needs, and support collaborative solutions.

Experience in advanced manufacturing, technology development, or defense-related industries is preferred.

Strong organizational and project coordination skills with the ability to manage multiple activities simultaneously.

Excellent communication skills—written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation.

High emotional intelligence, professionalism, and discretion.

Ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and thrive in a fast-paced and sometimes ambiguous environment.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office and comfort with CRM systems.

Additional things about you:

You enjoy building relationships and connecting people.

You are self-directed and accountable, able to prioritize and drive results with minimal supervision.

You enjoy working with cross-functional teams and understand how to turn strategy into action.

You have a passion for serving the nation and improving U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.

Requirements:

NCDMM delivers innovative and collaborative manufacturing solutions that enhance our nation’s workforce and economic competitiveness. NCDMM has extensive knowledge and depth in commercial and defense manufacturing areas to continually innovate, improve, and advance manufacturing technologies and methodologies. Our experienced team specializes in identifying the needs, players, technologies, and processes to attain optimal solutions for our customers. We connect the dots. That’s the NCDMM methodology. With seven locations nationwide, NCDMM manages America Makes, The Youngstown Innovation Hub, and El Paso Makes and is a subsidiary of the Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group, Inc. (MTDG). Learn more at ncdmm.org.

NCDMM is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

NCDMM, as a government contractor, is required to verify all employees through the E-Verify system to confirm eligibility to work in the United States.