Career and Professional Development Program Manager for Postdoctoral Fellows

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How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and must be attached as the first page of your resume. The letter should address your specific interest in and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position. Applicants who do not meet these requirements will not be considered.

Summary

The newly formed Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) serves as a centralized hub across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses to support postdoctoral fellows. Under the Rackham Graduate School and the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), the OPA guides and advises departments and programs about leading-practice policies, processes, and services related to the employment of and support for the well-being of postdoctoral fellows. The OPA works closely with postdocs, schools and colleges, university organizations, faculty mentors, administrators, and external entities to support the personal growth and professional development of each postdoc in preparation for their independent research, professional, and academic careers.

The Postdoc Career and Professional Development Program Manager leads career and professional development programs and services for postdoctoral research fellows at the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA). This position will collaborate and liaise with other campus units that support postdoctoral fellows career and professional development, including Rackham Graduate School, the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), and the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (OGPS) in Michigan Medicine, the University of Michigan Postdoc Association (UMPDA), the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT), postdoctoral administrators across the university, and the International Center.

Because we are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility we aspire to develop and nurture the individual and collective skills to recognize, celebrate, anddeploy difference as a path to engagement, innovation, and the generation of new ideas and knowledge.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a three-year, term limited position with continuation based on available funding.

PLEASE NOTE: OPA is located within the Rackham Graduate School building. Rackham Graduate School is currently offering hybrid work schedules to staff, requiring 2-3 days per week on-site with the remaining time being remote.

To learn more about the Rackham Graduate School visit https://rackham.umich.edu/

Why Work at Michigan?

Being part of something greater, of serving a larger mission of discovery and care _ that's the heart of what drives people to work at Michigan. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. It's adding a purpose to your profession. Work at Michigan and become a victor for the greater good.

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off

• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting

• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance

• Life insurance

• Long-term disability coverage

• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

Responsibilities*

Job responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Career Coaching and Programming (60%)

• Foster postdoctoral fellow career and professional development through direct service delivery: career coaching, advising, interactive programming, teaching, etc. Provide appropriate referrals to additional resources and campus partners (OGPS, CRLT, etc.), as needed.

• Support postdoctoral fellows throughout the process of relating current professional experiences to potential career opportunities within and beyond academe.

• Create, implement and evaluate intentionally-designed programs on a variety of topics: career decision making, networking, developing professional tools and skills, and domestic and international job search strategies. This includes both centralized OPA programming as well as customized programming for units and faculty offering career development programming for postdoctoral fellows.

• Incorporate evidence-based assessment tools, such as Individual Development Plans (IDP?s), CliftonStrengths, etc., in career coaching and programming as appropriate, drawing on knowledge of theory, administration, and interpretation of instruments.

• Design and implement programs and services utilizing knowledge of social identity theory and research to maximize the participation of a diverse postdoctoral fellow community. Create inclusive and welcoming programs and services for all postdoctoral fellows, offering an informed perspective on issues of race, nationality, ethnicity, gender orientation, sexual orientation, and ability, as examples.

• Assist postdoctoral fellows in understanding the transferability of their scholarly knowledge and skills as they explore career paths.

• Support postdoctoral fellows to successfully implement their job and professional choices and negotiate job offers to advance their careers.

Leadership and Administration (30%)

• Work with OPA Faculty Director on developing vision, strategic plans and priorities for the OPA

• Effectively manage OPA program and service resources, including proposing realistic budget projections and anticipated expenses.

• Partner and collaborate with university schools and colleges, academic units, and other campus units (OGPS, CRLT, UMPDA, etc.) to enhance campus-wide offerings for postdoctoral fellow career development.

• Comply with and educate others on career-related legal and regulatory policy, and ethical guidelines including Federal regulations and laws (e.g., affirmative action and EEOC standards), hiring practices, and safety. Maintain confidentiality on work with postdoctoral fellows and employment records.

• Demonstrate expertise in multiple career areas, including faculty careers and careers beyond academe, and establish mechanisms to draw on the expertise of the broader campus and community.

• Be actively involved in the profession at the local, regional, and national level. Promote the highest standards of the profession in accordance with the principles, ethics, and standards of the National Postdoctoral Association.

Data Management and Assessment (10%)

• Systematically use data to manage programs and services, including data gathering, best practice benchmarking, and program assessment. Keep accurate records on individual and institutional (department, program, etc.) clients.

• Engage regularly in needs assessment and analyze feedback data on outcomes of programs and services from postdoctoral fellows and alumni.

• Contribute to OPA and campus efforts to track postdoctoral fellows? career outcomes data.

• Provide written reports and other communications to educate the university, Rackham, OVPR and other members of the community on current issues and national trends in employment, specifically, as they relate to postdoctoral fellows.

Required Qualifications*

Master's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience in higher education administration. Minimum 2 years experience working in higher education administration.

Understanding of the current graduate education landscape, particularly knowledge of diverse career options for postdoctoral fellows within and beyond academe. Reasonable, increasingly responsible experience as a successful member of a high-level support team in program development, management and coordination in a university setting, including program planning and administration.

Experience implementing effective and innovative professional development programs and services for diverse audiences. Understanding, appreciation of, and strong personal commitment to the issues involved in programming for diverse scholars, particularly scholars that are historically underrepresented in higher education.

Experience developing and implementing training programs on a university campus and coordinating large scale events, including both in person and virtual programs.

Demonstrated customer service attitude and experience and excellent interpersonal communication skills, including the capacity to build collegial relationships with postdoctoral fellows, faculty and staff within the OPA and across the University and the ability to work with a wide range of people who represent our diverse and multicultural society.

Demonstrated ability to exercise a high level of initiative, creativity and judgment and to achieve organizational and operational change within a large and complex organization with multiple operations and constituencies.

Strong problem-solving skills, including the demonstrated ability to synthesize ideas, anticipate next steps, and prioritize important decisions.

Demonstrated organizational skills to plan, organize, manage and follow through on a large and diverse workload with excellent attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines in a timely manner.

Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with faculty, staff and postdoctoral fellow constituencies, both orally and in writing, including the ability to exercise discretion and judgment in matters of a sensitive or confidential nature. Commitment to empowering postdoctoral fellows in their professional development.

Knowledge of personal computer productivity tools including word processing, spreadsheets, calendaring, scheduling, presentation, web-based video conferencing tools, and communication software packages. Energized by working in a trainee-centered, multidisciplinary and collaborative team environment. Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise discretion, and handle people with diplomacy under stressful situations and in matters of a sensitive and confidential nature.

Knowledge of and strong personal commitment to shared teamwork, continuous business process improvement, andprofessional development. Understanding and value of diversity and the importance of inclusion as demonstrated through a commitment to apply and incorporate the differences, complexities, and opportunities that diversity brings to an organization.

Ability to work evenings and/or weekends with prior notice, depending on requirements of individual workshops/presentations/etc. Ability to travel to locations across campus for presentations/workshops/etc.

Desired Qualifications*

Ph.D. degree. 2 years of career and professional development programming experience in higher education. Experience working with postdoctoral fellows. Program evaluation experience and familiarity with quantitative and qualitative methodologies for assessing programs. Extensive knowledge of higher education and the diverse cultures of schools, colleges, and units with which the OPA interacts. Knowledge of university organizational structure, policies, procedures, and practices.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Job Detail

Job Opening ID

248514

Working Title

Career and Professional Development Program Manager for Postdoctoral Fellows

Job Title

Program Manager

Work Location

Ann Arbor Campus

Ann Arbor, MI

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Regular/Temporary

Regular

FLSA Status

Exempt

Organizational Group

Rackham Grad School

Department

Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

Posting Begin/End Date

5/01/2024 - 5/22/2024

Salary

$81,000.00 - $85,000.00

Career Interest

Administration

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