Program Administrator, Student and Postdoctoral Affairs

Bar Harbor, ME

As part of the Genomic Education team, the Student and Postdoctoral Affairs Program Administrator provides focused support for a diverse community of students and postdocs training in biomedical research. This individual will interact with trainees across all JAX Genomic Education programs, with a focus on participants in our year-round training programs for postdoctoral fellows, doctoral students, and postbaccalaureate trainees. The Student and Postdoctoral Affairs Program Administrator will extend the reach of the Genomic Education directors by focusing on the trainee experience in formal education and mentored laboratory/research settings. This includes coordination, and project management of, a range of short-term and recurring programs, admissions cycles and events. The individual will further JAX Genomic Education’s mission to engender a supportive and inclusive community for all students and postdocs, including individuals underrepresented in biomedicine including racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and people from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds as well as international trainees. The Student and Postdoctoral Affairs Officer will additionally play a key function in outreach to potential trainee audiences at national scientific conferences and campus visits.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement programs that contribute to student retention and improve the student’s and/or postdoc’s personal and professional experience while enrolled in JAX GE supported programs. Build and sustain a strong Student and Postdoctoral Affairs program that will support each participant’s environmental, social, and personal well-being and needs.

• Maintain program related data to facilitate trainee experience, reporting obligations, budgeting, and development of future programming. Identify and implement strategies to strengthen effective mentoring practices across all training programs.

• Develop and coordinate outreach processes to expand and improve the participation of diverse student-scientists in JAX Genomic Education programs. Build strong, collaborative relationships with counterpart programs and departments at institutions of higher education including Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and national-level diversity and inclusion groups and organizations. Maintain and share student demographic data necessary to fulfill federal grant requirements and understand internal and external diversity trends in biomedicine.

• Engage with JAX faculty and trainee community to keep them appraised of Student and Postdoctoral Affairs program efforts, solicit feedback, and incorporate community views into programs.

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in the biomedical sciences or social sciences, plus 2-5 years additional experience in higher education, student affairs, or science education with a focus on diverse audiences. Master’s degree or PhD preferred.

• Detail-oriented organizational skills that facilitate high-quality programming.

• Effective at working with culturally and geographically diverse audiences, including individuals from economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.

• Demonstrated ability to build professional relationships with a wide age range of students and colleagues that lead to improved student outcomes in experiential education (internships or postbaccalaureate fellowships) or graduate programs.

• Outstanding communicator who is adept at using multiple methods of communication with a broad range of stakeholders; exceptional ability to convey complex issues and objectives through quantitative, qualitative, and visual means; proven ability to be diplomatic, persuasive, and persistent in a collegial setting.

• Experience developing and using a variety of data management, evaluation and assessment tools, and analysis of evaluation data to support program design.

• Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative environment, to share time among several projects, and to contribute to larger efforts including program proposals and grant applications.

• Demonstrated personal commitment to advance diversity and inclusion and a working understanding of current issues and trends in the area of diversity and inclusion in research and higher education settings.

• A high level of individual initiative and drive; ability to manage time efficiently; strong problem-solving skills, and a demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with empathy and discretion.

• Ability to travel from Farmington, CT campus to the Bar Harbor, ME campus and to scientific meetings and conferences.

Pay range: $51,677 - $67,180

About JAX:

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees in locations across the United States (Maine, Connecticut, California), Japan and China. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health.

Founded in 1929, JAX applies over nine decades of expertise in genetics to increase understanding of human disease, advancing treatments and cures for cancer, neurological and immune disorders, diabetes, aging and heart disease. It models and interprets genomic complexity, integrates basic research with clinical application, educates current and future scientists, and provides critical data, tools and services to the global biomedical community. For more information, please visit www.jax.org​​​​​​​.

EEO Statement:

The Jackson Laboratory provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non-discrimination laws.