Job Opportunity: Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Michigan State University
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) at Michigan State University (MSU) is seeking to fill the position of Director, starting August 16, 2019. The mission of the OPA is to enhance the value and impact of the MSU postdoctoral experience, whether appointed a postdoctoral fellow, research associate, or research assistant professor, through consistent, thoughtful, and comprehensive policy and program development.
The Director will work with university leadership to determine needs of and develop a comprehensive program for professional, ethical and managerial skill acquisition designed to prepare postdocs for the next step in their careers. The Director will also be instrumental in developing unified institutional policies for postdoctoral scholars, including an institutional Individual Development Plan process, a postdoctoral scholar grievance structure, salary guidelines tied to national standards, hiring, onboarding, and reappointment processes, implementation of a unified Responsible Conduct of Research Program, and working with stakeholders to deliver advisory recommendations that will advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Director will coordinate with the Office of International Students and Scholars to help with immigration compliance and related concerns of international postdocs.
The successful candidate will have a doctoral degree, experience administering or working administratively as part of a campus-wide program, experience with personnel supervision, management and development, experience with fostering career and professional development of students or fellows, and superior interpersonal and communication skills. Highly desirable qualifications include postdoctoral experience, a record of achievement in leadership positions associated with postdoctoral career and professional development, advocacy experience, and a working knowledge of U.S. rules with respect to international scholars. Facility with data management and/or social media use is also desirable.
Application materials should be submitted as a single PDF file through the MSU applicant page at http://www.careers.msu.edu (search for posting #584568). Candidates should submit a cover letter, including names and contact information for three references, a CV, and a two-page personal statement that 1) describes applicant’s administrative experience in cross-campus programs and personnel supervision; 2) articulates applicant’s philosophy and approach to postdoctoral training; and 3) articulates applicant’s vision for the OPA, including how the applicant will advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the postdoctoral experience at MSU. Questions regarding this position should be directed to the chair of the search committee, Cheryl Sisk (sisk@msu.edu). Review of applications will begin July 3, 2019.
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.