Director, Postdoctoral Affairs - Oregon Health & Science University

Function/Duties of Position:

There are approximately 300 postdoctoral scholars at OHSU, residing in varying institutes, centers, schools, and programs. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) serves as the central hub for current postdocs, and the Director of Postdoctoral Affairs serves as a central point of contact for our incoming postdocs. The director is responsible for developing, implementing, and running dynamic postdoctoral programs – including professional development series, career advising, supporting OHSU’s postdoctoral society, and creating innovative ways to encourage academic success among OHSU’s postdoctoral community.

 

The director creates, delivers, and updates the onboarding and orientation process for postdocs new to OHSU, responds to career and professional development needs, and ensures that postdocs have the information and support that they need to be successful in their scientific training. The director also has oversight over the OPA, establishing policies, procedures and programs specific to the needs of the postdoc population and their mentors, communicating regularly with all units that have postdocs, and facilitating departmental and interdepartmental postdoc requests. Working closely with Human Resources, the Office of International Affairs, Central Financial Services, and other key participants, the director helps postdocs navigate the administrative components of postdoctoral life at OHSU, developing and improving on processes for the postdoctoral community.

 

The director runs an essential postdoctoral policy advisory committee, enlisting the expertise and input of key OHSU leaders in the Schools and Centers/Institutes to maintain current, fair, and robust programs and policies that ensure equity for OHSU’s postdocs. The position also works with the Executive Vice President and Chief Research Officer and his designees to track institutional information about postdocs for national surveys such as the annual NSF survey, and with Human Resources, monitors postdoc pay and benefits.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

• Five years of experience managing a project or program in a research environment.  A graduate degree may replace up to one year of experience

• Experience managing administrative as well as programmatic efforts.

• Experience in a lab or other research environment, working with faculty and research staff members.

• Demonstrated understanding of the research and academic environment.

• Experience with managing confidential and sensitive information.

• Demonstrated capacity to create and run effective programs and to successfully collaborate with multiple partners.

• Understands organizational dynamics and implementing strategies to solve complex problems. Ability to work in an ambiguous and changing environment.

• Excellent interpersonal skills to work with individuals at various levels of authority in a complex academic setting.

• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines for multiple projects.  

• Ability to function independently while also working as an effective member of a team.  

• Ability to understand and apply concepts of project management, workflow, task analysis and implementation cycle.

• Demonstrated experience in staff analysis, identifying quality improvement opportunities, project management and university policies and procedures.

• Ability to prepare charts, graphs, tables and visual aids to summarize program activities, management and implementation schedules.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Proficiency in using PC and/or Mac and demonstrated knowledge of software programs including Windows, MS Office (word processing, spreadsheet, scheduling, graphic/presentation, database), email, fax and Internet applications.

• Ability to organize job activities and establish a course of action for self and others and manage performance to desired results.  

• Skilled in establishing priorities that accurately reflect relative importance of tasks and job responsibilities.

• Experience working across remote campus locations or similar environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree – PhD or MD

• Experience as a postdoctoral fellow

• Skilled in influencing others without a direct reporting relationship

All are welcome:Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.