Program Officer in UGP

HHMI is focused on supporting and moving science forward in a variety of different ways ranging from conducting basic biomedical research, empowering educators, inspiring students, developing the next generation of scientists - even stretching into film and media production. Our Headquarters is in the greater Washington, DC metro area and is home to over 300 employees with expertise in investments, communications, digital production, biomedical sciences, and everything in between. The work housed here supports and augments the groundbreaking research conducted in HHMI labs across the nation. As HHMI scientists continue to push boundaries in laboratories and classrooms, you can be sure that your contributions while working here are making a difference.

Program Officer in UGP

HHMI is a major science philanthropy whose mission is to advance basic biomedical research and science education anchored in a to diversity, equity, and inclusion. HHMI strategically invests in the national research enterprise by employing top scientists in HHMI labs and supporting the development of the next generation of scientists and science-literate citizens by empowering educators and inspiring students. Our Headquarters is in Chevy Chase, MD, and is home to more than 300 employees who collectively support the HHMI research and education programs.

Summary

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute is seeking to recruit a Program Officer who will join the Undergraduate and Graduate Programs group in Science Education. This is an exciting opportunity for a creative individual to engage with a team that seeks to have a national impact by promoting the institutional transformations required to create a more equitable culture of postsecondary science education in the United States.

The HHMI Undergraduate and Graduate Programs (UGP) team, comprising 21-22 persons, develops and manages a diverse portfolio of science education initiatives, including grants, fellowships, and other programming to support individuals and institutions primarily at the postsecondary level (learn more ). The objectives of these initiatives are to support the preparation of future leaders in science and science education, develop a science-literate citizenry, and ensure that the learning environment is centered on equity and inclusion. UGP strives to create an ethos that values collaboration and candid conversation. Although the text below focuses on the attributes of the individual, the Program Officer will be an important member of the UGP team which emphasizes collective ownership of our work.

As a Program Officer, you will assist applicants and grantees to understand and achieve the goals of the initiative. You will assess the progress made by the grantees and play a central role in the evaluation of the outcomes of the initiatives. You will leverage your knowledge and interest in science, scientists, and science education and strong analytical, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills to work effectively as a member of the UGP team.

Because many UGP grants support activities led by college/university faculty, we are seeking a Program Officer who understands the perspectives of postsecondary science faculty and administrators.

Your primary place of work will be the HHMI headquarters in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Depending on programmatic needs, you might be asked to travel domestically a few times annually to meet with grantees and to participate in conferences.

As part of a team, you will actively contribute to:

• Competition management.

  • the design of specific initiative(s);

  • the creation of all competition materials, including the program announcement, proposal template, reviewer module, and reviewer guide, and pilot testing the competition system;

  • the management of all aspects of the competition, including ensuring the timely submission of complete and appropriately formatted proposals, responding to inquiries from applicants and reviewers, providing support to the reviewers, the review of the proposals, and determining which applicants will be funded; and

  • the management of all aspects of the award process, including award letters, reviewer comments, grant/fellowship terms and conditions, budgets, and document archive.

• Program administration.

  • the integration of all appropriate grant-related documents into the web-based management system, including interface design, user support, and system maintenance;

  • the collection of information on the progress made by each grantee/fellow, including the review of progress and financial reports, site visits, meetings of grantees/fellows, and engaging in other forms of communication with the grantees/fellows; and

  • planning for HHMI-hosted meetings of grantees/fellows to encourage community building and peer learning.

• Financial oversight.

  • the review and recommendation for approval/denial of grantees' initial budgets, budget revisions, and no-cost extensions;

  • the review and recommendation for approval/denial of financial reports;

  • the timely payment of awards; and

  • the timely response to queries from internal and external auditors.

• Program evaluation.

  • the review and recommendation for approval/denial of grantee's (annual) progress reports; and

  • the regular evaluation of the effectiveness of HHMI UGP initiatives.

• Alignment with HHMI's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. You will actively contribute to ensuring the alignment of all the above processes with HHMI"s to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in science.

If this role appeals to you, we encourage you to apply even if you are unsure about whether you meet all educational and experiential qualifications described below.

Education & Experience:

• Ph.D. degree or equivalent combination of education and experience, preferred in a STEM discipline;

• Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in postsecondary science education; and

• Preferred - minimum 5 years working effectively with students and faculty at the postsecondary level, preferably as a faculty member at a college or university.

Skills & Abilities:

• Demonstrated and creative interest in program design and administration;

• Strong analytical, organizational, and verbal and written communication skills;

• Excellence in interacting constructively with a wide range of people;

• Excellent independent judgment and decision-making skills;

• Interest in facilitating community building among grantees/fellows and institutional change;

• Collaborative and interactive work style; able to work independently and as part of a team; and

• Excellence in finishing assigned work in an accurate and timely manner and setting priorities and simultaneously handling many tasks.

Application Instructions:

During the application process, you will be prompted to submit three documents:

1. A cover letter that includes your experience working with students and faculty at the postsecondary level, your commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in science education, and thoughts on how HHMI can advance diversity and inclusion in science and science education (5MB max).

2. A CV or resume that speaks to the position and supports the cover letter (3-page max).

3.A document capturing your response to these three questions:

• Describe your journey towards your current understanding of what it means to be committed to diversity and inclusion in science and science education.

• The UGP science education initiatives are based on the conviction that the responsibility for advancing diversity and inclusion rests primarily with the institution, as represented by its faculty, staff, and administration. We strive to create programs that help grantee/fellowship institutions engage in genuine culture change. Describe your experiences and thoughts about cultural change at colleges and universities.

• The UGP team is diverse in educational, demographic, and experiential backgrounds. Describe a situation you've been involved in that was enriched by a diverse representation of people. If there were challenges, describe how you navigated them.

Physical Requirements:

Remaining in a seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; ability to move about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet). Must be able to communicate verbally and through the written word.

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please Note:

This job description sets forth the job's principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word "may," the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are "essential functions" of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Compensation and Benefits

Our employees are compensated from a total rewards perspective in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs. Visit our site to learn more.