Penn State Job Catalog

The Postdoctoral Affairs Director provides strategic leadership and operational oversight to enhance the postdoctoral experience at the University, with a primary focus on educational and career programs that prepare individuals for future roles. The position includes consulting with key stakeholders, such as faculty and administrators, to align policies, programs, and services with institutional priorities and best practices; serves as a central resource on postdoctoral affairs; oversees budgets, resource management, and strategic reporting for university-wide solutions and responsiveness to emerging trends.

• Identify, develop, manage, deliver, and evaluate programming and learning content for postdocs as trainees to address specific skill-based career and training needs
• Lead one-on-one and small group career coaching and training for University's postdocs; serve as a resource and central point of contact
• Develop unified institutional support for postdoc development, including a university-wide Individual Development Plan (IDP) process
• Initiate projects and develop content to promote University postdoctoral programming, services, tools, and funding opportunities
• Work collaboratively with the Office of Faculty Affairs for synergistic programming benefiting postdocs and their faculty advisors
• Provide information regarding postdoctoral policy and procedures to postdocs, faculty, and the University community
• Develop and maintain comprehensive data management systems to track postdoctoral engagement, outcomes, and program effectiveness, facilitating continuous programmatic improvement and compliance with University standards
• Conduct needs assessments centered on trainee interests and needs, consulting faculty advisors and external experts
• Create web content, presentations, and publications on postdoctoral interests, education, learning, and careers
• Conduct research to benchmark postdoctoral learning objectives, competencies, and policies
• Collaborate with senior leaders to develop policy and procedures optimizing the postdoctoral experience
• Work with postdocs, faculty, administrators, human resources, and legal counsel to manage and resolve postdoc conflict and trainee performance concerns; refer postdocs to available University services depending on an assessment of the situation
• Oversee faculty advisor and postdoc pairings across colleges and campuses for career advancement and organizational growth, skill training, and learning outcome achievement
• Develop proposals; administer and manage fellowship programs
• Plan and monitor budgets

Level:

– Senior Professional

Base Description:

– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates advanced knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of a particular field. Works independently on moderately complex work assignments under limited oversight, reviews progress, and evaluates results. Monitors work and projects ensuring timeliness, quality, and efficiency. Identifies and mobilizes resources to achieve outcomes. Trains others and reviews progress with management. Presents ideas, concepts, and instructions in a clear and persuasive manner. Develops new techniques, concepts, and approaches and applies them to moderately complex and strategic and/or operational issues.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Indirect supervisor for other full–time employees
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers, volunteers, or a full–time employee

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets and funding

Problem Solving:

– Encounters moderately complex problems
– Applies specialized knowledge and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations, and impact of potential solutions

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on moderately complex work assignments, reviews progress, and evaluates results
– May set priorities and organize work within general guidelines established by supervisor
– May review the work of others to verify accuracy and conformance to required procedures and special instructions

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and the University
– Communicates with external audiences for scheduling/coordination
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Coaches others in using appropriate strategies for resolving conflict; negotiating reasonable compromises; and proposing and evaluating possible solutions
– Give candid and constructive feedback to others to influence and persuade managers and employees to accept and implement findings and recommendations

• Comp Grade – 11
• Minimum – $68,200.00
• MidPoint – $85,200.00
• Maximum – $102,300.00