The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) invites applications for an Internship and Fellowship Coordinator. SERC is a research institute of the Smithsonian Institution dedicated to ecological and environmental research and education. The 2,650-acre campus includes forests, farmlands and wetlands and 15 miles of shoreline of Chesapeake Bay. SERC is based in Edgewater, Maryland, 25 miles from the central Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and 5 miles from Annapolis.
The SERC campus consists of an array of historic and modern buildings, including a large modern laboratory building, wet lab, dock and other facilities for environmental research and education. Staff include approximately 110 employees. A 40-person, centrally managed maintenance and security staff are on site. SERC receives 15,000 visitors annually, including 6,000 students on field trips. Visit serc.si.edu for more information
Description: Each year, the SERC internship and fellowship program engages dozens of interns, graduate fellows, and post-doctoral fellows in a wide range of projects on our main campus in Edgewater, Maryland, our satellite lab on San Francisco Bay, and remotely. The program includes a Research Experience for Undergraduates program, Research Experience for Teachers program, grant and donor funded interns and fellows, and those who come to SERC through university partnerships. The SERC Internship and Fellowship Coordinator will be responsible for management and coordination of all aspects of SERC’s internship and fellowships programs, including program administration, recruitment, and creation and implementation of training and professional development activities for interns, fellows, and mentors. This position is telework eligible and a mutually acceptable telework plan will be developed with the accepted applicant.
Key duties include:
- Develop and manage program processes and systems to efficiently execute all academic appointments and scheduled programming. The incumbent will serve as the primary liaison between SERC and Smithsonian’s central Office of Academic Appointments and Internships and the internships and fellowships programs at other Smithsonian units.
- Manage all administrative and logistical requirements for the designated program.
- Develop, schedule, and deliver a series of trainings to support professional development of interns and fellows.
- Establish and foster professional relationships with faculty and staff at colleges and universities nationally and internationally to expose students to the internship and fellowship opportunities.
The Internships and Fellowships Coordinator will report to the Director of Public Engagement, and act as a key member of the SERC Public Engagement Team. The Internships and Fellowships Program Coordinator will work closely with the STEM Education Coordinator, Citizen Science Coordinator, and Public Engagement Specialists.
We seek to fill this position with a person who values collaboration and adaptability, and who is passionate about providing training and professional development for early career STEM professionals.
Qualifications: This position is open to all U.S. citizens.
The SERC community recognizes the value of diversity in promoting innovative science and creative solutions, and we strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We recognize that each applicant for this role will bring unique skills, knowledge, experiences, and background to this position. The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of race/ethnicity, national origin, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital/parental/caregiver status and disability.
Basic Education and Experience Requirements:
- A Bachelor’s degree that included at least 24 semester hours in a field related to the position, of which at least 9 semester hours must have been in education courses
OR
- 4 years of experience that demonstrate a thorough understanding of the principles and practices underlying this position. This experience must demonstrate that you possess an understanding of the field comparable to that normally acquired through completion of a Bachelor’s degree in a field related to the position
OR
- At least one full academic year of professional teaching experience
AND
- At least one year of specialized experience
Please see additional details about minimum requirements in the USAJobs posting.
For this position, specialized experience is considered:
Experience in designing, implementing, or managing professional development programming for undergraduate students, graduate fellows, post-doctoral fellows, or other adult learners.
Evaluation of Applications:
Applications will be evaluated for the basic qualifications described above. Applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated to assess education, experience, and/or training that addresses the following competencies:
- Knowledge of methods, goals, and practices of fellowships and internships.
- Skill in administering the selection and placement aspects of internship and fellowship programs.
- Knowledge of best practices for professional development of trainees in environmental science research to develop and update training courses.
- Ability to work with researchers, students, STEM professionals, and administrators from the United States and abroad.
Notes:
Please note that this is a federal position and applications can only be accepted through the USAJobs portal. Some aspects of applications for federal positions may differ from applications for non-federal jobs. Please review our Tips for Applying for Federal Jobs as you prepare your application. Be sure to use the correct link below when applying. All applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be considered, regardless of which link you use to apply.
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