Staff Positions

Reporting to: Chief Academic Officer
Schedule: Permanent full-time
Location: Remote
Travel required: 4-5 weeks per year
Salary range: ($80 to $90k) commensurate with experience

Summary

The Summer Science Program (SSP) is an independent non-profit that offers teens an exhilarating and inspiring immersion into hands-on experimental science. Working in teams of three, 36 participants and 7 faculty form a supportive “living and learning community” over 39 days. Each team completes a real research project, taking and analyzing original data. Afterward, they join a worldwide network of 2,500+ alumni of all ages. More information can be found at www.summerscience.org.

As the Vice President of Institutional Relations, you will forge and maintain relationships among SSP, its university sites and partners, foundations, and other nonprofit organizations with similar missions/goals. The VP communicates the philosophy of SSP, our program offerings, and benefits of partnership/support to other organizations including potential host institutions for SSP programs, foundations, nonprofits, and government agencies.

The VP is responsible for meeting or exceeding SSP’s expansion needs and objectives and assisting senior leadership with growing the size and reach of the nonprofit organization and its programs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Promote good relationships and create networking opportunities and support for SSP with representatives of outside institutions or groups.
• Identify new opportunities for SSP to partner with and/or seek funding from foundations, corporations, consortia, and universities
• Identify new sites for the operation of SSP programs. This includes checking for suitability and working with staff to identify sites of strategic importance
• Creates and cultivates relationships with university administration and faculty in relevant departments at host universities.
• Develop and maintain relationships with university administration and department chairs and faculty in relevant disciplines and identify possible SSP faculty.
• Travel to SSP host institutions to develop or renew relationships
• Develop and sign memoranda of understanding (MOU) with host campuses
• Work with CAO, VP of Program Operations, and VP of Faculty Recruitment/training to identify and secure laboratory space, dormitory space, office space, equipment, and technical facilities for SSP on each site as needed
• Consistently operates within, and is measured with respect to, SSP’s mission and values.
• Periodically attend outreach opportunities to maintain relationships with college host sites.
• Prepare ad-hoc, quarterly, and annual board reports to reflect recruitment efforts and advancements during the current period.
• SSP retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Education

• Master’s degree or higher in STEM, AND 3-5 years working in university administration or educational nonprofit management/administration or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills are required.

Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills are required.
• Understanding of access and equity issues for historically underrepresented populations in science.
• Intermediate computer skills (experience with Microsoft Office suite).
• Marketing and promotional experience preferred to assist with program awareness.
• An entrepreneurial work ethic with ownership and accountability for your goals.

Working Conditions

The position is full-time remote with a comprehensive benefits program and flexible schedule.

The working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Constantly operates a computer.
• The ability to observe details at a close range and the ability to adjust focus.
• The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Travel to twice yearly in-person staff meetings plus occasional travel to SSP sites and/or university partner sites.

Clearance Requirements

• Authorization to work in the United States
• Background clearance

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification. SSP values a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you are excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all the qualifications, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other opportunities.