Program Manager - Postdoctoral Education and Development

Washington University in St. Louis • Columbus, OH

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The WashU Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) is seeking a Program Manager for Postdoctoral Education and Development, who reports to the OPA Director and works collaboratively with other members of the OPA team. The Program Manager for Postdoctoral Education and Development is responsible for developing, implementing, and assessing postdoctoral education programs and initiatives that support professional, career, and skill development. This role leads the execution, evaluation and continuous improvement of a competency‑based postdoctoral education curriculum. The Program Manager serves as an expert advisor for postdocs, faculty, and staff, manages educational digital platforms, and identifies accessible advising resources. The role also establishes and maintains on- and off-campus partnerships and represents the OPA on internal and external committees. This position requires strong program design, analytical, and collaborative skills to advance high‑quality postdoctoral education and career development. The OPA serves around 1,000 postdoctoral appointees on both the Danforth Campus and the Medical Campus. As an active unit within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, the OPA works to ensure that postdoctoral appointees have the support they need to grow as scholars and make meaningful contributions to the university and beyond. We serve as experts on postdoctoral appointments, administer postdoctoral policy, advocate for postdoctoral issues, help postdocs reach their career and professional goals, and collaborate with institutional and national partners to create a lively, supported, and inclusive postdoctoral community.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.
• Relevant Experience (3 Years)
• Competencies in university-community partnership.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree
• Academic Administration
• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Analytical Thinking
• Audience Engagement
• Curriculum Development
• Detail-Oriented
• Higher Education Administration
• Higher Education Admissions
• Inclusion Strategies
• Instructional Material Development
• Interpersonal Communication
• Microsoft Office
• Needs Assessment
• Oral Communications
• Program Designing
• Scholarly Research
• Strategic Thinking
• Teaching
• Team Diversity
• Written Communication

Responsibilities

• Develops, implements, and assesses strategic initiatives for postdoctoral professional, career, and skill development following national best practices in postdoctoral education.
• Leads the implementation and refinement of a competency-based postdoctoral education curriculum.
• Develops and implements program evaluation plans, ensuring accurate tracking of participation, outcomes, and alignment with educational goals.
• Stays current on emerging trends and needs in the job market and the research community to inform curriculum design and programming.
• Contributes to the OPA leadership team providing specialized knowledge and skills to set and achieves organizational, programmatic, and operational goals.
• Establishes and maintains partnerships with key campus and local partners, professional societies, and national organizations involved in postdoctoral affairs.
• Represents the OPA on internal and external committees, fostering collaboration and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Acts as a resource expert and advisor for postdocs, staff, and faculty regarding procedures, postdoc career guidance, and complex situations in the postdoctoral experience.
• Manages educational digital platforms and maintains expertise in technology- and AI‑assisted learning, including appropriate and ethical use.
• Identifies and curates multi-platform digital advising resources that support postdoctoral education and career development.

Benefits

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
• Defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
• 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child.
• Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs.
• Adult care resources.
• Covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level