Description

Salary: $92,000 - $120,000

Status: Full Time

POSITION: Program Director/Sr. Lecturer, Science Writing Program
REPORTS TO: Associate Dean, Graduate and Professional Programs
INSTITUTION: Johns Hopkins University

Institution Description:
The Johns Hopkins University invites applications for the position of Program Director of the Master of Arts in Science Writing, within the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences' Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) Division. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Graduate and Professional Programs and the Program Chair of Science Writing, the Faculty Program Director will have significant interaction with other Program Directors, Program Coordinators, AAP staff, and administrators.  The Program Director will create and sustain the excellence of the program, will foster and lead ongoing innovation in the curriculum, and will pursue efficiency and excellence in support of the program's faculty and students. JHU is committed to hiring candidates who, through their teaching and service, will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community. 

Advanced Academic Programs

The Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) offers high-quality master's degrees at its Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., at JHU's Homewood Campus in Baltimore, Maryland, and online. AAP distinguishes itself through its intensive instructional assistance, selective admissions, and over 60 dedicated full-time faculty. Tenured Krieger School faculty members serve as program chairs to oversee the academic rigor of AAP's graduate offerings. For more information, see https://advanced.jhu.edu/.

The Program Director position is a full-time, non-tenure-track, 12-month renewable faculty position with the academic title of Senior Lecturer. The Program Director will have significant interaction/collaboration with departmental staff and other Program Directors within AAP.

Academic Responsibilities

-       Teach three graduate courses per year, which includes the preparation for and time spent in the classroom (online or onsite), using best practices for online teaching, engaging and mentoring students from diverse backgrounds in the learning process, and responding to student questions

-       Engage, advise, and mentor students from diverse backgrounds in the learning process

-       Provide innovative leadership for curriculum design and new course development to ensure the growth and delivery of the programs.

-       Other academic duties normally performed by full-time faculty, such as participating on committees, keeping current in this academic field, attending academic conferences, or contributing to other academic endeavors

-       University service

Administrative Responsibilities

-       Supervise full-time and adjunct faculty hiring, development,?and evaluation, making personnel decisions in consultation with the Program Chair and KSAS Dean or designee 

-       Manage an operational budget for the MA in Science Writing 

-       Oversee program admissions, including reviewing and approving prospective students' admissions materials

-       Schedule courses, set teaching assignments, and offer administrative oversight on the logistics and planning of residency courses

-       Oversee thesis process, including assigning thesis advisors and coordinating thesis submissions

-       Serve as faculty advisor for the program's student magazine

-       Coordinate with staff in student and faculty services, online education, marketing, finance, and enrollment services departments on operational issues related to program administration 

-       Lead alumni outreach and social media

-       Coordinate program promotion and outreach, including interacting with outside groups and developing external/internal partnerships

Requirements

Qualifications

The Program Director role is critical to maintaining the overall high quality of the program. The Program Director must be entrepreneurial, energetic, collaborative, and inclusive. They will bring passion for education and its power to change lives, especially for part-time and non-residential students, combined with the business acumen necessary to lead a successful professional-education enterprise. The Program Director will have expertise in and knowledge of the ongoing changes and challenges facing the fields of science journalism and communication and have a clear vision and innovative ideas for how to prepare students for today's job market. A track record of building successful graduate courses, as well as skills in  instructional technology, are important, as is experience with delivering an excellent student experience. Candidates who have experience teaching and engaging students from diverse backgrounds are of particular interest. 

To be considered, candidates should meet a set of minimum qualifications and ideally meet several additional preferred qualifications.  

Minimum Qualifications

-       Graduate degree in Science Writing or a relevant field such as journalism, nonfiction writing, or a science discipline.

-       Five-plus years of higher education teaching experience online and/or at the graduate level

-       The ability to teach a wide variety of Science Writing courses, including workshops and Thesis & Careers in Science Writing

-       Demonstrated track record of excellence in teaching and innovation in curriculum design 

-       3 or more years of management or leadership experience

-       Extensive science writing portfolio (books, essays, and/or news articles that communicate science to the layperson)

-       Strong organizational skills 

-       The ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with competing demands and multiple deadlines 

-       Excellent oral and written communication skills 

Preferred Qualifications

-       Three to five years of work experience as a writer

-       Experience managing a degree program

-       MFA or Ph.D.

Application Instructions

The position will remain open until filled. Candidates must submit the following:

• Cover letter that contains a program vision statement
• CV
• Teaching evaluations for the two most recent courses taught
• Word document with links to three or more publications
• Names of three references and their contact information
• Unofficial transcripts

The selected candidate will undergo a background check, provide references upon request, and submit official transcripts for all degrees awarded.