Training & Professional Developement Assistant

About the Society for Neuroscience

Founded in 1969, the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) now has more than 36,000 members in more than 95 countries. Year-round programming includes the publishing of two highly regarded scientific journals, JNeurosci and eNeuro; professional development resources and career training through Neuronline¸ the Society’s home for learning and discussion; science advocacy and public policy engagement including annual Capitol Hill Day; and a variety of engaging public outreach efforts, led by the expanding and interactive collection of public-facing resources on BrainFacts.org. SfN’s annual meeting regularly attracts more than 30,000 attendees, representing 80 countries; 536 exhibiting companies; and close to 300 journalists.

SfN exists to:

1. Advance scientific exchange;
2. Support the neuroscience community;
3. Educate and engage the public; and
4. Advocate for the field.

Position Summary

The Training Assistant is a key member of a highly functioning and productive team that implements a broad range of programs to serve the career development needs of diverse segments of the Society’s nearly 37,000 members around the world. Working closely with the Training Grants Manager, the Assistant is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operations of the department’s multifaceted portfolio. The Assistant supports committee activities, provides administrative support to SfN programming, such as correspondence and scheduling, and supports communication about the scientific training and professional development initiatives of the Society.

Essential Job Functions

• Administration
  • Provide logistical and organizational support for all meetings and events for the Neuroscience Training Committee and Professional Development Committee, including travel, documentation, and other activities as needed to an acceptable level of quality.
  • Provide logistical and organizational support for Advocacy and Training Department-related events at the SfN Annual Meeting – including the Professional Development Workshops, committee meetings, pre-conference workshops and courses, Graduate School Fair, and Early Career Poster Session. Additional events will be assigned as needed.
  • Participate as a supportive and engaged team member to ensure successful execution of special projects and events.
  • Coordinate general office administration, including financial requests, invoicing, and expense tracking within the team and department as appropriate.
• Training and Professional Development
  • Assist the department in planning and executing SfN’s scientific training and professional development portfolios, consisting of in-person events (workshops and courses at the Annual Meeting) and year-round digital programming (webinars and virtual conferences).
  • Support Training Specialist with year-round Institutional Program (IP) memberships, renewals, benefits, membership queries, and correspondence.
  • Help to schedule and administer planning calls and virtual meetings with committee members, volunteers, and other programmatic faculty. Take minutes as appropriate during these calls.
  • Ensure program and project SOPs are updated and new SOPs are created as needed.
  • Ensure department filing is neat and up to date.

• Communication
  • Assist with the writing, proofreading, editing, and compilation of departmental communications, correspondence, and publications; solicit content for member newsletters.
  • Respond to member and functional inquires sent to program alias emails.
  • Update the content on the Advocacy and Training Department’s web pages as needed.
  • General Duties

1. Serve as an engaged and involved team member, supportive of the varied experiences and perspectives of internal and external colleagues.
2. Support and actively build a culture dedicated to superior customer service that exceeds member expectations.
3. Work within the team and among teams to ensure that decisions are made to further the department and organization’s joint goals.
4. Participate in regular meetings with department senior staff to ensure project targets are being met.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from a 4-year college or university required.
• Experience with customer service or a membership organization is preferred.

Qualifications

• Language Ability:
  • Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format.
• Math Ability:
  • Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• Reasoning Ability:
  • Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Computer Skills:
  • To perform this job successfully, the incumbent should have strong skills with MS Office and the ability to learn new software.

Location

• Remote: Employees can work remotely in the U.S. as part of a 35-hour workweek with core hours from 10am-3pm Eastern time. A reliable high-speed internet connection is essential.

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. The employee may be required to travel.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
• While performing the duties of the job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, sit, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• During SfN’s Annual Meeting, the employee may do extensive walking, sitting, and lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health plan through United Healthcare with a fully funded HRA up to $1,500, plus dental and vision coverage through MetLife
• Remote and hybrid work flexibility
• 40-52 days of annual paid time off based on tenure, including holidays, vacation, and sick leave
• 20 days of paid parental leave for new parents
• Retirement plans with employer contributions up to 8%
• Education assistance
• ASAE memberships
• Wellness and technology stipend
• Flexible Fridays
• Employee assistance plans
• Life and disability insurance
• Flexible spending accounts

How to apply

Interested applicants may submit their cover letter and resume online at https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=8b6d41ce-5cc2-495d-a05b-f868a0835315&ccId=19000101_000001&lang=en_US. If you are unable to access the direct link, go to https://www.sfn.org/ and navigate to "Jobs at SfN" under Quick Links. Incomplete applications will not be considered. No phone calls/emails, please.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

Society for Neuroscience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.