Associate Director, Fellowships & Professional Learning
The New York Academy of Sciences, New York, NY, United States
Summary
The Associate Director, Fellowships & Professional Learning reports to the Senior Vice President, Scientific Programs and Awards, and leads the strategy, execution, and growth of the Academy’s scientific Fellowships & Professional Learning portfolio. This includes programs such as the Leon Levy Scholarships in Neuroscience and the Science Alliance program for graduate students and post‑doctoral researchers. The portfolio advances the Academy’s mission by supporting exceptional early‑career scientists through direct research funding and structured mentorship, while equipping a global community of researchers with the critical skills to navigate diverse career pathways and strengthen the scientific workforce. As the portfolio expands across disciplines and career stages, the Associate Director will play a key role in shaping strategic partnerships, securing new sources of support, and engaging key stakeholders—including funders, institutional partners, and program participants—while driving program innovation, impact assessment, and operational excellence across the portfolio.
Essential Duties
Develop and implement the strategic vision for the Fellowships & Professional Learning portfolio in partnership with the SVP, aligning programs with the Academy’s mission and growth objectives.
Translate strategic priorities into actionable program plans and clearly communicate goals, timelines, and expectations across internal teams.
Drive the development and continuous improvement of Fellowships & Professional Learning programs, including workshops, seminars, cohort‑based learning experiences, structured mentorship initiatives, and related convenings and events.
Oversee Fellowships administration and lead portfolio‑wide impact assessment and reporting, tracking participant progress and outcomes, and delivering high‑quality reporting to funders, sponsors, institutional partners, and members.
Lead and oversee Program Managers in the design, delivery, and evaluation of Fellowship & Professional Learning programs, ensuring high‑quality participant experiences and measurable impact across in‑person, virtual, and hybrid formats.
Lead the development and management of strategic partnerships with NYC‑based, U.S. national, and international academic institutions, research organizations, and other stakeholders.
Play a key role in revenue generation and cost‑recovery goals by partnering with the Advancement team to secure funding to sustain and expand the portfolio, including developing proposals, identifying new funding opportunities, and supporting donor and sponsor engagement.
Collaborate with the Finance team on budget development, financial tracking, and reporting to support effective portfolio management, ensuring programs are delivered on time and within budget.
Coordinate with internal departments to plan and execute Fellowships selection, orientation, engagement activities, and related events in the U.S. and internationally.
General Responsibilities Strategic Contributions and Stakeholder Engagement
Develop a strong understanding of the Academy’s mission, strategy, and program portfolio, and contribute to discussions on long‑term goals from a programmatic, scientific, and workforce development perspective.
Cultivate and maintain relationships with scientific researchers, academic institutions, government agencies, industry partners, and professional learning stakeholders.
Maintain strong communication with program sponsors, funders, and institutional partners, contributing to stewardship and ongoing engagement.
Identify and pursue new funding opportunities and strategic partnerships to expand the reach and sustainability of Fellowship & Professional Learning programs.
Program Operations and Continuous Improvement
Ensure compliance with Academy policies, financial controls, and data reporting requirements.
Track financial obligations with sponsors and partners, coordinating with internal teams.
Establish and monitor program performance metrics across both Fellowship & Professional Learning initiatives; use data and participant feedback to inform continuous improvements.
Prepare regular updates for senior leadership, highlighting program performance, risks, opportunities, and impact.
Support recruitment and selection processes for Fellows, program participants, judges, and mentors, as well as the identification and engagement of expert facilitators, speakers, and instructors for Professional Learning programs, ensuring fairness and transparency.
Contribute to the development of policies, procedures, and best practices that guide application, evaluation, and selection processes as well as program delivery.
Collaborate with external partners and institutions to strengthen applicant pipelines, expand participation, and increase global engagement.
Supervisory Responsibility The Associate Director directly supervises two Program Managers who support the Academy’s Fellowships & Professional Learning portfolio, overseeing day‑to‑day activities, workload management, and performance evaluation and providing mentorship and professional development support.
Requirements
Ph.D. in Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering, or a related field.
Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in academia, industry, nonprofit/NGO, higher education, publishing, or government.
Experience designing, managing, and scaling Fellowship and/or Professional Learning programs, preferably for scientific, technical, or academic audiences.
Ability to synthesize and communicate complex scientific information outside your own area of expertise.
Experience developing successful funding proposals, securing sponsorship, or building partnerships that support program growth and sustainability.
Strong project‑management skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines across teams and partners.
Excellent interpersonal and relationship‑management skills; ability to work with scientists, educators, and stakeholders across sectors.
Experience working with or applying adult‑learning principles, instructional design, or participant‑centered program design approaches.
Comfort with program budgeting and financial tracking; ability to support cost‑recovery models and reporting to funders.
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills; ability to propose improvements based on data and feedback.
Professionalism, integrity, and judgment; a collaborative team player committed to the Academy’s mission.
Work Schedule The Academy operates during standard business hours Monday‑through‑Friday from 9am‑5pm ET. Standard work week is 35 hours, unless otherwise noted. The Academy offers a flexible hybrid work model. In‑office days are determined in coordination with the team and leadership, with regular in‑person collaboration required. The Associate Director is expected to attend all events and activities associated with the Fellowships & Professional Learning program portfolio. This position is primarily sedentary and performed in a professional office environment. Employees regularly use standard office equipment and may be required to sit, stand, walk, bend, or lift light items (up to 10 pounds).
Compensation & Benefits Salary Range: $95,000–$105,000 annually. This is a full‑time, exempt position. The salary listed represents a target range; final compensation will depend on experience and qualifications. Additional benefits include health insurance, a retirement plan with employer matching, a personal and career development stipend, and generous paid time off.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The New York Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination, on the basis of any legally protected characteristic, including race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds in the sciences.
Reasonable Accommodations The Academy is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and applicants throughout the recruitment and employment process. If you need assistance or accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at hr@nyas.org.
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Essential Duties
Develop and implement the strategic vision for the Fellowships & Professional Learning portfolio in partnership with the SVP, aligning programs with the Academy’s mission and growth objectives.
Translate strategic priorities into actionable program plans and clearly communicate goals, timelines, and expectations across internal teams.
Drive the development and continuous improvement of Fellowships & Professional Learning programs, including workshops, seminars, cohort‑based learning experiences, structured mentorship initiatives, and related convenings and events.
Oversee Fellowships administration and lead portfolio‑wide impact assessment and reporting, tracking participant progress and outcomes, and delivering high‑quality reporting to funders, sponsors, institutional partners, and members.
Lead and oversee Program Managers in the design, delivery, and evaluation of Fellowship & Professional Learning programs, ensuring high‑quality participant experiences and measurable impact across in‑person, virtual, and hybrid formats.
Lead the development and management of strategic partnerships with NYC‑based, U.S. national, and international academic institutions, research organizations, and other stakeholders.
Play a key role in revenue generation and cost‑recovery goals by partnering with the Advancement team to secure funding to sustain and expand the portfolio, including developing proposals, identifying new funding opportunities, and supporting donor and sponsor engagement.
Collaborate with the Finance team on budget development, financial tracking, and reporting to support effective portfolio management, ensuring programs are delivered on time and within budget.
Coordinate with internal departments to plan and execute Fellowships selection, orientation, engagement activities, and related events in the U.S. and internationally.
General Responsibilities Strategic Contributions and Stakeholder Engagement
Develop a strong understanding of the Academy’s mission, strategy, and program portfolio, and contribute to discussions on long‑term goals from a programmatic, scientific, and workforce development perspective.
Cultivate and maintain relationships with scientific researchers, academic institutions, government agencies, industry partners, and professional learning stakeholders.
Maintain strong communication with program sponsors, funders, and institutional partners, contributing to stewardship and ongoing engagement.
Identify and pursue new funding opportunities and strategic partnerships to expand the reach and sustainability of Fellowship & Professional Learning programs.
Program Operations and Continuous Improvement
Ensure compliance with Academy policies, financial controls, and data reporting requirements.
Track financial obligations with sponsors and partners, coordinating with internal teams.
Establish and monitor program performance metrics across both Fellowship & Professional Learning initiatives; use data and participant feedback to inform continuous improvements.
Prepare regular updates for senior leadership, highlighting program performance, risks, opportunities, and impact.
Support recruitment and selection processes for Fellows, program participants, judges, and mentors, as well as the identification and engagement of expert facilitators, speakers, and instructors for Professional Learning programs, ensuring fairness and transparency.
Contribute to the development of policies, procedures, and best practices that guide application, evaluation, and selection processes as well as program delivery.
Collaborate with external partners and institutions to strengthen applicant pipelines, expand participation, and increase global engagement.
Supervisory Responsibility The Associate Director directly supervises two Program Managers who support the Academy’s Fellowships & Professional Learning portfolio, overseeing day‑to‑day activities, workload management, and performance evaluation and providing mentorship and professional development support.
Requirements
Ph.D. in Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering, or a related field.
Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in academia, industry, nonprofit/NGO, higher education, publishing, or government.
Experience designing, managing, and scaling Fellowship and/or Professional Learning programs, preferably for scientific, technical, or academic audiences.
Ability to synthesize and communicate complex scientific information outside your own area of expertise.
Experience developing successful funding proposals, securing sponsorship, or building partnerships that support program growth and sustainability.
Strong project‑management skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines across teams and partners.
Excellent interpersonal and relationship‑management skills; ability to work with scientists, educators, and stakeholders across sectors.
Experience working with or applying adult‑learning principles, instructional design, or participant‑centered program design approaches.
Comfort with program budgeting and financial tracking; ability to support cost‑recovery models and reporting to funders.
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills; ability to propose improvements based on data and feedback.
Professionalism, integrity, and judgment; a collaborative team player committed to the Academy’s mission.
Work Schedule The Academy operates during standard business hours Monday‑through‑Friday from 9am‑5pm ET. Standard work week is 35 hours, unless otherwise noted. The Academy offers a flexible hybrid work model. In‑office days are determined in coordination with the team and leadership, with regular in‑person collaboration required. The Associate Director is expected to attend all events and activities associated with the Fellowships & Professional Learning program portfolio. This position is primarily sedentary and performed in a professional office environment. Employees regularly use standard office equipment and may be required to sit, stand, walk, bend, or lift light items (up to 10 pounds).
Compensation & Benefits Salary Range: $95,000–$105,000 annually. This is a full‑time, exempt position. The salary listed represents a target range; final compensation will depend on experience and qualifications. Additional benefits include health insurance, a retirement plan with employer matching, a personal and career development stipend, and generous paid time off.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The New York Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination, on the basis of any legally protected characteristic, including race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds in the sciences.
Reasonable Accommodations The Academy is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and applicants throughout the recruitment and employment process. If you need assistance or accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at hr@nyas.org.
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