Jobs at Member Institutions & APLU

Title: Associate, Office of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources
Department: Office of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources
Supervisor: Executive Director, Board on Health and Human Sciences
Status: Full-Time; Non-Exempt
Staffing Level: Associate
Location: Washington, DC
Application Deadline: Accepting applications until the position is filled (preference will be given to applications submitted by May 19, 2023)

Summary

The Office of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources (FANR) seeks an Associate to support both the Board on Health and Human Sciences (BHHS) and the Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA). Within the BHHS, the Associate will assist with social media and communication activities, event planning, member engagement, graphic design, and administrative duties.  Administrative support for the BAA will include performing a broad array of administrative tasks to ensure effective office and project operations. This full-time position is based in Washington, DC. The incumbent must reside in DC, MD, or VA, be up-to-date with their COVID vaccinations, and pass standard background checks. The incumbent will be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. For more information about APLU, please visit www.aplu.org.

Background

APLU is a research, policy, and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening and advancing the work of public universities in the US, Canada, and Mexico. With a membership of more than 250 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and affiliated organizations, APLU’s agenda is built on three pillars of increasing degree completion and academic success, advancing scientific research, and expanding engagement. Annually, member campuses enroll 5.4 million undergraduates and 1.4 million graduates, award 1.5 million degrees, employ 1.3 million faculty and staff, and conduct $51 billion in university-based research.

The Board on Health and Human Sciences provides national leadership for over 40 member institutions with programs in the human sciences, including (but not limited to): Nutrition and Dietetics; Food Science; Family and Consumer Sciences; Community Health; Hospitality and Tourism Management; and Fashion Merchandising. The Board on Agriculture Assembly provides national leadership to over 85 Colleges of Agriculture and promotes agriculture in all of its phases (food, environment, agriculture, natural resources, and international).

Responsibilities

Administrative Support (40%)

• Provide administrative, logistical, and operational support on projects and processes, including: scheduling meetings, managing the Executive Director’s calendar, tracking timelines, processing expense reports/payment requests, reconciling credit card accounts, assisting with contract administration, etc.
• Assist with drafting and editing documents, meeting notes, and other communications.

Event Planning (30%)

• Coordinate logistics, scheduling, planning, and management of conferences and meetings (both virtual and in-person).

Communication & Membership Engagement (20%)

• Draft and carry out day-to-day social media activity, including the regular posting of relevant, engaging content, monitoring accounts, and coordinating and engaging others to further amplify information.
• With guidance and direction from the Executive Director, draft, edit, and send announcements and communications through our email marketing software (Marketo) and assist in the development of content and maintenance of webpages.
• Coordinate data management, including ensuring data is up to date in APLU’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system (Microsoft Dynamics).
• Maintain positive relations with a diverse group of member university representatives through in-person, virtual, and email interactions.

Additional Responsibilities (10%)

• Conduct research, draft, and edit reports and other communications on topics related to assigned activities.
• Be a supportive and contributing team member to the Office of FANR and APLU.
• Perform other duties as requested.

Preferred Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional communications and administrative support experience (work experience at a college/university, a higher education organization, and/or a non-profit organization a plus).
• Interest in agriculture, health, or human sciences-related disciplines (such as nutrition, food science, hospitality and tourism management, family and consumer sciences, etc.).
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Demonstrated organizational and planning skills, with keen attention to detail.
• Ability to balance multiple, complex tasks and priorities, resolve problems, meet deadlines, and recognize potential issues and bring them to the attention of the appropriate team members.
• Demonstrated ability to work both as part of a team and independently, taking direction from and communicating with multiple team members to keep track of activities and priorities on multiple projects.
• Experienced and skilled in the use of Microsoft Office products, social media, web-based research and information tools, and customer relations management (CRM) systems.
• Comfort using and learning new technologies.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to navigate relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience planning and coordinating events, including workshops, webinars, and conferences.
• Ability to travel domestically as needed.

To Apply

Please send a letter of interest (maximum of 2 pages) and resume to APLU’s Human Resources Department at resume@aplu.org with the subject line: FANR Associate. The letter of interest should focus on how the candidate’s education and/or professional background has prepared them to meet the qualifications and perform the job responsibilities described above. Preference will be given to applications submitted by May 19, 2023.

APLU is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, employing, training, compensating, and promoting staff regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.