The Active Societal Participation In Research and Education (ASPIRE) Program invites
applications for a Program Manager to support and advance engagement in place-based,
community-based geoscience research.

Position Overview:
The Program Manager coordinates programmatic offerings; supporting community members,
academic participants, resources, and communications. The program manager also manages
budgets, reporting, Institutional Review Board amendments and data management for the social
science research, and is a lead in the convenings associated with ASPIRE at the American
Geophysical Union and with community partners, The Program Manager will work with a
diverse network of external parties. This includes participants in programmatic offerings, host
communities, academic institutions, and NGOs, as well as provide support across ASPIRE’s
internal leadership team. It is preferred that the Program Manager has experience in both
scientific research and community engagement.

The Program Manager will provide administrative and project management leadership for
ASPIRE and will report to Dr. Lora Harris at UMCES.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities
● Strategic Planning & Communication:
● Project Management:
● Convening Coordination:
● Administrative Leadership:
● Other duties as assigned.

Examples of this work include: Coordinate annual reporting and the ASPIRE budget. Support
strategic communications and facilitate steering committee and other management meetings.
Support ASPIRE team with event planning and execution. Work with internal and external
parties to organize travel, accommodations, meals, event space, and reimbursement logistics.
Creatively problem solve when challenges arise and ensure clear communication between
parties. Manage ASPIRE forms, agreements, and contracts. Support development of applications
in Qualtrics. Coordinate with IRB and social science research/evaluation teams. Work with
UMCES Business Office and ASPIRE partners to ensure timely stipend and honorarium
payment. Manage purchases and expenses across multiple grants.

Special Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Prior Experience
● Strong communication and interpersonal skills, and experience working with both
Academic Geoscience and Place-based non-science communities.
● Highly organized; able to create and manage work plans and timelines for complex
projects with multiple deadlines and products.
● Excellent writing and editing skills, especially in plain language summaries of complex
work.
● Quantitative administrative experience, including budgeting and forecasting.

● Experience in organizing and managing multi-person working meetings and in
facilitating and encouraging attendees to complete work effectively without
micromanaging them.
● Strong emotional intelligence including being able to read verbal and non-verbal cues
during in-person and online meetings, manage diverse groups to ensure equity and
equality of voice/participation.
● Works creatively and independently as a team member.
 

Minimum Qualifications:
● Bachelor’s Degree Plus 2 years experience.
● CITI certification in social and behavioral human subject research is required.
● Experience managing travel through SAP Concur is required.
● Ability and willingness to travel overnight.
● Ability and willingness to work occasional early mornings, nights, and/or weekends
associated with ASPIRE programmatic events.
● Working knowledge of basic computer software (e.g. Microsoft Office, Zoom, Qualtrics).
● Residency in Maryland, Metro DC Region required.

Preferences:

Masters degree is preferred. Geoscientist background OR experience working to bridge academic-community

relations strongly preferred

Location:
UMCES Chesapeake Biological Laboratory / Hybrid
UMCES Chesapeake Biological Laboratory is located in Solomons, MD. Located at the convergence of the Patuxent River Estuary with the Chesapeake Bay,
CBL has a strong history of research in fisheries, ecosystem restoration and management,
geochemistry, and ecotoxicology.

About CBL and UMCES
The Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, located on the Patuxent River in Solomons, Maryland, is the oldest state-supported marine laboratory on the U.S. East Coast. CBL faculty conduct research spanning fisheries science, ecosystem dynamics, biogeochemistry, and coastal resilience, with strong connections to regional management and policy.

UMCES is a graduate research institution within the University System of Maryland, dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge of environmental systems and applying science to solve complex environmental challenges.

Required Application Materials: (1) Cover letter, (2) a CV, and (3) contact information for three references