Apply to Become Engagement Committee Vice Chair

February 23, 2025

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is currently seeking a dedicated, social, and highly energetic individual to serve as vice chair of the NPA Engagement Committee (EnCom) from 2026 to 2029. The successful candidate will serve as vice chair for one year before serving as chair the following year, and chair emeritus the final year. The successful candidate will help lead and build a committee to enhance volunteer and member engagement and communication with the NPA, working closely with NPA staff and other volunteers.

Just as volunteers give time and energy to the NPA, the NPA is committed to providing volunteers opportunities for management, communication, leadership, and other professional skill development through this volunteer position.

Application Deadline: Monday, March 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Documents required: (1) page application statement and a one (1) page CV (see details below).

Eligibility: Members of the NPA (including Individual, Affiliate, and Organizational Member representatives).

Duration: This leadership role requires a three-year commitment (2026-2029). This committee leader will spend their first year as vice chair, second as chair, and their final year as chair emeritus.

EnCom is a new, action-oriented, collegial community committed to increasing engagement with the NPA among its many partners, including members and volunteers.

The mission of the EnCom is to increase partner engagement with the NPA through increased interaction, participation, and attention to issues, roles, and matters of importance to the NPA. Members of EnCom endeavor to increase interaction with the NPA through multiple dynamic channels, participation in NPA activities and volunteer commitments, and attention to topics and matters impacting the postdoctoral community.

EnCom leadership is composed of a vice chair, chair, and chair emeritus. Each year, as individuals transition into the next successive leadership position, the vice chair position is open for a successful applicant. Therefore, this leadership role as vice chair requires a three-year commitment to managing, running, and advising the committee, with the help of the other leaders and subcommittee co-chairs.

About the Vice Chair Role

As the EnCom is a newly formed committee in 2025, the work of all leaders, including the vice chair, is essential to the success of the new entity. The EnCom vice chair will work along with the EnCom chair, other committee leaders, any subcommittee chairs, the committee members, the NPA Board of Directors liaison, and NPA staff to advance the mission of the NPA via the duties listed below.

Service as a committee leader provides a great opportunity for NPA members to develop and hone leadership skills, expand professional networks, advance the mission of the NPA, and work with colleagues from across the world. The areas of work for the EnCom and its leadership are highly dependent on the external environment affecting postdocs, so the leadership must be able to pivot its focus as quickly as necessary.

Duties and Responsibilities

The vice chair helps to lead EnCom committee meetings; work with the subcommittees and their leaders; strategize with the chair; oversee development of media content in conjunction with staff for improved member engagement; oversee the subcommittee leaders including their work on the NPA LinkedIn and similar platforms for improved volunteer engagement; provide input from an engagement perspective across all areas of content creation and platform management working with NPA staff; and identify new and improved areas of engagement with the NPA community.

The NPA seeks to increase engagement (communication and interaction) with its dozens of volunteers and thousands of members. Since the EnCom is a new committee of the NPA, the vice chair is expected to be creative and collaborative in approaching the position. The NPA seeks to enrich the interaction of its members and volunteers with the organization through a suite of interactive methods.

The NPA wishes to ensure its volunteers and members are continually interested and actively engaged in the work of the NPA throughout their full relationship with the organization. This demands the right levels of communication with volunteers and members through a variety of channels to ensure proper levels of engagement to keep volunteers and members connected, fulfilled, and enthusiastic. The NPA already has means of communication, as well as a dedicated staff to populate them, but desires to enhance these through the contribution of the newly formed EnCom.

This work of the vice chair is intended to help yield a more engaged volunteer and member audience for the NPA across all its channels, not limited to social media. Similarly, the vice chair will work closely with the NPA staff and the EnCom Board liaison to seek new methods of enhancing engagement with the NPA by promoting energetic and enthusiastic interaction with volunteers and members.

Most business is accomplished via monthly video calls with committee members, another monthly video call with committee leadership only, and over email. The estimated weekly effort is approximately three to four hours.

Desired Skills

• Self-driven and proactive individual.
• Strong social media skills.
• Proven writing and editing skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, participation, and/or interest in publications.
• Demonstrated effective teamwork capacity and communication skills.
• Strong project management skills.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented; willing to lead administrative tasks to maintain committee records.
• Can meet deadlines effectively.
• While prior experience in engagement activities is not required, it would be a significant asset in this role.

Eligibility

Members of the NPA (including Individual, Affiliate, and Organizational Member representatives) are eligible to apply. If you work at an institution that is an Organizational Member, you can register as an Affiliate Member for free.

If you’re unsure if you’re eligible to sign up as an NPA member, check this list. If you are not yet an NPA member, visit the Join the NPA page for membership details. You do not have to be a current participant in the NPA EnCom to apply for this position.

Application Instructions

All interested persons must submit a one (1) page application statement or letter and a one (1) page CV/resume detailing their leadership experience. The application statement should include:

• Applicant's qualifications for the position,
• Why the applicant is interested in the position,
• Any relevant experience in engagement or communications-related work,
• A highlight of a desired skill stated above, and
• Your interest in and experience with the NPA and its mission.

All application documents must be emailed to engagement@nationalpostdoc.org by Monday, March 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

DEIB Statement

As outlined in its strategic plan and core values, the NPA is committed to achieving diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) as applied to all persons regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, disability, country of origin, field of research, geography, institution, socio-economic status, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity, in all disciplines at all organizations that train postdocs. The NPA strives to ensure that all members have open access and opportunities to contribute to the organization through leadership positions, involvement within the committee structure, and participation in annual meetings and other NPA-sponsored events. The NPA promotes advocacy for increased DEIB among postdoctoral scholars and fosters DEIB through activities, policies, and practices that are attuned to this commitment.