Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Director of Instructional Support in Physics, U California Berkeley

The Physics Department invites applications for a full-time position to manage instructional support for undergraduate physics courses serving physics majors and students from across the campus.  The position supervises five full-time staff who support lower division instructional labs, lecture demonstrations, and advanced lab courses enrolling more than 2500 students per semester.  This position works closely with faculty and graduate student instructors of upper division courses to develop and support innovation in our upper division teaching methods. This can include a range of activities such as effecting significant shifts in teaching pedagogy, introduction of peer-learning techniques, integration of lab/discussion sections, and improvement of current classroom lab experiments as well as development of new experiments.   He or she collaborates with a new lower division academic coordinator to implement similar changes in introductory-level course sequences.
Responsibilities Reporting directly to the Physics Director of Administration, this position provides leadership for staff, develops and directs operations to support instruction, and implements the departments goals for improving instruction.  Duties include but are not limited to:
  • Recruit, train, and supervise staff.
  • Prepare and manage budgets while working with faculty and staff when seeking supplemental funding from campus, granting agencies, and donors.
  • Consult with instructors on the goals for lower division and upper division physics courses.  Advise and support instructors to incorporate more effective student-centered instructional strategies in their classes.
  • Provide formative and summative assessments of student learning.
  • Develop and implement new laboratory exercises for advanced lab courses.
  • Manage laboratory facilities and equipment for instruction.
  • Provide ideas, guidance, and resources for outreach programs, departmental special events, and visitors.
  • Attend regional and national conferences and participate in on-line forums to keep abreast of developments in physics education and curriculum improvements. Build relationships with colleagues at other universities and colleges and communicate results of local reforms to the larger community.
Qualifications A Masters degree in physics, a related physical science, or physics education research or a Bachelors degree and substantial graduate study in these fields is required by date of hire, along with two years of university-level teaching experience and evidence of strong teaching performance. Knowledge of relevant research and best practices in physics education as they pertain to classroom instruction, instructional labs and lecture demonstrations. Knowledge and experience with physics laboratory techniques and equipment, including data acquisition and analysis methods. Leadership and management skills, including ability to establish unit goals, set priorities, supervise staff, collaborate effectively, and ensure completion of multiple projects. Excellent oral and written communications skills. Preferred: Ph.D. in Physics or Physics Education Research. Experience designing and implementing lab/discussion/lecture curricula and materials. Experience supervising career staff in an academic environment.
Other Annual salary range $57,000- $112,200.  Hiring range $57,000-$94,000 Position includes full benefits. Open until filled; first review date May 7, 2013; preferred start June 3, 2013 .
This position has been designated as sensitive and may require a Criminal Background Check.  We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of a Criminal Background Check.

TO APPLY. Apply online at: http://jobs.berkeley.edu/  , job ID 15656. Include a resume, a statement of how your experience is relevant to this position, and names of at least three references. Submit your cover letter and resume as a single attachment when applying. The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.