Who we are: The American Physical Society (APS) is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics through its outstanding research journals, scientific meetings, and education, outreach, advocacy, and international activities. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and throughout the world.
Position Summary: The program lead develops and delivers initiatives that strengthen physics education and build department-level capacity across the physics community. The role works closely with the director and head of education to design and implement programs, resources, and systems-based tools that support inclusive learning environments.
This position also manages grant-funded projects, builds partnerships, and leads cross-functional efforts that align with APS' education strategy. Through leadership in areas such as committee engagement, resource development, and professional learning, the program lead supports educators, departments, and broader communities in physics education. The role also serves as liaison to the APS Committee on Education.
APS has a “remote first” concept that promotes equal treatment and equal access within the United States, independent of physical work location, with a majority of staff working primarily from remote work locations. APS values diversity and welcomes candidates from a variety of backgrounds. APS offers a dynamic work environment with an outstanding total compensation package, including salary, outstanding benefits, and excellent paid time off.
Responsibilities:
- Maintains accountability on project teams they lead to ensure deadlines and deliverables are met.
•
Makes recommendations to the head about matters affecting major program outcomes and APS' reputation.
•
Provides strategic oversight of eligibility and disbursement processes for resources that support program participants, ensuring equitable access and alignment with policy and funding guidelines.
•
Designs and implements new and existing initiatives aligned with the department's strategic plan, in collaboration with the head and director.
•
Serves as staff liaison for the APS Committee on Education.
•
Writes and edits articles, brochures, project reports, proposals, and web materials.
•
Develops and approves statements of work, estimates staff time, and prepares budgets for complex projects.
•
Designs and modifies budgets based on feedback and evaluation, and manages messaging to funders or other external partners regarding resources.
•
Recommends and implements major project improvements, in collaboration with the head, based on evaluation.
•
Creates evaluation criteria, in collaboration with the head.
•
Leads proposal writing teams and sponsorship discussions for specific projects.
•
Ensures reporting and contract requirements for project-specific grants are met.
•
Serves as principal investigator on Thriving Physics Departments grants, with support and mentoring from the head and director.
•
Provides or seeks guidance on approval of invoices for complex projects, as needed.
•
Plans, prepares, and facilitates complex meetings and convenings.
•
Participates in the hiring process, sets expectations, assesses performance, provides feedback, manages disciplinary actions for direct reports, and raises performance concerns for project team members.
•
Participates in and may lead cross-departmental teams to advance project goals.
Education: •
Advanced degree, preferably relevant to the physical or life science program area. Equivalent work experience also will be considered in lieu of advanced.
Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience.
•
Minimum of 5 years of program management experience, with a strong background in higher education and academic community engagement.
•
Advanced knowledge of systems of physics education, including effective practices and peer-reviewed literature.
•
Expertise in the needs and culture of academic environments and physics communities in the United States and internationally.
•
Knowledge of the science, technology, mathematics, and publishing landscape, including peer review and online education and knowledge-sharing platforms.
•
Proficiency in physics education research.
•
Experience supervising and managing staff.
•
Experience designing systems and processes to effectively manage, train, and retain volunteers.
•
Proven experience in proposal writing, grants, and project management.
•
Advanced skills in program design, implementation, scaling, and evaluation.
•
Proficiency in change management principles and techniques.
•
Excellent interpersonal communication, facilitation, and public speaking skills, with the ability to influence and lead change.
Travel:
- This position may require up to 20% travel to attend events and meetings, including travel to APS offices in Long Island, NY; Washington DC; and College Park, MD, as well as other off-site locations for periodic meetings and training sessions. Additional travel may be required as assigned by the supervisor.
Salary: The salary range for this position takes into account various factors influencing compensation decisions, such as skill sets, experience, training, and other business and organizational requirements. The salary listed within the specified ranges considers relevant experience. Our compensation philosophy at APS aims to maintain salaries at the midpoint of the market. As a result, we typically hire within the target starting range. Exceptional, rare cases may merit reviews above target starting range for specialized or niche skills aligned with strategic operational goals.
Hiring Range: $98,775/year - $134,581/year (USD)
Target Starting Range: $98,775/year - $109,887/year (USD)
Work Environment: As noted above, APS offers a “Remote First” workplace. Although our offices are located on Long Island, NY, College Park, MD and Washington DC, you can work from other places in the United States. We are flexible about work hours, but expect responsiveness during the core of the workday, Eastern Time.
Our Core Values:
- Scientific Method
- Trust, Integrity, and Ethical Conduct
- Equity, Diversity, and Respect
- Collaboration
- Education and Learning
- Speaking Out
Amazing 2025 Benefit Offerings:
- Flexible schedules and ability to work remotely
- 8% employer-paid retirement contribution
- Investment advisement services: 100% employer paid
- Medical benefits: PPO or HDHP option
- Employer contribution to FSA or HSA account, eligibility based on medical plan enrollment
- Lifestyle Spending benefit up to $2000.00 (USD) - 100% employer paid
- Dental benefits: individual coverage 100% employer paid
- Vision benefits: individual and dependent coverage 100% employer paid
- Basic Life & Accident insurance: employee coverage 100% employer paid
- Supplemental Life & Accident insurance, including spouse & dependent child(ren) coverage
- Disability insurance: employee coverage 100% employer paid
- Voluntary Accident & Critical Illness insurance
- Healthcare, Commuter & Dependent care flexible spending accounts
- Vacation: 15 days annually
- Generous holiday leave: 17 paid days of significance; includes one week closure at the end of December
- Personal leave: 4 days annually
- Volunteer leave: 1 day annually
- Sick leave: 10 days annually
- Bereavement & Compassion leave: 2 -15 days based on loss
- 12 weeks employer-paid family leave
- College tuition reimbursement plan
- Job related seminar & continuing education
- Professional Certification/Recertification 100% employer paid
- Training and professional development; access to LinkedIn Learning on-demand courses
- Employee Assistance Program
- Mindfulness Meditation: live and on-demand classes
- APS does not offer relocation assistance/costs
The American Physical Society is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of American Physical Society not to discriminate or allow the harassment of employees or applicants on the basis of race, religious creed, immigration status, alienage or citizenship, religion, color, ethnicity, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, protected veteran status, protected military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, predisposing genetic characteristics, ancestry, domestic violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by law with regard to any employment practices, including recruitment, advertising, job application procedures, hiring, upgrading, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, job assignments, benefits and/or other terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, provided the individual is qualified, with or without reasonable accommodations, to perform the essential functions of the job. This policy applies to all jobs at APS. The American Physical Society is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact APS Human Resources at hr@aps.org. The “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal'' poster, prepared by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), provides an overview of several laws that protect you from discrimination on the job, and several rights are afforded to you by these laws. The “Pay Transparency Non Discrimination Provision,” prepared by the U.S. Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), provides an overview of several protections implemented to protect individuals working under federal contracts from discrimination when inquiring about or discussing compensation; these protections apply to all employees and applicants. The APS has a "remote first" concept that promotes equal treatment and equal access, independent of physical work location, with a majority of staff working primarily from remote work locations.
#LI-SB1
