Academic Coordinator for Large Enrollment Courses - Molecular and Cell Biology

Salary range:
The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table for the current salary scale for this position:Table 36. A reasonable full-time salary range estimate for this position is $95,000 to $140,000.

Percent time:
100%

Position duration:
One year, with potential for extension

The Department of Molecular Cell Biology (MCB) seeks a highly organized, collaborative, and dedicated Academic Coordinator to manage, direct, and align operational and instructional components for large-enrollment courses including General Biology Lecture and Laboratory (Bio 1A and Bio 1AL)and Survey of the Principles of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (MCB 102). Serving as the foundational gateway for most biological science majors on campus, and encompassing fundamental principles for MCB majors, these high-impact courses serve over 2,500 students annually across the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. The successful candidate from this search will be offered an initial one-year appointment with possible renewal.

The Academic Coordinator will manage the overall operations of several courses, holding year-round responsibility for course administration and curriculum consistency, and serving a lead for instructional support staff, as well as GSI hiring and assignments. Additionally, the coordinator actively collaborates with faculty to modernize instructional methods, ensuring a supportive and equitable learning environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Academic Leadership & Teaching Innovation

• Course Instruction & Design: Provide support to the Instructors for Bio 1A (Lecture), Bio 1AL (Lab), collectively serving ~650 students in regular semesters and ~240 in summers, as well as MCB 102, serving ~450 students each semester and ~200 in summers . Partner with faculty on curriculum improvement -such as establishing digital quiz banks, developing post-lab assessments, and designing future case studies (e.g., pedigree analysis or genetic counseling experiments).

• Quality Assurance & Faculty Support: Attend lectures regularly to assist with logistical issues and verify that exam coverage remains aligned with classroom instruction. Onboard and mentor new faculty regarding campus systems, student expectations, and departmental policies.

2. Examination, Grading, & Standardization

• Inter-Semester Alignment: Actively minimize instruction and grading differences between the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms to guarantee a consistent educational foundation for all students.

• Exam Logistics & Room Booking: Reserve separate lecture halls per midterm exam, identify and assign readers to proctor each room, and coordinate make-up exams.

• Course Tech, Gradebooks, & Exam Preparation: Manage the master bCourses portal; audit master grade books; create Gradescope templates and grading keys, proof exams, coordinate exam copying and pickup, utilize exam scanning software to prevent grading delays, distribute regrading requests.

• Grade Resolutions: Liaise with professors from previous semesters to resolve incomplete grades, and handle formal student grade disputes and academic dishonesty cases.

3. Personnel & Operational Administration

• Staff Management & Training: Support the Primary Instructors in recruiting, training, and supervising an annual instructional staff of 48 Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs)/Lecturers, ~40 Lab Interns, and 4 readers. Schedule instructor meetings with GSIs.

• Bio 1AL Staff Coordination: Collaborate with Bio 1AL staff (Lab Instruction Supervisor and Lab Assistant) to ensure careful coordination of course administration and logistics.

• Logistics & Contingency Support: Responsible room scheduling, and grade file databases. Provide emergency support, such as supplying backup datasets during lab collection anomalies or substituting as a discussion/lab instructor when staff absences arise.

• Budget Monitoring: Collaborate with the laboratory support manager to oversee material costs, keeping operations aligned with the annual program budget.

4. Student Support

• DSP & Accommodations Management: Coordinate directly with the Disabled Students Program (DSP); secure specialized proctors, manage alternative exam times, reserve additional rooms as needed, dynamically extend deadlines, orchestrate make-up labs for students impacted by extenuating circumstances, and coordinate exam delivery and pickup .

• Manage student communications: Respond to student logistical inquiries regarding attendance, iClicker functionality, exams, and athletic accommodations.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Bachelor's degree (or equivalent international degree).

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

Five or more years experience in teaching or course development at the university-level.

Preferred qualifications

Ph.D. or equivalent professional experience in a field related to biology.

Experience with academic administrative structures, course management systems, and database management, or similar.

Experience collaborating with multiple course instructors and/or supervising instructional staff.

Demonstrated ability to manage large academic programs, courses, or similar.

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

References will only be contacted for the final candidates

Apply link:
https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05452

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Unless stated otherwise, unambiguously, in the position description, this position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

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