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Beyond Benign is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster a green chemistry education community that empowers educators to transform chemistry education for a sustainable future. Beyond Benign is seeking a professional individual for a new position as Database Coordinator. The incumbent will be responsible for the management of the community database and day-to-day technical operation of the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) online platform as well as reporting for the organization. Launching in summer/fall 2023, the GCTLC will be a virtual community space based in Drupal and CiviCRM where educators, students and industry partners can search for green chemistry education materials, create user profiles, post in forums, join groups, give and receive mentorship, share curriculum and educational resources, find upcoming events and job postings related to green chemistry, and so much more.

The Database Coordinator will work under the supervision of the Senior Program Manager and in partnership with other members of the Beyond Benign team to ensure the smooth operation and long-term sustainability of the GCTLC platform.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and catalogue Beyond Benign’s existing databases, including resources, spreadsheets, etc., in preparation for migration to the new GCTLC platform.
• Assist in the migration of large datasets to the new GCTLC database.
• Oversee the stewardship and long-term health of the GCTLC database of users, institutions, content, and information.
• Design, create and manage reports for fundraising, grant-writing, and annual reporting in support of Beyond Benign’s programs and the GCTLC.
• Assist in the technical aspects of testing, soft/hard launch, and maintenance of the platform.
• Develop and maintain documentation and standards.
• Identify and resolve production and/or application development problems related to the use of the database management system software or utilities.
• Provide technical support and assistance to GCTLC users through answering technical questions, troubleshooting, and more.
• Perform editing, basic maintenance and some minor development of GCTLC functional components.
• Create custom dashboards, new web pages, and more within the combined Drupal/CiviCRM system for the GCTLC.
• Liaise with the GCTLC’s technology vendor and host to ensure alignment with priorities, timelines, and deliverables as part of the platform’s launch, maintenance and evolution.
• Become the organizational expert in Drupal, CiviCRM, Google Analytics, and other software systems related to the operation and growth of the GCTLC as well as related to organizational reporting requirements.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or if you have a less traditional background.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Business Administration, Statistics, Mathematics, Accounting, Engineering or Computer Science or equivalent work experience required.
• Must have a minimum of 1 year of experience in data processing or database management systems and ideally experience with developing and/or managing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) databases/systems.
• Must have strong data analysis, organizational and data stewardship skills. Experience in website design and development is strongly desired.
• Attention to detail and excellent organizational, verbal and written communication skills are essential.
• Must have demonstrated ability to plan, execute, and track metrics for multiple projects simultaneously.
• Must be a strong team player, collaborative, willing to contribute to all team projects, and able to understand and respond to the needs of the organization and the education community.
• Must be eager to learn, connect with others, ask questions, and align with Beyond Benign’s values and mission.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1-2 years of project management experience is desired.
• Experience using Drupal, WordPress and/or other website development software is strongly desired.
• Experience using HTML, Javascript and other web-based coding languages is desired.
• Experience using CiviCRM is desired, but experience using other CRM systems will also be considered.
• Experience working in small dynamic organizations, the not-for-profit sector, and/or in academia/with educators is preferred.
• An understanding of accessibility needs in website design and database management is strongly preferred.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and with diverse identities to this position; including but not limited to: sex, gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, Indigenous identity, invisible and/or visible disabilities, cultural and/or religious upbringing, nationality, socio-economic status, body size and appearance, and/or intersections of these identities.

Terms: This is a full-time, 18-month contract position with the possibility of extension depending on funding and performance. The incumbent will be supervised by the Senior Program Manager for the GCTLC. Please note that this position is only open to applicants based in the U.S. and Canada.

Location: Remote

Compensation: Salary is negotiable and will be based on experience and qualifications. Benefits package/PTO available.

Start Date: Preferred start date is February 1, 2023. Review of applications will begin December 19, 2022 and will continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Apply: E-mail cover letter, resume and inquires to nicki_wiggins@beyondbenign.org.

About Beyond Benign:

Beyond Benign a 501(c)3 nonprofit, envisions a world where the chemical building blocks of products used every day are healthy and safe for humans and the environment. Beyond Benign’s mission is to foster a green chemistry community that empowers educators to transform chemistry education for a sustainable future. Beyond Benign is working to equip educators from K-20 with the ability to teach chemistry and STEM through a lens of sustainability grounded in the 12 principles of green chemistry. By providing educators with tools, training and a peer support networks, educators are equipped to train the next generation of scientists and citizens with the skills and knowledge to create and choose products that are safe for human health and the environment.

While our organization advocates for green chemistry education, we recognize that advocating for everyone to practice green chemistry, is not possible without consideration of the current discrimination and systemic barriers that affect members of the global chemistry community. Beyond Benign is fully committed to continuing and expanding our actions to support diversity, equity, belonging and respect in all that we do. We believe that making green chemistry accessible to all means practicing our work through a lens of diversity, equity, belonging, and respect (DEBR). This means respect and engagement for everyone in our organization, along with ensuring equity in areas such as compensation, benefits and career growth and opportunities. Diversity, equity and belonging together result in a better and stronger organization. Read our DEBR Statement and Commitments here.

Co-founded in 2007 by Dr. John Warner, the co-founder of the field of green chemistry, and Dr. Amy Cannon, who holds the world’s first Ph.D. in Green Chemistry, Beyond Benign has an extensive history of service. Over the past 15 years, Beyond Benign has trained over 6,500 K-12 teachers in sustainable science and green chemistry, designed over 200 open-access lessons, reached over 35,000 youth and community members through outreach, & partnered with over 100 universities to transform chemistry education.  Together we can catalyze the development of green technological innovations that result in safer products and processes in support of a sustainable, healthy society.

 

Beyond Benign is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster a green chemistry education community that empowers educators to transform chemistry education for a sustainable future. Beyond Benign is seeking a professional individual for a new position as Content Manager. The Content Manager role will be responsible for the management and overseeing the development of green chemistry resources and professional development trainings for K-12 and Higher Education educators.

The incumbent will work in partnership with educators from K-12 and Higher Education to manage the creation, revision and adaptation of green chemistry resources across K-12 and Higher Education for inclusion in the new Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) online platform and digital library. This will involve assessing, reviewing and cataloging Beyond Benign’s existing collection of resources, supporting the migration of resources and content to the new platform, assisting the Chief Editor and administrators in the management of reviewers and the peer review process for the platform, and helping to guide the overall direction and structure of scientific and educational content on the GCTLC. The incumbent will also lead groups of educators in the design and development of professional development training courses, including but not limited to modules to support Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) faculty educators and educators from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) looking to enhance their knowledge of green chemistry and gain skills in bringing sustainable science into the classroom.

The Content Manager will therefore require a mixed but complementary skillset including: a strong background in green chemistry and curriculum development; experience managing projects and working with faculty/educators; experience working to advance equity, diversity and professional development within higher education; and a solid mastery of the chemical literature (preferably in chemistry education and/or green chemistry) and knowledge of peer-review processes.

Responsibilities:

In Higher Education, the incumbent will work closely with the Director of Higher Education and the Program Manager, Higher Education to:

• Oversee the development of green chemistry training modules including (but not limited to) training modules developed by and for BIPOC faculty educators and educators based at MSIs. Responsibilities will include:
  • Gathering community feedback and recommendations;
  • Leading and managing a group of diverse faculty members in the creation of resources and trainings;
  • Scheduling and chairing regular working group meetings, delivering on target milestones and goals;
  • Implementing, testing, launching and facilitating the training modules and programs; and
  • Collaborating with different stakeholders across academia, not-for-profit, industry and more.

In the GCTLC, the incumbent will work closely with the Senior Program Manager to:

• Review, analyze and catalogue Beyond Benign’s existing database of K-12 and Higher Education green chemistry education curriculum resourcesand materials, including alignment with existing standards.
• Manage groups of faculty and content experts in the review and updating of select resources as needed.
• Help manage and assist in the testing, iterative improvement and launch of the GCTLC’s online searchable library, including testing of functionality, improvements to process flow, migration of content to the online library, and more.
• Manage the pool of reviewers for the GCTLC in collaboration with the Chief Editor, Senior Program Manager and Leadership Committee.
• Help to oversee the overall content development and direction of the GCTLC’s collections, including:
  • Managing targeted calls for new resources and content.
  • Curation of collections including industry case studies, subdiscipline curriculum materials (e.g., analytical, inorganic, etc.) and more.
  • Gathering community feedback and identifying and filling gaps in resource content expertise.
  • Working with partner organizations (including publishers, non-profit organizations, etc.) to further expand GCTLC library services.
  • Support the selection and work of guest editors to the platform
• Become the content expert on staff for the green chemistry education curriculum literature and landscape for the GCTLC.

 

Qualifications

We encourage you to apply, even if you do not believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or you have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in chemistry, chemistry education, and/or green chemistry. An equivalent amount of experience will also be considered (such as a MSc with additional relevant work experience).
• A minimum of 1 year of experience in program/project management, or equivalent experience, is strongly desired, including leading groups in the delivery of project milestones within project timelines.
• Attention to detail and excellent organizational, verbal and written communication skills are essential.
• Must have a strong grasp of the chemical literature, preferably in chemistry education and/or green chemistry.
• Must have demonstrated ability to plan, execute, and track metrics for multiple projects simultaneously.
• Must have demonstrated leadership skills and be a strong team player, collaborative, and able to understand and respond to the needs of the education community.
• Must be eager to learn, connect with others, ask questions, and align with Beyond Benign’s values and mission.
• Must be willing to travel to participate in conferences or events as needed (Beyond Benign will cover all transportation costs).
• Experience in working to advance equity and diversity in science education is strongly desired.
• Experience managing volunteer and contract educators is strongly desired.
• Experience in leadership, communication, and administration specifically within the academic or not-for-profit sectors is beneficial but not essential.
• Experience working with complex databases, online platforms, or in information management is beneficial but not essential.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and with diverse identities to this position; including but not limited to: sex, gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, Indigenous identity, invisible and/or visible disabilities, cultural and/or religious upbringing, nationality, socio-economic status, body size and appearance, and/or intersections of these identities.

Terms: This is a full-time, 2-year contract position with the possibility of extension depending on funding and performance. The incumbent will be supervised jointly by the Director of Higher Education and the Senior Program Manager for the GCTLC.

Location: Remote

Compensation: Salary is negotiable and will be based on experience and qualifications. Benefits package/PTO available.

Start Date: Preferred start date is April 1, 2023 or before. Review of applications will continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Apply: E-mail cover letter, resume and inquires to nicki_wiggins@beyondbenign.org.

About Beyond Benign:
Beyond Benign a 501(c)3 nonprofit, envisions a world where the chemical building blocks of products used every day are healthy and safe for humans and the environment. Beyond Benign’s mission is to foster a green chemistry community that empowers educators to transform chemistry education for a sustainable future. Beyond Benign is working to equip educators from K-20 with the ability to teach chemistry and STEM through a lens of sustainability grounded in the 12 principles of green chemistry. By providing educators with tools, training and a peer support networks, educators are equipped to train the next generation of scientists and citizens with the skills and knowledge to create and choose products that are safe for human health and the environment.

While our organization advocates for green chemistry education, we recognize that advocating for everyone to practice green chemistry, is not possible without consideration of the current discrimination and systemic barriers that affect members of the global chemistry community. Beyond Benign is fully committed to continuing and expanding our actions to support diversity, equity, belonging and respect in all that we do. We believe that making green chemistry accessible to all means practicing our work through a lens of diversity, equity, belonging, and respect (DEBR). This means respect and engagement for everyone in our organization, along with ensuring equity in areas such as compensation, benefits and career growth and opportunities. Diversity, equity and belonging together result in a better and stronger organization. Read our DEBR Statement and Commitments here.

Co-founded in 2007 by Dr. John Warner, the co-founder of the field of green chemistry, and Dr. Amy Cannon, who holds the world’s first Ph.D. in Green Chemistry, Beyond Benign has an extensive history of service. Over the past 15 years, Beyond Benign has trained over 6,500 K-12 teachers in sustainable science and green chemistry, designed over 200 open-access lessons, reached over 35,000 youth and community members through outreach, & partnered with over 100 universities to transform chemistry education.  Together we can catalyze the development of green technological innovations that result in safer products and processes in support of a sustainable, healthy society.

 

Mollie Enright is a Ph.D. candidate in chemistry at the University of Toledo where she researches the use of earth-abundant transition metals as catalysts for organic coupling reactions. Prior to starting graduate school, Mollie served as a program manager at Beyond Benign, working with classroom and informal educators to create resources, lead professional development, and spearhead community engagement events on the local and national level, with an emphasis on green chemistry and sustainability. As a graduate student, she continues to remain actively engaged in informal science education as Beyond Benign’s Graduate Student Liaison.

Juliana Vidal (she/her) earned her Ph.D. in the Green Chemistry and Catalysis Group at Memorial University of Newfoundland (St. John’s, NL, Canada), supervised by Prof. Francesca Kerton (Memorial University of Newfoundland) and co-supervised by Prof. Stephanie MacQuarrie (Cape Breton University). During her Ph.D., Juliana investigated new applications for a sustainable material obtained from wood waste called biochar. As a Postdoctoral Researcher supervised by Prof. Audrey Moores at McGill University, she worked on developing greener methods for the implementation of a biorefinery using crustacean shell waste.

Besides being the Higher Education Program Manager at Beyond Benign, Juliana is also involved with the Global Conversation on Sustainability (GCS) project created by the International Younger Chemists Network (IYCN) and IUPAC, and the Chemicals and Waste Platform of the UNEP Major Group for Children and Youth. Juliana was also in the Executive Board of the Network of Early-Career Sustainable Scientists and Engineers (NESSE), in the Governance Task Force of the Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC), and has been selected as a Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Future Leader in 2019.

Jonathon (he/him) is a passionate scientific researcher and professional with a keen interest in chemistry education and advancing sustainability and green chemistry across all levels of pedagogy and learning. He received his B.Sc.H. from Queen’s University in 2010 and his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 2016 in Inorganic Chemistry with a focus on Nanomaterials and Electrochemistry.

During his doctoral studies, Jonathon was a founding member of the Green Chemistry Initiative (GCI), a group of graduate students dedicated to promoting green chemistry principles and practices within the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto. In addition to co-leading the GCI’s regular green chemistry seminar series and its 2015 annual symposium, Jonathon redeveloped a third-year undergraduate organic chemistry lab in collaboration with Professor Andy Dicks to include more concepts related to green chemistry, and later attended the ACS Green Chemistry Summer School in 2016. Following graduate school, Jonathon transitioned to the not-for-profit sector, where he has helped manage and support the development of international, interdisciplinary research programs, scientific projects, workshops and symposia as well as a national scholarship program in Canada for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows pursuing research in Canada’s Arctic and northern regions.

Jonathon is excited to be working together with Beyond Benign and the ACS GCI to lead the development of the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community set to launch in 2023. Jonathon currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and enjoys sports of all kinds including swimming, skiing, rowing, cycling and weightlifting.

Nimrat Kaur Obhi (she/they) is from Ottawa, Canada and obtained their HBSc in Biomedical Sciences (Medicinal Chemistry) at the University of Ottawa in 2014. They completed their PhD in chemistry at the University of Toronto in 2020, where their research focused on the synthesis and investigation of carbon-based semiconducting polymers with complex architectures for electronic applications. During this time, Nimrat also completed a Chemistry Teaching Fellowship Award to design and implement a green chemistry course module into an upper-year chemistry course at the University of Toronto. They are committed to justice, equity, and diversity and have worked on advocacy and policy initiatives since 2014 with local and national Canadian teams (WICTO, CWIC Network, CSC WIDE) in addition to current work with Beyond Benign. Nimrat joined Beyond Benign as a Program Manager in early 2021 where they bring their combined passion for green chemistry advocacy, social justice, open-access science, and sustainability to their work. They currently live in Ottawa, Ontario, where outside of work they are an avid skier, cook, outdoor sports enthusiast, swimmer, stationery lover, and bookbinder.

Feel free to reach out and chat with Nim! At Beyond Benign, they work on:

– the Minority-Serving Institution Initiative within the Green Chemistry Commitment Program;
– Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Respect for Beyond Benign and the GCTLC online platform; and
– the Toxicology for Chemists curriculum (past work).

Natalie earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University at Albany in 2017 after graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in Forensic Chemistry from Western New England University.

During her graduate studies, she felt that the topics of sustainability, toxicology, and environmental hazards were missing from the traditional graduate chemistry curriculum. Therefore, she pursued a one-year certification in Green Chemistry and Chemical Stewardship, attended the American Chemical Society (ACS) Green Chemistry & Sustainable Energy Summer School, and became actively involved in the Network of Early-Career Sustainable Scientists and Engineers (NESSE) a global movement of young professionals working on or interested in solutions to today’s most pressing sustainability challenges. She served at Utica College as both an adjunct and Assistant Professor of Chemistry from 2015-2019, introducing green chemistry to both major and non-major courses. She is passionate about teaching and empowering the next generation of scientists to use sustainable approaches through green chemistry.