Title: Biotechnology Project Vital Assistant

Agency: Virginia Western Community College

Location: Roanoke (City) - 770

FLSA: Nonexempt

Hiring Range: $33,828 to $50,000

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Additional Detail

Job Description

Virginia Western Community College is a two-year public institution of higher education operating under the Virginia Community College System, a statewide system of community colleges. The College operates under the policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges and the Virginia Western Community College Local Advisory Board.

Virginia Western is located on a 70-acre campus in southwest Roanoke, VA. The service region of the College includes Roanoke, Salem, Roanoke County, Craig County, Franklin County, and southern Botetourt County. The College was established in 1966 and has grown from an initial enrollment of 1,352 to its current annual enrollment of over 9,000 students in credit courses and more than 1,400

enrollments in fast-track workforce and continuing education courses.

Virginia Western Community College, located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Roanoke Valley, is accepting applications for a Biotechnology Project Vital Assistant. The major responsibilities of this position include communication and coordination with K-12 community partners to develop and execute STEM outreach events within the K-12 classrooms, communicate and coordinate meetings with Biotechnology ecosystem leaders, and planning and execution of events including VWCC’s STEM Day, STEM teacher summer trainings, summer camps, recruiting events, and field trips. Additionally, this position will be responsible for working with marketing to develop flyers and other materials for the events, as well as recording and reporting metrics of these events and tracking student research experiences. The individual in this role will also work with the VWCC Community College Access Program (CCAP) advising team and the Enrollment Center to ensure high-school graduates are aware of the opportunities in Biotechnology at VWCC. Overall, this position is aimed at supporting recruitment efforts for the Biotechnology program.

This is a restricted, full-time position contingent upon the conditions of the Go Virginia Project Vital grant. Funding for this position has been secured from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027

Minimum Qualifications:

• Knowledge of basic principles of Biotechnology, Biology, and/or Life Sciences to relay project objectives and impact to local stakeholders including industry leaders and local educational institutions.
• Ability to coordinate speakers, high school tours, and high school outreach activities.
• Ability to conduct and lead outreach activities with diverse student populations.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment, with various departments on campus and with industry partners.
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse community and meet the needs of diverse student populations, faculty and other internal and external partners served.
• Strong communication, documentation, organizational, scheduling, and record-keeping skills.
• Ability to track and document data such as participation numbers.
• Ability to plan and schedule events and meetings.
• Exceptional and professional customer services skills, working with external and internal partners.
• Ability to provide helpful, courteous, accessible, responsive, and knowledgeable service.
• Ability to work in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.
• Experience conducting STEM outreach events.
• Experience speaking to small groups about STEM related content.
• Experience building relationships with external partners.
• Experience using computers and software applications for record-keeping, communication, and tracking purposes (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite).
• Experience performing basic clerical duties (e.g., filing, record keeping, preparing requisitions, etc.) in a fast-paced work environment.
• Experience providing customer service to diverse groups and partners.
• Experience planning, organizing, and scheduling events and meetings.

Additional Considerations:

• Demonstrated ability to run small group activities, manage a classroom, speak and interact with middle school/high school students
• Demonstrated ability to adapt or develop outreach activities and content to appropriate age-based audiences.
• Coursework, training, and/or experience in a science-related field