Date:   June 1, 2020        

Closing Date:  Applications must be received before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern) on June 26, 2020 and the successful application will be notified by July 24, 2020.

Email Applications to: myeo@mtroyal.ca

The International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning is seeking applications from individual consultants and/or organizations to support, coordinate, and communicate the ongoing functions, activities, and events of the Society. 

Background

The International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Inc. serves faculty members, staff, and students who care about teaching and learning as serious intellectual work. Through building intellectual and collaborative infrastructure, the Society supports the associational life that fosters scholarly work about teaching and learning. The Society provides this support by:

• recognizing and encouraging scholarly work on teaching and learning in each discipline, within scholarly societies and across educational levels,
• promoting cross-disciplinary conversations to create synergy and prompt new lines of inquiry,
• facilitating the collaboration of scholars in different countries and the flow of new findings and applications across national boundaries,
• encouraging the integration of discovery, learning, and public engagement, and
• advocating for support, review, recognition, and appropriate uses of the scholarship of teaching and learning.

To find out more about ISSOTL please visit our website: https://issotl.com/

Administration & Coordination

In consultation with the president and the Board, the executive director will be responsible for proactively supporting the ongoing functions of the Society:

• providing day-to-day administrative and ongoing operational management of the Society (e.g., supporting and documenting meetings, maintaining annual schedule of Society operations and initiatives, coordinating with and supporting standing committees, supporting Treasurer and bookkeeper)
• coordinating with the web developer, maintaining membership database and coordinating renewal processes and member records-management compliant with international data privacy laws,
• maintaining active and archived documentation of Society 

Communications

The executive director will be responsible for supporting the communication needs for ISSOTL events, initiatives, and processes:

• managing internal communications for the Society (e.g., serving as the primary contact for the Board, Society members, and Interest Groups; facilitating communications between the Board and standing committees)
• reviewing content, moderating blog posts, and directing web developer’s revisions of the ISSOTL website 
• managing external communications for the Society (e.g., maintaining the Society’s social media presence, responding to inquiries from external organizations and individuals) 

Annual Conference

In coordination with the Conference Committee and the local hosts, the executive director will be responsible for supporting the communications and planning of the Society’s annual conference:

• managing conferences processes (i.e., registration, abstract reviews, marketing, website updates, program development, budget, catering, AV, and logistics),
• liaising with conference venue, exhibitors, sponsors, and others as appropriate,
• other conference responsibilities as they arise.

Timeline Requirements

In responding to this RFP, we anticipate a 4-year term, renewable.

This is not a salaried position, rather a consultancy role. The total number of hours will be a maximum of 20 hours per week, with some ebb and flow throughout the calendar year. 

Proposed Fee

Candidates are required to provide a breakdown of the administrative fee based on an annual basis.  Payments will be paid quarterly unless negotiated. ISSOTL is not responsible for any travel, meal, or accommodation expenses incurred by the Consultant/Organization that are not pre-approved in writing by the ISSOTL Board.  

Relationship and Reporting Requirements 

There is an expectation that work will be done in collaboration with the ISSOTL Board, and approval for all work will be directed by the ISSOTL Board of Directors.  

During the contract, the Consultant/Organization will report to the President (currently Michelle Yeo, with Nancy Chick and Huang Hoon Chng starting their term as co-presidents July 1, 2020).  This reporting may also occur through the President Elect, Treasurer, or Secretary.

The Consultant/Organization will be required to provide a minimum of bi-weekly updates on Society business.  There will be a requirement to attend some face-to-face meetings and reasonable travel costs will be reimbursed by the ISSOTL.

Contingency Plan

The selected Consultant/Organization must provide the ISSOTL with a contingency plan to ensure the administrative function of the ISSOTL continues in the event of any unforeseen circumstances. The plan should describe a replacement process if the individual(s) responsible is no longer available to work on the project. The Contingency Plan should include the following:

• The fact that the replacement resource is subject to ISSOTL approval if the individual(s) is no longer available to work or is unable to fulfill the role, and
• Consultant/Organization’s plan to minimize downtime by providing a replacement resource. 

Property Rights

All aspects of the ISSOTL administration will be the intellectual property of the ISSOTL.  

Selection Process 

Applications will be evaluated by the Board and approved by the ISSOTL Board. 

Evaluation of Applications

In your application, please clearly outline your experience with the following:

1. Consultant/Organization Qualifications/Experience 
2. Operational and conference planning for the administrative support for ISSOTL
3. Project management and budget 

Past experience supporting academic societies and/or small, not-for-profit organizations is particularly sought. Only successful consultants/organizations will be contacted.