Justice Propulsion Lab Specialist

The opportunity

The Justice Propulsion Lab seeks a resourceful, student-centered professional who can turn ideas into work

that people can use. The Lab Specialist works closely with the Director to develop research and training

materials, guide student projects, and carry assigned initiatives through to completion. We are looking for

someone who takes initiative, exercises sound judgment, and enjoys helping students do work they can be

proud of. You should enjoy the energy of an HBCU campus, bring a sense of humor, and take satisfaction in

helping students make something work.

About the Lab

Based at Fisk University, a historically Black university, JPL connects research, policy, and practice through its

themes of Violence, Voice, and Vocation. Our work includes civil discourse, constitutional literacy, conflict

transformation, community research, and student leadership. A federal civil discourse award supports the

Lab’s expansion. Students participate as emerging researchers and practitioners, building knowledge and

creating work that matters beyond the classroom.

Community and mutual support

Our values are Love as Practice, We Make the Way Together, Expansive Belonging, Transcended Imagination,

Sacred Discipline, and Move, Perturb, Become. We put them into practice by attending to people’s material

needs, sharing knowledge and credit, welcoming new voices and thoughtful disagreement, preparing carefully,

and learning from experience. Staff and students help one another follow through, ask for support early, and

build a community in which people can contribute and grow.

Student engagement and mentoring

• Build a welcoming Lab community where students and colleagues can ask questions, seek help, and

contribute. Maintain an accessible campus presence, help students identify next steps and secure materials,

and follow through on referrals and routine barriers.

• Supervise assigned Graduate Research Fellows and student assistants, with faculty guidance as needed. Set

realistic work plans, provide feedback, and help students produce strong research, presentations, and

portfolio materials.

• Support assigned student organizations through research, preparation, facilitation, and project coaching.

Create opportunities for students to exercise judgment and lead their own work.

Turning content into action

• Translate the Director’s ideas, research, faculty contributions, and working drafts into clear guides,

workshop plans, slides, learning activities, and practical tools.

• Develop and facilitate student orientation, workshops, and training with faculty and the Scholar-inResidence.
• Coordinate AR/VR and simulation development with design consultants and technical staff. Keep immersive

activities tied to curriculum and assessment goals, and document them so they can be reused.

• Prepare curriculum materials for the Lab’s certificate and credential initiatives, including Fisk’s NextGen

Service program in partnership with the Volcker Alliance. Work with faculty leads to develop content,

incorporate feedback, and maintain clear versions through University review.

Research and project delivery

The Specialist owns the research and training portfolio and works alongside the Program Manager on shared

delivery. Assignments should have clear owners and achievable deadlines, with student learning built into the

work.

Research and evaluation support

• Organize literature reviews, source files, research instruments, and data documentation. Coach students in

accurate citation, careful evidence use, and clear writing.

• Prepare research ethics and Institutional Review Board materials with the Director and faculty investigators.

Track required training and approvals, and support research only within approved protocols.

• Work with the Director and evaluator on surveys, learning assessments, and program feedback. Maintain

accurate research and participation data and contribute verified findings to grant reports and program

improvement.

• Identify equipment and software needs for research and learning activities. Help students use approved

tools effectively and maintain reusable instructions and materials.

Project completion and shared operations

• Turn assigned priorities into work plans with deliverables, owners, review dates, and deadlines. Keep project

records current, provide concise weekly updates, and raise obstacles early with proposed solutions.

• Work with the Program Manager on workshops, public programs, student activities, and partner visits.

Prepare content and students, check readiness, and provide practical help with printing, materials, setup,

and coverage.

• Coordinate assigned applied-learning experiences with the Program Manager, faculty, and community and

nonprofit partners. Prepare students, confirm expectations with partner sites, and capture what students

produce and learn.

• Develop and refine website content, partner briefings, flyers, presentations, and reports. Gather accurate

information, secure required reviews, and deliver complete materials for approval and use.

• Maintain organized project files, learning resources, and documented handoffs. Support grant prospect

research and partner follow-through within assigned priorities and approved authority.

• Assist the Program Manager and designated finance staff with budget tracking, purchase and travel

requests, receipts, expense documentation, and records for reconciliation and grant reporting. Follow

University procedures and route requests to the appropriate approvers.

• Provide cross-coverage for student support, scheduled programs, routine administrative needs, and timesensitive project work during absences or peak periods. Offer and seek help proactively, coordinate

coverage with the Program Manager, maintain clear handoffs, and work within assigned authority.

What success looks like

Students know where to get help and can explain what they are learning and producing. Training materials are

clear enough for another person to use. Projects reach agreed milestones, and the Director receives complete

drafts, clear recommendations, and timely requests for decisions. Research and financial support records are

accurate and easy to retrieve, and coverage continues through staff absences. Each completed initiative leaves

the Lab with stronger materials, knowledge, or relationships for the next group of students

Qualifications

Required qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree and at least three years of relevant experience in project or program delivery, student

development, education, research, or community work; an equivalent combination of education and

relevant experience will be considered.

• Demonstrated ability to organize complex work, manage deadlines, and bring projects to completion with

appropriate initiative and follow-through.

• Experience mentoring students or supporting participant learning, with respect for different backgrounds,

perspectives, and levels of preparation.

• A collaborative approach, willingness to share knowledge and credit, and ability to give and receive

feedback with respect and care.

• Strong writing, editing, facilitation, and interpersonal skills; ability to turn complex or unfinished content

into clear instructions and usable materials.

• Comfort with shared documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and project-management tools; discretion

with sensitive information and willingness to learn new methods.

Preferred experience

A master’s degree is preferred, particularly in education, instructional design, criminology, the social sciences,

or a related field. Additional preferred experience includes higher education, HBCUs, curriculum development,

research methods, evaluation, civil discourse, mediation, community partnerships, or grant-supported

administration. Experience with student organizations, digital storytelling, learning technology, or immersive

simulations is also welcome.

Schedule and campus life

This full-time position is based primarily on campus. The schedule is arranged with the Director around student

needs, the academic calendar, and the Lab’s program and meeting rhythms. Some early morning, evening, or

weekend work is required for events, student activities, and travel. Hours may be adjusted in coordination

with the Director and University policy. A shared weekly schedule, reliable student access, prompt

communication about changes, and clear coverage arrangements are expected.

Travel and professional growth

The work can take you beyond Nashville. Approved travel may include student conferences, community-based

learning, and regional and national partner visits, depending on project needs, available funding, and

University approval. You will help students prepare for these experiences and turn what they learn into followup work. The Lab offers room for creative experiments, intellectual curiosity, laughter, and professional growth

while helping build a national network around an HBCU’s ideas and students.

Application materials

Submit the following as a single PDF:

• A résumé.
• A cover letter of no more than two pages explaining what draws you to this work and to an HBCU research

lab.

• One example of a project or program you helped bring to completion. Describe your role, how you worked

with students or participants, and the result. A redacted work sample or short written project account is

welcome.

• Responses to the two prompts below.

Application prompts

We assess these responses for practical judgment, clarity, and care for students. Please limit each response to

one page.

• Prompt 1: Turn an idea into something people can use. Choose a concept you know well, from civil

discourse, constitutional literacy, conflict resolution, or your own field. Outline a 45-minute session for firstyear college students: the learning goals, the sequence of activities, the materials needed, and how you

would know students actually learned something.

• Prompt 2: Keep a project moving. A student research team is three weeks from a conference presentation.

One student has gone quiet, the data are incomplete, and the faculty mentor is traveling. Describe what you

would do in the first 48 hours and over the next two weeks, what you would decide yourself, and what you

would bring to the Director.

Be prepared to discuss your thought process during your interview.

Apply through [HR: application portal or email address]. Please submit complete applications as soon as

possible. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as received until the position is filled. Incomplete

applications, including those without prompt responses, may not be reviewed.

This is a grant-funded position. The Lab is actively pursuing additional grants and partnerships to extend

funding beyond the current award period. Continuation is subject to available funding and University approval.

Employment is contingent on successful completion of the University’s pre-employment screening. Fisk

University is an equal opportunity employer.