Job Description
MISSION For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world's most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC's undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world-as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O'Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.
We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package:
- Generous paid time off
- Paid holidays (up to 14 days)
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Generous parental, caregiver, and medical leave benefits
- Competitive retirement plans
- Tuition Remission and Tuition Exchange Program
- Great employee discounts
- Complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions
Salary Grade 8
POSITION SUMMARY Continuing Studies manages seven programs for students ages six to adult, noncredit certificates, and a three-year bridge program for Chicago Public School students. The assistant dean for academics provides leadership in the day-to-day administration and on-site supervision of all Continuing Studies programs. Together with the dean and departmental colleagues, the assistant dean ensures efficient and effective operations, establishes and maintains short and long-term departmental goals, and supports non-degree teaching and learning.
The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time. Evening and weekend work are required, and some remote work is possible.
RESPONSIBILITIES - Department and Staff Management: Manages regular full-time and seasonal staff assignments and priorities and ensures skills match tasks. Organizes work, solves issues, and improves procedures. Oversees staff, enforces policies, evaluates performance, and facilitates professional growth, including disciplinary measures. Updates staff on job expectations and policies. Handles recruitment by reviewing applications, interviewing candidates, and recommending hires. Cross-trains staff for better job coverage.
- Program Administration and Planning: Prepares schedules for all CS programs (ACE, APSI, ECP/O/SI, MAC, and MSP) each term and plans multi-term course rotations. Develops and implements processes, workflow, communication, and documentation related to academic programs. Ensures course schedules are accurate in all internal and public-facing documents and electronic mediums.
- Faculty Hiring and Development: Hires, supervises, and trains faculty for all CS programs. Reviews curriculum and monitors classroom instruction. Conducts faculty orientations at the start of each session. Seeks and provides ongoing professional development opportunities and resources to promote faculty excellence.
- Community Conflict Resolution: In coordination with other CS staff, leads the process of resolving student and family, faculty, and student employee concerns for all CS programs. Enforces CS/SAIC policies and procedures and addresses disciplinary matters in consultation with the dean and others from across the School.
- Marketing and Recruitment: Develops print and digital marketing content for all CS programs. Actively participates in recruitment efforts, collaborating directly with Admissions. Builds and maintains relationships with external constituencies.
- Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting: Participates in developing and implementing plans for continuous programmatic improvement and assessment of curricular outcomes. Oversees the administration of processes to collect feedback at the student, course, and program levels; synthesizes and disseminates results.
- Budgeting: Assists dean with budget planning. Analyzes expenditures by program. Provides effective and efficient fiscal management of operational and special project budgets.
- Office Oversight and Communications: Manages shared office calendars, operations, and procedures. Maintains departmental records in databases and files. Uses institutional software and provides accurate information on departmental policies, activities, and resources. Ensures a collegial, customer-focused office environment. Oversees communication with faculty, students, colleagues, and external stakeholders. Offers templates and training for friendly, informed responses, supporting positive relationships for CS.
- Collaboration: Attends all relevant departmental and institutional meetings, phone calls/conferences, and training opportunities. Maintains clear communication with colleagues about ongoing priorities, goals, and projects. Fosters a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment. Contributes positively to team dynamics and morale.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS - Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer; must be able to remain in a stationary position up to 75% of the time
- During peak programming periods (weekends in fall and spring, weekdays in summer), moves between buildings, occasionally transporting materials and equipment
- Instructional supply management requires some ascending/descending and positioning oneself to access materials in storage locations
QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelor's degree required, master's degree preferred
- 3 years working in higher education or a cultural organization with at least two years supervising or managing the work of others
- Demonstrated experience in academic administration and management, including in-person and online program design and implementation, teaching, and assessment
- Ability to work with and learn systems to manage student information and budgets
- Strong communication skills and the capacity to successfully engage a broad range of internal and external colleagues and stakeholders
- Commitment to mutual respect, clear communication, and effective collaboration
- The successful candidate should:
- be highly detail-oriented and organized,
- demonstrate initiative and the capacity to anticipate needs,
- have the ability to multitask and independently plan, organize, and prioritize responsibilities,
- have excellent interpersonal communication skills and a commitment to clarity, simplicity, and transparency, and
- embrace the School's commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable institution
CLOSING STATEMENT The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at apply_help@artic.edu.
Job Tags
Holiday work, Full time, Temporary work, Summer work, Seasonal work, Remote job, Afternoon shift, Weekday work, Monday to Friday,