Administrative Director

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.

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:  

• Hiring Range: $55,000 - $64,790
• Benefits
• PTO Overview
• Job Classification: Full Time Salaried Staff 
• Grade Level: 7

 

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The staff on the Academic Administration/Operations team provides administrative support to the Department Chairs/Directors, faculty, and students in the academic departments and programs.

 

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Administrative Director works under the supervision of, and with direction from the Senior Administrative Directors, to provide day-to-day administrative support to Department Chairs/Directors, faculty, and students in academic departments and programs. Together, with direction from the Senior Administrative Directors, implements best practices for effective and efficient operations, facilitates good communications, and maintains adherence to short and long-term strategic goals.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Finance and Budget

• Stays current on SAIC finance and budget policies and procedures as they relate to departmental expenditures
• Manages departmental billing, invoices, payments, procurement and corporate card transactions
• Manages travel arrangements, per diem payments, and accommodations for faculty and visitors
• Assists faculty with submitting their corporate card transactions and answers related questions on institutional policy

Course Scheduling and Enrollment Tracking

• Assists Senior Administrative Directors with ongoing enrollment tracking; provides regular reports
• Assists Senior Administrative Directors with the communication of the course schedule to faculty
• Assists Senior Administrative Directors Regular review of the course schedule in institutional software to ensure accuracy
• Enters course schedule changes approved by Department Chairs/Directors into the institutional software

Faculty

• Assists with the faculty review, promotion, and search processes including room scheduling, event planning, calendaring, travel, accommodations, and communications
• Coordinates the acquisition of instructional supplies for faculty
• Assists with the implementation of faculty absence and substitute policy and protocol
• Communicates the field trip policy to faculty as needed and manages the related administrative processes

Students

• Assists with graduate admissions process including participating and planning for Interview Day Weekend and new student registration
• Participates in the planning and implementation of departmental student orientations
• Assists with the administration of departmental awards and scholarships
• Prepares communications to new and returning students regarding events, policies, deadlines, etc. to be distributed via electronic and/or printed media
  
• Assists with the thesis submission process including communications, tracking, and advisor assignments (where applicable)

Event Planning

• Assists with on-campus, off