Senior Program Manager, Creative Writing

Department
 

HUM Staff: Creative Writing

About the Department
 

The Program in Creative Writing is part of the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Chicago. Students at UChicago pursue creative writing within the larger context of academic study. The program offers an undergraduate major in Creative Writing, a joint minor in English and Creative Writing, a formal Creative Writing Option through the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities, and Core courses.

Job Summary
 

The Senior Program Manager is responsible for overseeing both the operational and pedagogical aspects of the Creative Writing Program, including budgeting, finance, administration of academic positions, strategic planning, and providing comprehensive support to faculty members. This position will support planning and outreach initiatives to enhance the program's visibility and impact and will maintain and foster a strong partnership with the Department of English to ensure alignment of goals and collaboration on joint initiatives and sharing of best practices among the teams. The Senior Program Manager oversees one full-time staff member, providing guidance and mentorship to support the program’s success.

Hybrid schedule available. Applicants, please upload all required application materials alongside your resume.

Responsibilities

• Develops a deep understanding of the Creative Writing Program. Communicates priorities and performance standards while routinely assessing operations. Recommends and implements operational enhancements and improvements.
• Conducts data tracking and analysis related to students, alumni, program history, funding, and comparative programs; assist with internal and external Creative Writing Program reviews as needed.
• Represents Creative Writing Program on University committees. Organizes and manages meetings, assignments, schedules, and responsibilities of Program committees.
• Maintains Creative Writing Program newsletter.
• Tracks expenses and manages Creative Writing Program budgets, including submission of monthly budget projections and execution of internal transfers; ensures funding and grant proposals meet requirements.
• Prepares budget and funding modification requests, in consultation with Program leadership and Alumni Relations and Development as needed.
• Processes honorarium payments and reimbursements for course visitors, faculty job candidates, speakers, and vendors. Reconcile all event expenses.
• Manages office functions, physical space needs, and event supplies. Serves as lead for technology and space improvements to proprietary classrooms; manages building security system, including key card access. Makes all Program procurement and supply purchases.
• Supervises one full-time staff, Student Affairs Administrator. Discusses performance goals and promotes professional development opportunities. Engages in annual performance management process.
• Trains Creative Writing Program staff and faculty on policies and procedures, compliance, and office protocols. Recommends and executes process improvements.
• Develops and maintains best practices and processes documentation (e.g., procedure manuals and Standard Operating Procedures) for department operations to ensure continuity and workflow.
• Manages tenure track faculty and other academic appointment (OAA) searches; plans and coordinates job candidate visits; and onboards new hires, including part-time Lecturers and Teaching Fellows.
• Supports and advises tenure-track faculty and OAA instructors on completing reappointment and promotion dossiers, annual reporting, service assignments, student support issues, curriculum planning, quarterly course feedback, financial and accounting compliance, and co-curricular activities.
• Partners with Academic Affairs Dean’s Office team to ensure clear, consistent, and accurate guidelines and rules are communicated to faculty and OAA lecturers.
• Coordinates with English Department Chair Administrator and Creative Writing Chair of Hiring to ensure all dossiers for hiring, renewal, and promotion for PPAs, SIPs, Lecture 1Bs, and Lecturer L2s are assembled accurately and timely.
• Ensures compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, managing required course observation process and advising faculty committees on CBA obligations and procedures.
• Solicits course proposals and creates course grid draft to initiate annual curriculum planning and facilitates work of Hiring and Curriculum Committee in completing grid and Student Affairs Administrator in assisting with the process. Aligns OAA teaching assignments with CBA and individual faculty contracts.
• Works with Program leadership to establish policies and ensure continuity and compliance with Department of Edu