Senior Administrative Director

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 plan (up to 9% matching contribution)
• Tuition remission and Tuition Exchange Program
• Great employee discounts
• Complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions
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 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 Senior Administrative Director works under the supervision of, and with direction from the Executive Director, to provide day-to-day administrative support to Department Chairs/Directors, faculty, and students in three or more academic departments/programs. Together, with direction from the Executive Director, implements best practices for effective and efficient operations, facilitates good communications, and maintains adherence to short and long-term strategic goals.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Departmental Management

• Responsible for assigning and directing the work of all staff members work priorities, work streams, and skills needed. Uses discretion to organize and monitor work processes, resolve operational issues, and suggest new procedures.
• Supervises staff members, including the responsibility for day to day enforcement of all policies and procedures
• Evaluates performance to ensure direct report(s) are equipped to perform their roles effectively and efficiently and provides professional development as needed, including all levels of disciplinary action
• Communicates updated job expectations and policies to these staff members and acts as liaison to leadership for employee initiatives and complaints
• Reviews applicant materials to identify candidates for interviews; conducts candidate interviews; provides recommendations as part of the hiring process

Finance and Budget

• Responsible for managing departmental budgets in compliance with institutional policy, ensuring appropriate spending levels
• Reviews financial reports with the Department Chairs/Directors, at a minimum, on a quarterly basis to ascertain budget is spent appropriately
• Provides budget planning assistance to the Department Chairs/Directors including operating and capital requests
• Stays current on SAIC finance and budget policies and procedures as they relate to departmental expenditures
• Oversees departmental billing, invoices, payments, procurement and corporate card transaction

Course Scheduling and Enrollment Tracking

• Collaborates, as necessary, with the Department Chairs/Directors and Registrar’s Office to develop the course schedule; providing faculty course load and leave/sabbatical information
• Assists Department Chairs/Director with the communication of the course schedule to faculty
• Regular review of the course schedule in PeopleSoft to ensure accuracy
• Assists Department Chairs/Directors with ongoing enrollment tracking; provides regular reports

Faculty

• Primary contact for Department Chairs/Directors and Grad Coordinators
• In collaboration with the Executive Director, facilitates the administrative onboarding of new Department Chairs/Directors
• Provides information for Department Chairs/Directors regarding faculty promotions, leaves, sabbaticals
• Provides informa