Academic Coordinator - Division of Architecture + Design

Job Summary

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) seeks an Academic Coordinator to join the Division of Architecture + Design. The Division of Architecture + Design oversees seven academic departments ranging from images and objects to experiences and environments. Each department is responsible for its own programming and curriculum, but by sharing administrative coordination through the division, the architecture and design departments at RISD have developed the means for multidisciplinary exchange on projects, pedagogy, methodologies and research.

The Academic Coordinator will administer the academic, administrative, and financial operations for the Division of Architecture and Design and liaise between the department/division and other offices responsible for determining college-wide policy, procedures, and services (e.g. Divisional Offices, Registrar, Student Employment, and Controller’s Office). They will have general knowledge of the department/division’s programs, services, processes, and resources required to relieve the Department Head, Division Manager, or Dean of day-to-day administrative operations. The Academic Coordinator will exercise some independent judgment and take initiative and responsibility for more standard, day-to-day administrative duties, maintain a high level of confidentiality, and have the ability to understand and interpret institutional policies and procedures. They will provide basic analytical and financial data and input to inform strategic decisions and logistical planning as well as the academic and administrative implementation of short- and long-term departmental/divisional goals and initiatives and maintain a general knowledge of institutional policies, processes, and resources in order to monitor department/division’s compliance.

We seek a culturally competent candidate who will thrive in a campus environment that is committed to advancing the principles of social equity and inclusion, environmental and climate justice, and equal access to resources and opportunities.

Essential Functions:

Budget:

• Manage approved department/division budgets as assigned (operating, discretionary, and capital). Synthesize and analyze financial information and trends, towards developing and maintaining a multi-year financial planning model for department or division funds (encompassing all funding sources), and provide alternatives to inform effective decision-making and planning by the department head, dean, technical assistants, Graduate Program Directors, and Division. 

• In consultation with the appropriate Academic Affairs leadership, manage and prioritize requests for changes to departmental or divisional resource allocations during the budget development process as assigned. 

• Execute all financial transactions within the department/division, including, purchase requisitions, visiting critics/lecturers honoraria, reconcile travel and procurement card purchases, reconcile travel and procurement card purchases as they occur and reassign to appropriate budget lines as needed. 

• Maintain a general knowledge of institutional financial policies, processes, and resources in order to monitor department/division’s compliance with those policies.

• Based on input from Faculty and technical staff, procure course cost eligible supplies for appropriate classes; request and receive order from faculty, ensure compliance with existing department course budget allocations, order with vendors, ensure payment, receive and distribute the course supplies.

Course Planning and Registration:

• Document and implement the department head’s course planning decisions and submit the Course Table creation in line with deadlines, academic policies, registrarial procedures, and contractual obligations and to be used for the development of the faculty salary budget, workload tracking, creation of the Course Announcement, and set-up of courses.

• Create and submit the course schedule and course logistics, coordinating with faculty on their teaching schedules and with the goal of maximizing departmental resources.

• Responsible for the department's submissions to the Curriculum and Wintersession Committees as needed.

• Obtain and review all necessary Part Time faculty hiring documents for compliance with college policies and collective bargaining unit agreements. Initiates hiring processes for all new Part Time faculty in Workday and sets up interviews between department head and potential hires.  Refer department heads to applicable resources for determining TU rates.