Assistant Director of Facilities, Academic Studio Operations and Administration

Position is Job Grade 8

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

 

BASIC FUNCTION

Provide quality leadership, administrative support, and management services to the Graduate, Post-Bac and select Advanced Undergraduate studio facilities.  Plans and facilitates bi-annual interdisciplinary critique panels for graduate students through thoughtful consideration of people, process, space, infrastructure, and technology.  Works collaboratively with the Dean’s Office, Admissions, Academic Departments, and IRFM. Utilize strategic thinking and problem-solving to establish a vision, develop policy, ensure the functionality of facilities, deliver services, and lead staff/student employees. Direct the activities of the Facilities Managers. Oversee budgeting and facilities planning. Act as a liaison between students, academic administration, and IRFM to maintain and improve both the studio environment and the student experience.  

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plans and facilitates bi-annual interdisciplinary critique panels for graduate students, a curricular requirement and means of assessment for successful completion of a graduate degree.  Constructs critique panels through a strategic evaluation of student and faculty data.  Creates a matrixed organization of people, process, space, infrastructure, and technology.  Balances student and faculty schedules, artistic disciplines, diversity, equity, inclusion, interpersonal dynamics and location availability in the creation of effective critique panels.

• Responsible for all communication to students, faculty and staff regarding critique logistics.  Interfaces with the Web Office to publish schedules.  Facilitates change requests as appropriate.  Manages attendance, student and faculty concerns, emergency participation issues and troubleshoots any other problems that arise throughout the duration of critique week.  Interfaces with the Dean’s Office as needed to resolve issues.  Works with departments to schedule make-up panels as needed.

• Responsible for reporting student participation and critique completion to the Graduate Dean’s Office in order to satisfy degree requirements.  Conducts student and faculty surveys.  Evaluates responses and strategizes improvements and policy changes as needed.  Communicates feedback to the Graduate Dean’s Office. 

 

• Develops the annual studio plan to meet student/department needs.  Collaborates with the Dean’s Office, Admissions and academic departments to monitor enrollment. Anticipates changes and projects space needs in response to fluctuations in enrollment numbers. 

• Plans and facilitates the graduate studio lotteries and space assignments. Leads the Facilities Managers in proper execution of studio lotteries, studio and maintain accurate records thereof. Organizes and conducts graduate studio orientation. Provide students with accurate information regarding studio policies, facility use, available resources, and services, safety, deadlines, etc. Consistently communicate changes to graduate, Post-Bac, and faculty populations.  

• Oversee the planning and implementation of Graduate Open Studio Night. Directs the Facilities Managers in the development of all design, marketing, and advertising materials, and collaborates with Admissions, Graduate Dean Office, Facilities Services and Campus Security partners to ensure event success.

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