Department
 

SSD Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity - Staff and Temporary Employees

About the Department
 

The Department of Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity (RDI) is dedicated to investigating, interrupting, and challenging the historical and social processes, the cultural and political practices, and the formations of identity and community that are integral to these three concepts. Our project is committed to knowledge-making founded in the dynamism of social life and resistance to bondage, exploitation, and dispossession. The ambition of the department is to foster a breadth of vision, new aesthetic imaginaries, conceptual rigor, innovative pedagogical approaches, and deep engagement within and beyond the university that will enable communities to tackle some of the most challenging issues of the current historical moment in ways that defy intellectual, disciplinary, and geographic orders.

Job Summary
 

The job provides professional research and recommendations in the development and implementation of faculty support programs.

Provides high-level professional leadership and support for a broad range of faculty and student affairs, and curriculum planning. Is the primary staff member handling searches, and interacting with the Dean’s Office. Serves as the first point of service to departmental faculty and students on a wide range of academic matters. Serves as the primary liaison with the SSD Dean’s office, the SSD Dean of Students Office, and the College. Supports the chair and associate chair in developing and implementing departmental procedures in accordance with University policies. Supervises other departmental staff.

Responsibilities

Manage administrative procedures for academic hiring, recruitment, reappointment/promotion, and resignation/retirement            

Serve as primary departmental resource and primary liaison with the Dean’s office for a broad range of academic HR and payroll matters; maintain up-to-date knowledge of University and Divisional procedures related to faculty and other academic searches, appointments, reappointment/promotion review

Coordinate and support faculty committees charged with faculty and other academic hiring, recruitment, appointment, and reappointment/promotion; manage related procedures and case documentation.

Manage record-keeping to monitor student progress toward completion of program requirements; troubleshoot students’ quarterly course registration issues, as needed; advise students on requirements, completion deadlines, and necessary actions related to academic requirements

Oversee process for student petitions, in collaboration with Director of Undergraduate Studies

Maintain various publications for the department’s academic programs, including the departmental website, College Catalog, and Graduate Announcements (as relevant)

Coordinate with other offices on wide range of matters related to student academic progress and student life, including SSD Dean of Students, College Dean of Students, Campus and Student Life, and others

Proactively collaborate with other University offices to enhance student awareness on safety, disciplinary, and student life matters; handle accommodations, emergency-response, and other complex student life matters with competence and discretion

Create overall department course schedule based on curricular needs of program, the Colonizations core sequence, and instructor areas of expertise and preferences

Serve on department’s curriculum committee

Collaborate with faculty to manage the department’s submission of a PhD certificate and program proposal. Work with RDI faculty and SSD Dean of Students Office to create policies and handbook for PhD certificate/degree program

Create and implement system for reviewing and tracking crosslist requests and RDI major foundational course categories

Prepare reports for faculty and Department leadership on individual student’s academic progress and aggregate data on department-wide trends in student affairs

Support the Chair in the management of the departmental budget and accounts

Research and analyze data to create reports, and may create other reports for grants and contracts

Coordinate the hiring and appointments of research assistants and teaching assistants in the department

Supervise one full-time Department Coordinator and potentially one part-time Student Employee

Conduct weekly check-ins with supervisee(s)

Creates training and programming for faculty and chair development

Prepares and presents analyses, reports, and marketing materials to a wide variety of both internal and external audiences. Participates and contributes on a variety of committees/teams and with a diverse array of colleagues and partners

Performs other related work as needed

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Graduate degree

Experience:

Experience in higher education administration

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

Proficiency in Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Preferred Competencies

Demonstrated record of excellence providing a high level of service; capacity for creative, proactive thinking and administrative innovation

Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, working under tight deadlines, with a high degree of professionalism and attention to detail

Capacity to work both independently with self-direction and initiative and as an effective member of a team

Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills

Ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations and information with professionalism and discretion

Ability to work in a demanding, fast-paced environment, manage time wisely and prioritize effectively. Interest in the topics of race, diaspora, and Indigeneity

Application Documents

Resume (required)

Cover letter (required)

References (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Academic Affairs

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.