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 Education accreditation processes, including verifying language compliance for all program syllabi.Collaborates with Director and Events Programming Committee to brainstorm event programming. Shepherds faculty ambitions for speaker series to align with budget, schedule, and curriculum.Organizes, promotes, and executes annual events, including two 2-day seasonal literary festivals. Manages logistics, track attendance, and assess public engagement trends.Distributes event listings to internal and external news outlets. Maintains websites, including supervising Program’s social media channels, and University calendar listings.Designs and distributes weekly Program newsletter and maintains database of subscribers.Identifies co-sponsorship opportunities for events; tracks cross-campus initiatives and integrates with events where appropriate; oversees collaboration with event partners.Coordinates and leads Program and Chicago Review presence at annual Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference.Collaborates with the Creative Writing Director and faculty stakeholders on medium- to long-term planning, strategic goals, community partnerships, and extra- and co-curricular initiatives.Cultivates faculty initiatives and collaborations with on-campus and community partners that engage diverse audiences and amplify the reach and impact of the Program and its faculty, via initiatives that align with Program values and goals.Manages program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.Has a deep understanding when interacting with faculty, researchers and staff for committee work or information.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:

Master’s degree.

Experience:

Exposure to higher-education administration and academic support services.Management and supervision.Budget and grant management.Strategy and outreach.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

Knowledge of desktop publishing and web maintenance software, Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Mailchimp, and Zoom.Strong technology knowledge, and/or ability to learn computerized information systems, financial analysis tools, and databases.

Preferred Competencies

Develop a budget and track finances.Write clearly and concisely with excellent editing/proofreading ability in English.Clear, effective, and tactful oral communications skills.Strong judgment and capacity to balance competing goals.Effectively solve problems.Organize tasks, deadlines, and documentation.Ensure systems and processes are up to date to meet changing demands.  Competencies in leadership, flexibility, team building, self-direction, and negotiation.Interact professionally with diverse stakeholders.Familiarity with the University of Chicago.

Working Conditions

Office environment.Set up and take down venues for events and other associated work.Travel to various on-campus locations.

Application Documents

Resume/CV (required)Cover Letter that includes your interest in this position (required)References Contact Information (3) (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
 

Administration & Management

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.