Director, Academic Affairs
LOCATION
Hybrid work schedule available.
QUALIFICATIONS
A college or university degree in a related field, with 5-7 years of work experience in academic affairs or university administration preferred. An advanced degree in a Humanistic field and experience with HRIS platforms, such as Workday, are also preferred.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage academic appointment processes, provide guidance on faculty life matters, oversee faculty lifecycle events, supervise staff, draft memos, advise on academic personnel issues, develop best practices, conduct research, prepare analysis and reports, and assist with day-to-day operations.
INDUSTRY
Higher Education
SHORT DESCRIPTION
The Director of Academic Affairs will manage academic appointments, support faculty and staff, and ensure compliance with university policies in the Division of Humanities.
HUM Staff: Div Admin PA Planning & Administration
About the Department
The Division of the Humanities comprises 19 degree programs across 16 departments and committees, with approximately 800 students from around the world enrolled in PhD, MFA, and MA programs. Students and faculty dedicate themselves to the thoughtful consideration of humanity’s place in the world. This dedication is displayed through interdisciplinary centers, programs and workshops, and courses taught by some of the world's leading scholars. Dynamic and dedicated staff in the Division provide the essential infrastructure needed to support faculty, students, and one another, fostering collaboration, enhancing innovation, and ensuring the Division’s success.
Job Summary
Reporting to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, the Director, Academic Affairs effectively manages the academic appointment processes for all faculty and other academic personnel in the Division of the Humanities, and in close collaboration with the Associate Dean and Dean, manages and coordinates faculty life matters. The main components of the position are to oversee the administration of all faculty and other academics’ life-cycle events, such as recruitment, review, promotion, leaves and termination; manage files and data requests; maintain a faculty handbook; and serve as the subject-matter expert to department Chairs and staff colleagues on the above matters. Additionally, the Director is responsible for supervising the Assistant Director, Academic Affairs and Academic Affairs Administrator.
All work is performed in compliance with relevant divisional, Provost, University, state, and federal policies and regulations including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73 bargaining unit.
Hybrid schedule available.
- Ensures the procedural and substantive integrity of all academic personnel management in the Division and its Departments/Units, including initial appointment for new hires, reappointment, and promotion, as well as work authorization, leave of absence, retirement, resignation, and termination of academic appointees; oversees the tracking and management all these processes and guides priorities for the Assistant Director Academic Affairs and Academic Affairs Administrator, as relevant.
- Primary responsibility for employment processes and tracking of career track academic appointees, such as tenure-track faculty and other academic appointees.
- Oversees employment processes and tracking of non-career track academic appointees, including part-time lecturers, visiting appointees, and postdoctoral appointees, etc.
- Advises the Associate Dean and Dean on academic personnel matters and identifies opportunities for policy and operational improvements.
- Drafts memos on behalf of the Dean, Deputy Deans, and Associate Dean.
- Advises department Chairs, their administrators, and other faculty members on complex appointment-related situations and problems; communicates with several central offices on behalf of the Division on appointment-related issues, including the Office of Legal Counsel, Office of International Affairs, and Provost’s Office.
- Directly supervises the Assistant Director, Academic Affairs and the Academic Affairs Administrator.
- Develops and maintains best practices and process documentation. This includes procedure manuals and standard operating procedures for department operations, to ensure efficient workflow, appropriate collaboration with other offices, and continuity.
- Discusses performance goals and promotes professional development opportunities. Engages in annual performance management process. Provides feedback and guidance to staff on day-to-day, short-term, and long-term activities.
- Serves as a resource for information about the SEIU Local 73 Collective Bargaining Agreement. This includes advising faculty and staff in the Division on policies related to the CBA and contributing input to policy proposals and process solutions related to management of academic affairs and SEIU Local 73.
- Oversees implementation and maintenance of systems related to academic appointment process, trains Divisional staff on their use, and serves as a resource for other units on their use.
- Conducts research and contributes to strategic planning for faculty and chair development, relocation of families with dual careers.
- 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.
- Conducts research and data gathering (e.g., Internet research, surveys), project planning, and implementation for a wide range of projects.
- Gathers and analyzes data for possible solutions for faculty-related issues. Writes reports and expands knowledge and experience in areas.
- Assists with managing the day-to-day operations of faculty affair programs with a moderate level of guidance.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Work Experience:
Certifications:
- Advanced degree in a Humanistic field.
- Relevant role in academic affairs or a related area of university administration.
- Leadership or management.
- Training others.
- Background working with central administrative units within a complex research university environment.
- Extensive knowledge of academic appointment process for a university.
- Proficient with Workday or similar HRIS platform.
- Skilled with word processing applications, spreadsheets, and databases.
- Proficient with software applications, such as Workday, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat.
- Knowledge of scholarly landscape and best practices for college or university-level teaching in the Humanities.
- Familiarity with fields of humanistic research.
- Capacity to understand and follow complex administrative policies and practices.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Attention to detail and always maintain accuracy.
- Read and understand complex academic work.
- Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
- Develop and implement quality control standards.
- Make presentations.
- Handle sensitive and confidential situations and information with absolute discretion.
- Manage a heavy workload, competing priorities, complex problems, and tight deadlines.
- Excellent problem-solving skills.
- Use appropriate resources to resolve an issue.
- Follow an issue through to resolution.
- Considerable skill in working both independently and as a team member.
- Take initiative and organize and complete projects with minimal supervision.
- Resume/CV (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
Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via
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.
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