Assistant Director, Programs and Operations

University of Chicago•Chicago, IL

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Programs and Operations serves as a key operational and administrative partner to the Faculty Director, supporting the day-to-day management and long-term success of the Chookaszian Accounting Research Center (CARC). This position is responsible for overseeing center operations, budget administration, faculty support, data and information management, strategic initiatives, and program coordination. The Assistant Director manages the Center's financial activities, maintains operational systems and databases, supports faculty recruitment and engagement efforts, and contributes to initiatives that expand the visibility, reach, and impact of the Center. The role also coordinates workshops, faculty meetings, and select conferences and events that support the Center's mission. This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.

Requirements

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
Understanding of payment processing and financial systems.
Demonstrated ability to manage and process expenses, contracts, and budgets.
Exceptional time, resource management, organizational skills and attention to detail.
Handle multiple detailed tasks/projects simultaneously and meet strict deadlines with frequent interruptions.
Work independently with little supervision; possess a self-motivated disposition; identify opportunities for improvement and recommend effective changes, all while achieving key objectives resulting in desired outcomes.
Professional demeanor, including tact, discretion, and a customer service-oriented approach.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively and diplomatically with colleagues, as well as with students, faculty and corporate contacts in a multitude of communication methods, including in person, email, and phone.
Outstanding verbal, written, and presentation skills, as well as organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree.
Administrative and operational experience.
Event and program management experience.

Responsibilities

Serves as the primary administrative and operational partner to the Faculty Director, supporting strategic priorities, special projects, faculty engagement efforts, and the overall management of Center operations.
Manages the Center's annual operating budget, including forecasting, expense approval, financial tracking, reconciliations, and maintaining real-time budget reports for the Faculty Director.
Prepares monthly budget analyses, projections, and financial reports and supports the annual budget planning process to ensure effective stewardship of Center resources.
Supports the development and implementation of strategic initiatives that enhance the visibility, reach, impact, and long-term growth of the Center.
Identifies and evaluates opportunities for new programs, services, research initiatives, and other forward-looking projects that advance the Center's mission and value stakeholders.
Coordinates research support activities, surveys, data collection efforts, and other initiatives that strengthen the Center's research capabilities and impact.
Prepares reports, presentations, briefing materials, and other analyses to support Center planning, faculty activities, and leadership decision-making.
Manages faculty recruitment logistics and processes, serving as the primary point of contact for candidates; and coordinating interviews, visits, meetings, and related activities.
Provides administrative and project support to faculty related to research initiatives, meetings, communications, and other Center activities.
Manages relationships with vendors and external partners, including contract coordination, invoice processing, expense tracking, and payment administration.
In partnership with Booth Marketing, oversees and maintains the Center's website, digital content, and communication channels to support engagement and outreach efforts.
Coordinates the planning and execution of weekly workshops, seminars, and faculty meetings, including scheduling, communications, registrations, and logistical support.
Plans and manages occasional conferences, summits, and special events, including project management, stakeholder coordination, travel arrangements, vendor management, and event-day support.
Performs some routine and complex assignments for the unit usually in the areas of finance, event planning or support services.
Initiate the hiring process of students and staff for a unit, which includes the processing of payroll.
Assists in the monitoring of the various financial and budgetary activities, including vendors contracts.
Preparing and monitoring the budget for a unit.
Performs other related work as needed.