Director for Graduate Education

Department
 

BSD GPA - Cluster Directors

About the Department
 

The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (OGPA) within the Biological Sciences Division (BSD) coordinates the administrative efforts of graduate and postdoctoral training in the BSD. OGPA works to facilitate consistency among the programs and departments; identifies and develops commonalities in the areas of financial administration, policy development and implementation and in the coordination of information sharing among the programs and departments. The goal of OGPA is to recruit high quality domestic and international trainees, to facilitate their progress during their tenure, and to provide guidance and resources for the management of the training programs in the division. OGPA centrally manages the annual financial aid budget so that all graduate students in the programs are supported equitably and coordinates consistency among the training programs as it relates to training grants submission and oversight. In addition, OGPA facilitates postdoctoral appointments and reappointments with the Office of Academic Affairs, establishes and enforces policy with the Provost's Office, acts as a resource for postdocs, faculty and staff on postdoctoral policy and benefits questions and manages the postdoc database. The OGPA organizes career and skill development training and ethics seminars for BSD graduate students and postdocs, provides support to the Postdoctoral Association and oversees all BSD postdoctoral events, including the Postdoctoral Symposium, orientation sessions, etc.

Job Summary
 

The Director for Graduate Education is responsible for comprehensive administrative management and oversight for all graduate programs within an administrative cluster. In addition, this position serves as the student affairs administrator for one program within that cluster.

Responsibilities

• Works with faculty leadership to hire, train and supervise graduate education administrators, who may not all be physically located in the same space, but are assigned to specific programs within that cluster and ensure staffing coverage is provided to support training related activity for all graduate students and faculty trainers within the cluster. 

• Serve as liaison to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs within the Biological Sciences Division with a matrix reporting relationship to the Associate Dean for Graduate Affairs. 

• Organizes the effective coordination of all activities related to graduate student training within the cluster such as recruitment, registration, special events; ensures compliance with BSD and University policies.

• Manages all aspects of the budgets within the cluster including monthly reporting on expenditures for all programs in the cluster as well as preparing and submitting the annual operating budget in consultation with the faculty leadership.  Ensures compliance with all BSD and University policies and provides updates and reports requested by the BSD’s budget office.

• Manages the fellowship support for all students in the cluster.

• Manages data on graduate students relevant to all training grants held by programs in the cluster in collaboration with the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, faculty and program chairs, and department staff.

• Manages all aspects of communication, ensuring that the program websites within the cluster are regularly updated by the student affairs administrators.

• Manages comprehensive alumni tracking for programs within the cluster.  

• Support for broader efforts at divisional, institutional and affiliate institution level, to recruit and support a diverse group of students and promote an inclusive environment.

• Serve as liaison to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs within the Biological Sciences Division with a matrix reporting relationship to the Associate Dean for Graduate Affairs.

• Organizes the effective coordination of all activities related to graduate student training within the cluster such as recruitment, registration, special events; ensures compliance with BSD and University policies.

• Manages all aspects of the budgets within the cluster including monthly reporting on expenditures for all programs in the cluster as well as preparing and submitting the annual operating budget in consultation with the faculty leadership.

• Ensures compliance with all BSD and University policies and provides updates and reports requested by the BSD’s budget office.

• Manages the fellowship support for all students in the cluster.

• Solves problems in areas such as academic and administrative policy, student admissions, curriculum research and development, and budget development. Advises various campus-wide and program committees in various aspects of student life.

• Recommends process improvements for programs that relate to critical student-life improvement, including emergency management, accommodations for students with disabilities, and/or the administration of health care services and programs for students.

• 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:

• Bachelor's degree or higher.

Experience:

• Experience in student affairs, academic support, or a closely related area.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage a budget, track spending, and prepare financial reports. 

• Knowledge of database management software.

​Preferred Competencies

• Ability to handle confidential information with utmost discretion.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to handle student concerns with empathy.

• Highly effective in verbal and written communication skills, including formulating recommendations and developing presentations. 

• Ability to report to multiple people and effectively prioritize.

Working Conditions

• Office Environment.

• Weekend/Evening hours: Sometimes. Activities such as recruitment and orientation events will take place outside regular business hours.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover Letter (preferred)

• Writing Sample (preferred)

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

Job Family
 

Student Affairs & Services

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40

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.

 

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