Pre-Award Grant and Contract Specialist

Department
 

SSD: Chicago Center for Contemporary Theory - Staff and Temporary Employees

About the Department
 

The Chicago Center for Contemporary Theory—known as 3CT—is a space for the critical discussion and reimagination of social, political, and cultural processes in the world today. With eighteen fellows from the Divisions of the Social Sciences and the Humanities, the center runs an interdisciplinary program that includes collaborative projects, lectures, teach-ins, book salons, conferences, publications, and teaching. The Committee on African Studies at the University of Chicago brings together faculty and students from a variety of disciplines and scholarly perspectives. What we share in common is an interest in engaging directly with the continent and its peoples, histories, cultures, and societies. We also share a commitment to the idea that Africa is critical to challenging and advancing social scientific and humanistic modes of inquiry.

Job Summary
 

The job provides business support within established procedures regarding office and location support activities. Identifies, enhances, and follows specific processes and procedures to maximize the efficiencies for which the support is being provided by working autonomously within established procedures and practices. Ensures the correct functioning of facilities, office and/or business support services.
The Program Coordinator will provide program and administrative support to the Directors and Associate Director of 3CT (75%). This position plays a key role in the successful planning and execution of the center’s activities by managing the logistics and publicity for events and the center’s day-to-day operations.
The Program Coordinator also supports the Committee on African Studies (25%), which offers a workshop, lecture series, and grant opportunities.
The ideal candidate will be proactive, highly organized, and detail-oriented, with excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

3CT (75%)

• Program logistics: including booking venues; arranging AV equipment and technical support, catering, and travel; and staffing both in-person and virtual events
• Communications: including making website updates; creating digital graphics and flyers; planning and preparing social media posts and email announcements; and maintaining contact lists
• Operations: including updating the center’s calendar and scheduling meetings; training and supervising student workers; ordering office supplies; maintaining the center’s equipment and physical spaces; and responding to general inquiries

African Studies (25%)

• Event support: including maintaining website and producing email announcements; and arranging guest travel, room reservations, and event catering
• Business coordination: including processing payments; administering grant programs, including collating information and corresponding with applicants and grantees; maintaining budget; producing annual report; and managing annual recruitment of student coordinator
• Provides administrative support for a leader. Stays informed of activities relating to programs and initiatives, apprising the leader of issues when deemed necessary. Coordinates information flow from leader's office.
• Coordinates special projects as directed by the leader. Prepares write ups for recommendations for operational and administrative problems. Prepares financial and/or administrative reports.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

---
Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

---
Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in the social sciences or humanities

Experience

• 2–5 years, preferably in an educational or non-profit setting

Preferred Competencies

• Able to work independently, effectively prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines
• Demonstrates flexibility, eagerness to collaborate, and confidence to learn new systems
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide array of populations, including faculty, staff, students, and guests
• Strong proofreading and writing skills are essential; graphic design and video editing experience

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Experience using Microsoft Office is essential; experience with Adobe Creative Suite, email distribution software (such as MailChimp), social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), and website administration (such as WordPress)

Working Conditions

• Office environment
• Some evening and weekend work
• Fast-paced environment
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.
• Ability to sit at a computer for 4-6 hours
• Periodic walking to other campus locations
• Able and willing to work occasional evening and weekend hours

Application Documents

• Cover letter (required)
• Resume (required)
• List of three professional 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
 

Administration & Management

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Non-Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Biweekly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

20

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

COVID-19 Vaccination or Approved Medical or Religious Exemption Required
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Effective October 15, 2021, the University of Chicago requires COVID vaccination for all students, faculty, and staff members. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons.
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected 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.

Department
 

SSD: Chicago Center for Contemporary Theory - Staff and Temporary Employees

About the Department
 

The Chicago Center for Contemporary Theory—known as 3CT—is a space for the critical discussion and reimagination of social, political, and cultural processes in the world today. With eighteen fellows from the Divisions of the Social Sciences and the Humanities, the center runs an interdisciplinary program that includes collaborative projects, lectures, teach-ins, book salons, conferences, publications, and teaching. The Committee on African Studies at the University of Chicago brings together faculty and students from a variety of disciplines and scholarly perspectives. What we share in common is an interest in engaging directly with the continent and its peoples, histories, cultures, and societies. We also share a commitment to the idea that Africa is critical to challenging and advancing social scientific and humanistic modes of inquiry.

Job Summary
 

The job provides business support within established procedures regarding office and location support activities. Identifies, enhances, and follows specific processes and procedures to maximize the efficiencies for which the support is being provided by working autonomously within established procedures and practices. Ensures the correct functioning of facilities, office and/or business support services.
The Program Coordinator will provide program and administrative support to the Directors and Associate Director of 3CT (75%). This position plays a key role in the successful planning and execution of the center’s activities by managing the logistics and publicity for events and the center’s day-to-day operations.
The Program Coordinator also supports the Committee on African Studies (25%), which offers a workshop, lecture series, and grant opportunities.
The ideal candidate will be proactive, highly organized, and detail-oriented, with excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

3CT (75%)

• Program logistics: including booking venues; arranging AV equipment and technical support, catering, and travel; and staffing both in-person and virtual events
• Communications: including making website updates; creating digital graphics and flyers; planning and preparing social media posts and email announcements; and maintaining contact lists
• Operations: including updating the center’s calendar and scheduling meetings; training and supervising student workers; ordering office supplies; maintaining the center’s equipment and physical spaces; and responding to general inquiries

African Studies (25%)

• Event support: including maintaining website and producing email announcements; and arranging guest travel, room reservations, and event catering
• Business coordination: including processing payments; administering grant programs, including collating information and corresponding with applicants and grantees; maintaining budget; producing annual report; and managing annual recruitment of student coordinator
• Provides administrative support for a leader. Stays informed of activities relating to programs and initiatives, apprising the leader of issues when deemed necessary. Coordinates information flow from leader's office.
• Coordinates special projects as directed by the leader. Prepares write ups for recommendations for operational and administrative problems. Prepares financial and/or administrative reports.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

---
Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

---
Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in the social sciences or humanities

Experience

• 2–5 years, preferably in an educational or non-profit setting

Preferred Competencies

• Able to work independently, effectively prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines
• Demonstrates flexibility, eagerness to collaborate, and confidence to learn new systems
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide array of populations, including faculty, staff, students, and guests
• Strong proofreading and writing skills are essential; graphic design and video editing experience

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Experience using Microsoft Office is essential; experience with Adobe Creative Suite, email distribution software (such as MailChimp), social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), and website administration (such as WordPress)

Working Conditions

• Office environment
• Some evening and weekend work
• Fast-paced environment
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.
• Ability to sit at a computer for 4-6 hours
• Periodic walking to other campus locations
• Able and willing to work occasional evening and weekend hours

Application Documents

• Cover letter (required)
• Resume (required)
• List of three professional 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
 

Administration & Management

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Non-Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Biweekly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

20

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

COVID-19 Vaccination or Approved Medical or Religious Exemption Required
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Effective October 15, 2021, the University of Chicago requires COVID vaccination for all students, faculty, and staff members. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons.
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected 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.