Job Description

Department

HUM Staff: Art History

About the Department

Established in 2003 by the Department of Art History and the Division of the Humanities, the University of Chicago Center for the Art of East Asia (CAEA) has become an internationally renowned academic center dedicated to the study of East Asian art and visual culture. The CAEA aims to facilitate and support teaching and research in the rapidly growing field of East Asian art at the University of Chicago. The concentration of interest in Asian art and visual and material culture is redefining the parameters of East Asian art history. In response to these developments, the CAEA has adopted a global outlook and encourages new perspectives and approaches, including initiating projects of digital humanities and organizing international symposiums and collaborative research projects with universities, museums, and experts around the world. It develops and coordinates programs in East Asian art and visual and material culture, supporting student scholarship, creating opportunities for scholarly and exchange, and compiling data for teaching and research.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Chair of the Department of Art History and in partnership with the Director of the Center for the Art of East Asia (CAEA), the Associate Director of CAEA is the main point of contact for the Center, responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing business operations, overseeing faculty and student support, organizing events, managing communication and outreach activities, and supervising two full-time staff and student research assistants. The Associate Director manages complex budget, financial, and grant/fundraising activities. Additionally, this role, independently and in collaboration with the Chair, solves problems, develops CAEA initiatives, and strategizes on CAEA staffing, projects, and departmental best practices.

Applicants interested in this position, please upload all required application materials (resume, cover letter, and references) as indicated in the job posting.

Hybrid work schedule available.

Responsibilities

• Manages daily operations and coordination of special projects for the Center for the Art of East Asia (CAEA). Provides guidance to CAEA students, staff, and faculty.
• Supervises two full-time staff as well as student research assistants. Meets regularly with staff to discuss goals, performance, workload,  and professional development.
• Trains staff and faculty on policies and procedures, compliance, and office protocols. Develops and implements best practices. Creates manuals and standard operating procedures to ensure continuity and smooth workflow.
• Serves as primary organizer of CAEA programs, including conferences, symposia, and workshops. Manages logistics, registration, promotional materials, catering, reimbursements, vendor negotiation, etc.
• Develops content and maintains distribution of the Center’s websites, newsletter, and social media platforms.
• Organizes CAEA Steering Committee meetings, prepares agendas, and takes minutes and communicates between Steering Committee and staff.
• Manages Center budget. Oversees faculty spending, monitors expenses for allowability, reconciles expenses, and manages contracts.
• Tracks spending, recommends cost-saving measures, and provides budget forecasting evaluation.
• Conducts variance analysis and ad-hoc reporting. Recommends and implements short- and long-term budget plans.
• Manages post-award activities, including budgets, finances, collecting data, grant reporting, responding to agency inquiries, filing for extensions, etc.
• Collaborates with divisional grant staff, foundation relations/development, and partner institutions; collaborates with URA as needed.
• In coordination with the Director of CAEA, Chair of the Department of Art History, and development staff in the Division of Humanities and the University, researches and writes grant applications to foundations and other entities to develop the Center’s projects and activities.
• Assists the Center Director, Chair of the Department of Art History, and development staff in the Division of Humanities and the University to raise funds to support the Center’s projects and activities.
• Manages the academic appointment process for postdoctoral scholars, visiting scholars, student fellowships, travel grants, and other associated activities related to the Center.
• Works with library staff and Art History faculty to develop the holdings of East Asian art books and other types of research and educational materials, including electronic and digital versions.
• Collaborates with Director to generate new CAEA projects and works with faculty to identify opportunities for student research, both on campus and in connection with ongoing Center research projects in the US and abroad.
• Assists the CAEA Director in managing planning, managing, and publicizing Center publications.
• Discusses with the Chair of the Department of Art History to propose teaching one course, per year, in the Department of Art History as an affiliated lecturer on an as needed basis.
• Develops and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria. Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.
• Manages program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• PhD in a field directly related to East Asian studies or art history.

Experience:

• Worked or involved in administration in any capacity.
• Worked or involved in digital humanities, imagining technology, new media, or academic publication.
• Worked in research institutes, including universities, museums, research centers, or grant foundations or agencies, in an administrative capacity.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Research skills in East Asian studies or art history.
• Language proficiency in at least one of the East Asian languages.

Preferred Competencies

• Organizing works and assignments.
• Supervisory skills.
• Budget management.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, including your interest in this position (required)
• References Contact Information (3)(required)

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