Department

ESA Deputy Director - Finance, Administration, and Student Employment

About the Department

Career Advancement serves a student population of approximately 7,000 arts and sciences undergraduate students, in addition to alumni who have graduated within the last five years. Career Advancement plays a vital role in ensuring our students’ success after graduation. Career Advancement offers innovative and comprehensive career development services with a focus on pre-professional preparation, experiential education, and opportunities. Through career advising, programs, and comprehensive resources, Career Advancement supports undergraduate students and alumni as they develop the skills necessary to manage their career development, while working with alumni and employers to provide students with meaningful opportunities. For more information, please visit the Career Advancement website at careeradvancement.uchicago.edu.

Job Summary

UChicago Career Advancement builds on the world-class UChicago liberal arts foundation to provide students with a competitive edge in their professional development. Career Advancement’s Experiential Education team collaborates closely with partners across the University to deliver a wide range of non-industry-specific programs that are accessible to all undergraduates, supporting their diverse career interests.

The Director is a key managerial role responsible for overseeing a team of three staff members who manage critical areas within Career Advancement. The Director will supervise the administration of the Career Exploration Trek Program, which annually facilitates 30+ trips for 500-600 College students to various global destinations. Additionally, the Director will oversee financial processing and grants management, ensuring efficient handling of payments, stipends, and funding. The role also includes managing Student Employment, including the hiring and administrative management of student workers within the division.

Additionally, the Director will manage relationships with senior leadership and staff to ensure resources are used efficiently and effectively. The role requires advanced program management skills to oversee budgeting and accounting, manage key accounts that fund the Jeff Metcalf Internship program, and support the Department’s Human Resource Partner with divisional onboarding and offboarding processes.

This position demands a strong leader who is passionate about working with students, campus, and external partners. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to create impact through effective team management, program oversight, and account management. The ideal candidate will be an energetic and talented administrator with a proven track record of success in complex, decentralized environments where collaboration and coalition-building are essential.

Responsibilities

Oversees team management, leading a team of three staff members responsible for critical areas within Career Advancement.Supervises the administration of the Career Exploration Trek Program, ensuring the successful execution of 30+ trips annually. Provides guidance and support to staff in planning, logistics, and program execution.Oversees financial processing and grants management to ensure the efficient handling of payments, stipends, and funding. Develops and implements financial procedures and controls to maintain accuracy and compliance with University policies.Manages the hiring and administrative processes for student workers within the division, ensuring effective onboarding, training, and ongoing support for student employees. Collaborates with various departments to align student employment initiatives with divisional goals.Utilizes advanced program management skills to oversee budgeting and accounting for key accounts, including those that fund the Jeff Metcalf Internship program. Develops and maintains efficient methods to track and report spending, ensuring transparency and accountability.Builds and maintains strong relationships with senior leadership, campus partners, and external stakeholders to ensure resources are utilized efficiently and effectively. Represents Career Advancement in meetings and collaborates on strategic initiatives to enhance student career outcomes.Supports the Department’s Human Resource Partner with divisional onboarding and offboarding processes, ensuring compliance with university policies and fostering a positive work environment.Analyzes program data and student feedback to assess the effectiveness of Career Advancement initiatives. Utilizes data-driven insights to inform decision-making, improve program offerings, and enhance student career development.Provides high-quality career advising to undergraduate students and alumni. This includes providing one-on-one career advising sessions to undergraduates in various formats such as scheduled appointments, walk-ins, and electronic/virtual support and communication.Maintains a regular schedule of one-on-one advising appointments and provide additional advising hours during the busiest times of the academic year.Manages employees by establishing annual performance goals, allocating resources, assessing annual performance, and determining individual merit, incentive and/or promotional increases.Develops new and current programs, such as on-campus recruiting events and career management programs, to support students and alumni in post-graduate planning and career pursuits.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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.Expertise in budget and project management, or a related area.Knowledge of career development theory and strong coaching or counseling skills.

Preferred Competencies

Strong leadership and management skills with the ability to effectively oversee and develop a team.Demonstrated expertise in program management, including planning, execution, and assessment of large-scale events or initiatives.Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Build and maintain effective relationships with senior leadership, campus partners, employers, and other external stakeholders.Strong analytical skills. Interpret data, evaluate program effectiveness, and make data-driven decisions.Proven ability to work in a complex, decentralized environment, demonstrating flexibility, adaptability, and a commitment to collaboration and coalition-building.High level of organizational skills. Prioritize multiple work streams, meet deadlines, and handle diverse tasks in a fast-paced environment.Strong commitment to student development and a passion for supporting students' professional growth and career readiness.Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.

Working Conditions

Work evening hours and weekends on an occasional basis, generally 1-2 days per month.Travel, generally two or three times per year.

Application Documents

Resume/CV (required)Cover Letter/Statement of Interest (required)Three Professional References Contact Information (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

Student Affairs & Services

Role Impact

People Manager

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

​
FLSA Status

Exempt

​
Pay Range

$99,402.40 - $128,638.40

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

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.

 

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.