The mission of Housing & Residence Life is to help develop and support inclusive communities that engage residents in exceptional living experiences within secure and well-maintained environments that foster a sense of belonging and support the academic initiatives of the University. The primary strategy for the delivery of such an environment is through a residence life program that which aims to develop strong residential communities that are self-regulating, supportive of academic success; provide a strong sense of belonging, and rich opportunities for personal, cultural, social, and intellectual development. The leadership of residential faculty and adult staff in fostering these experiences is key to the success of the mission.
Job Summary
The Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Planning reports to the Executive Director of Housing & Residence Life and Associate Dean of Students in the Housing & Residence Life department and manages a variety of projects and logistics for the department. This role requires the knowledge and skills developed through work in a similar position, including the ability to interact with external and internal University partners with the utmost level of discretion and professionalism. The person selected for this role will support all the functional areas within the department on short-term, long-term, ongoing, and recurring projects and initiatives. The ideal candidate is a highly motivated, detail-oriented, and enthusiastic professional who has proven experience and enjoys working in a collaborative, fast-paced, and deadline- driven environment.
Responsibilities
Works with the Executive Director of Housing & Residence Life and Associate Dean of Students in the University to provide support in the completion of strategic initiatives and special projects.
Seeks opportunities to collaborate with internal and external partners to advance the department’s profile, objectives and key performance indicators.
Manages overall timelines and logistics related to the opening and closing of the residence halls, coordinating with all internal and external pertinent stakeholders.
Implements goals from the Department’s Strategic Plan.
Participates in University committees as a representative of HRL.
Participates in special projects as assigned by the Executive Director of Housing & Residence Life and Associate Dean of Students in the University.
In collaboration with the communications manager, develops high-quality presentations and supporting materials for a variety of audiences.
Schedules vendors for deliveries and pickups, and oversees vendors while on site.
Assists with the purchasing bidding process for functional areas within the department.
Oversees the new student University identification card process in close collaboration with department senior leadership and campus partners including College Programming and Orientation (CPO) and Identification & Privileges Office (IPO).
Inputs data for damage billing and responds to inquiries during the appeal process as directed by the Housing & Residence Life Operations team.
Assists in the creation of department on-boarding processes for new hires including but not limited to schedule, training manuals and online training and compliance modules.
Collaborates with Human Resources for onboarding new hires including creation of University ID, building access, dining privileges, etc.
Assists with maintaining hard key inventory and tracking for all residence halls year round.
Develops assessment projects for functional areas of the department, and assists with data collection and synthesis of summaries to respective audiences.
Collaborates with Senior Associate Director of Occupancy and Administration, creates and maintains inventory of all department computer hardware assets.
Responsible for training office staff on office procedures and compliance protocols. Coordinates special projects.
Researches and analyzes data to create reports, and may create other reports for grants and contracts.
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 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
--- Certifications:
---
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in project or event management, or related fields.
Experience:
Two to five years of related professional experience, preference given to candidates who have this experience in a higher education setting.
Experience managing large scale projects with numerous stakeholders under tight timelines.
Experience working with internal partners and external vendors.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
Working knowledge of FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and Title IX policies and practices.
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications; excellent PowerPoint skills.
Preferred Competencies
Problem-solve and identify solutions.
Work independently, seeking guidance when needed.
Take initiative, solve problems and anticipate challenges before they arise.
Remain organized and productive in high demand periods.
Plan effectively and adjust to rapidly changing needs and/or priorities.
Demonstrated high level of judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.
Must have excellent oral, written, and organizational skills.
Remain flexible with process and procedure, to adapt to new software and technology
Possess a sense of humor.
Working Conditions
A typical work week is Monday - Friday with limited requirements for evening and weekend work, especially during residence halls openings and closings.
The University of Chicago is an urban research university that has driven new ways of thinking since 1890. Our commitment to free and open inquiry draws inspired scholars to our global campuses, where ideas are born that challenge and change the world.
We empower individuals to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of original ideas. Students in the College develop critical, analytic, and writing skills in our rigorous, interdisciplinary core curriculum. Through graduate programs, students test their ideas with UChicago scholars, and become the next generation of leaders in academia, industry, nonprofits, and government.
To learn more about the university click here http://www.uchicago.edu/
