Department

Civic Engagement OCE Directors

About the Department

At the University of Chicago, civic engagement is an institution-wide commitment that encompasses our contributions to the enrichment of human life through research and education, our work to increase economic opportunities on the South Side, and our support for the open exchange of ideas with our broader community. Our relationship and engagement with the City of Chicago was of critical importance at the time of our founding and continues to guide the University’s contributions to the city and the South Side today. The University approaches civic engagement in a comprehensive and deliberate way: we approach civic engagement as a University-wide commitment that furthers our core mission of research and education and reflects our core values; we build meaningful, mutually-beneficial partnerships that increase civic participation, expand educational access, and create economic and social opportunity; we apply an interdisciplinary approach that brings our best thinking across multiple domains to advance innovative initiatives that enrich human life in our city; we solve real world problems with rigor by supporting our faculty, students, staff, and alumni to engage with the community and the world around them as they address the most pressing urban challenges and build evidence-based solutions; and we measure and communicate our impact, sharing what we are doing and learning as we partner with others to contribute to the public good. Within the Office of Civic Engagement, the University Community Service Center (UCSC) connects students to civic engagement opportunities, on and off campus, that complement the University of Chicago’s rigorous academic experience. Part of the Office of Civic Engagement, UCSC is located at the Student Civic Engagement Center at 6030 S. Ellis Avenue and provides a range of resources that contribute to student civic learning and impact across the city of Chicago.

Job Summary

The primary responsibility of the Assistant Director, Student Civic Leadership Development is working with students and staff to encourage student involvement and leadership in community service and civic engagement on- and off-campus. Reporting to the Director of University’s Community Service Center, the Assistant Director will take a leadership role in supporting the development of student staff, student leaders of community service focused student organizations, and in partnering with leadership initiatives across campus and within the community.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the University’s Center for Leadership and Involvement and Student Centers departments and provide advising and support to over 50 community service Recognized Student Organizations (CSRSOs) and leaders from Undergraduate Student Government, and support the efforts of new organizations to seek CSRSO status.

• For the assigned organizations, this could include, but is not limited to, offering programming advice and assistance, mentoring organizational leadership, attending organizational meetings and events, assessing organizational risk and ensuring compliance with University policy, developing training opportunities and materials, promoting financial competency through fiscal management accountability and skills development, and providing connection to campus resources.

• Advise and convene the Community Service Fund committee (CSF) and support their efforts to allocate student activity funding to community-engaged student projects.

• Work closely with UChicago GRAD and the professional school Dean of Student Life offices to support Graduate Council, graduate student governments, and graduate student civic engagement organizations.

• In collaboration with student groups, campus colleagues, and community organizations, lead, develop, and contribute to student civic engagement cohorts, workshops, and other personal and professional development spaces for undergraduate and graduate students to encourage critical learning, dialogue, and reflection on their civic engagement and leadership development.

• Support the training of student leaders to serve as resources and civic connectors for their fellow classmates.

• Support partnerships with the College’s House System and lead the planning and execution of events and resources supporting Civic Engagement House Representatives program.

• Support operations of the OCE Student Advisory Committee, helping the Director with convening logistics, follow-up activities, and relationship-building functions.

• Hire, coach, advise, and mentor student staff and graduate assistants. Support the annual hiring and onboarding process for the UCSC student staff team, and help to coordinate ongoing professional development opportunities.

• With Associate Director for Student Programs, design and implement civic leadership development programming materials, best practices, and assessments throughout UCSC’s portfolio of cohort programs.

• Design and lead UCSC initiatives and opportunities that promote student development, such as students presenting at and attending local and national conferences on service and civic engagement.

• Advise students and staff on institutional pathways to engagement, and support UCSC and OCE efforts to map, refine, and promote a campus-wide narrative of civic participation.

• Market student activities programming throughout the year, and develop and implement protocols for evaluating the effectiveness of programs.

• Contribute to campus-wide leadership development conversations and processes as directed, including as a member of the Student Leader Awards selection committee, and support UCSC’s annual Student Civic Leader Awards selection process.

• Support best practices research on trends in higher education and civic engagement, and support other benchmarking and evaluation tracking processes.

• Plan and conduct quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.

• Has moderate/high levels of interactions with faculty, researchers and staff for committee work or information.

• Analyzes program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.

• Perform 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 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, higher education, public policy, social work, or a related field.

• Masters degree in education, higher education, public policy, social work, or a related field.

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience or working knowledge of higher education, education, and/or youth development.

• Demonstrated experience working with organizations and communities in Chicago, and knowledgeable about the history of South Side communities.

• Demonstrated experience managing administrative projects or supporting program operations.

• Demonstrated experience developing partnerships with individuals and organizations.

• Demonstrated experience in project planning and execution.

• Strong interpersonal skills, including excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Self-motivated and able to work independently, with ability to multi-task and tolerate ambiguity.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including for executive-level audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with diverse populations of students and families.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, and Forms).

Preferred Competencies

• Ability to work effectively across an institution of higher education – including students, faculty, and staff – and with the broader community, including schools, community and civic organizations.

• Prioritize and multi-task to meet key tasks as scheduled.

• Communicates effectively one to one, in small groups and in public speaking contexts; writes precise, well-organized emails, letters and proposals while using appropriate vocabulary and grammar.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with University staff, high school staff, and the general community.

• Effective organizational and time management skills with a high degree of attention to detail.

• Exhibits energy and desire to achieve; sets ambitious goals and acts decisively; takes action that no one has requested to improve or enhance job results and avoid problems.

• Being receptive to feedback, willing to learn, embracing continuous improvement.

• Demonstrated ability to contribute as a colleague and team player.

• Energy, creativity, and enthusiasm.

Working Conditions

• Occasional evenings and weekends.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)

• Cover letter (required)

Job Family

Administration & Management

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

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.

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.