Department
HUM Staff: English Administration
About The Department
The Program in Creative Writing is part of the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Chicago. Students at UChicago pursue creative writing within the larger context of academic study. The program offers an undergraduate major in Creative Writing; a joint minor in English and Creative Writing; a formal Creative Writing Option through the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities; and Core courses.
Job Summary
Candidates must submit a resume and letter of interest to be considered for this full-time, benefits-eligible, hybrid position with some on-campus presence required.
The Program Manager supports the Creative Writing Program’s strategic and operational goals through leadership in administration, events, and academic affairs. Key responsibilities include managing budgets and financial processes, coordinating major events and communications, and supporting faculty hiring, promotion, and compliance activities. This role ensures efficient daily operations, alignment with institutional policies, and strong collaboration across departments to advance the Creative Writing Program’s mission.
Responsibilities
- Develops a deep understanding of the Creative Writing Program to align operations with priorities and performance standards. Recommends and implements improvements. Creates and maintains process documentation, including SOPs and training manuals, to support operational continuity.
- Manages budgets, submits monthly projections, executes internal transfers, and ensures compliance with funding and grant requirements. Prepares budget materials with program leadership.
- Processes honoraria, reimbursements, and vendor payments; reconciles event expenses and manages all program purchases. Assists with processing payment activities for the Department of English.
- Tracks and analyzes data related to students, alumni, funding, and peer programs; supports internal and external program reviews.
- Oversees office operations, supplies, and physical space needs. Leads technology and space upgrades; manages building security and key card access.
- Collaborates with the Department of English Language and Literature Administrator to set goals and support the professional development of the Creative Writing Student Affairs Administrator. Provides training.
- Collaborates with the Director and Events Programming Committee to develop event concepts, ensuring alignment with budget, schedule, and curriculum.
- Plans, promotes, and executes annual events, including two seasonal 2-day literary festivals; manages logistics, tracks attendance, and assesses public engagement.
- Maintains event visibility by distributing listings to internal/external outlets, updating university calendars, and overseeing the Program’s website and social media channels. Designs and distributes the weekly Program newsletter; maintains and updates the subscriber database.
- Identifies and manages event co-sponsorships; integrates cross-campus initiatives and coordinates with event partners.
- Leads planning and representation for the Program and Chicago Review at the annual Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Conference.
- Manages tenure-track and other academic appointment (OAA) searches, including planning candidate visits and onboarding new hires (Lecturers, Teaching Fellows, etc.). Ensures clear and consistent communication of policies and procedures in partnership with Academic Affairs.
- Advises tenure-track faculty and OAA instructors on reappointment and promotion dossiers, annual reporting, service and curriculum planning, student support, quarterly feedback, compliance, and co-curricular involvement.
- Coordinates with the Department of English Chair and Creative Writing Chair of Hiring to ensure timely and accurate submission of hiring, renewal, and promotion dossiers for PPAs, SIPs, Lecturers 1B and L2.
- Oversee compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, including managing course observations and advising faculty committees on obligations and procedures.
- Collaborates with program leadership to establish policies that ensure continuity and compliance with Department of Education accreditation standards, including syllabus language requirements.
- Analyzes program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
- Has moderate/high levels of interactions with faculty, researchers and staff for committee work or information.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Education
Minimum Qualifications
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
Experience
- Exposure to higher-education administration and academic environment.
- Budget and financial processing.
- Event planning.
Technical Skills Or Knowledge
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Mailchimp, and Zoom.
- Strong technology knowledge, and/or learn information systems, financial tools, and databases.
Preferred Competencies
- Develop a budget and track finances.
- Write clearly and concisely with excellent editing/proofreading ability in English.
- Clear, effective, and tactful oral communications skills.
- Strong judgment and capacity to balance competing goals.
- Effectively solve problems.
- Organize tasks, deadlines, and documentation.
- Competencies in leadership, flexibility, team building, self-direction, and negotiation.
- Interact professionally with diverse stakeholders.
Working Conditions
- Office environment.
- Set up and take down venues for events and other associated work.
- Travel to various on-campus locations.
Application Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter that includes your interest in this position (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
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
$55,000.00 - $68,000.00
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 equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, 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.
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.
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.
