Executive Assistant / Chair’s Assistant

Department

About the Department

Job Summary

Responsibilities

• Manages telephone and email communications for respective leaders and responds or coordinates responses with relevant team members and follows up to ensure complete and timely responses.
• Collaborates on new and ongoing projects. Tracks and helps drive completion of key deliverables and follows up on outstanding items. Tasks include proofreading, fact checking, and editing papers and reports under the supervision of the Chair, Faculty, and Executive Administrator.
• Coordinates events for the Ben May Department of Cancer Research, including logistics, assistance with planning and preparing presentations, event outreach, and post-event write-ups.
• Prepares and coordinates letters of recommendation, faculty reports, conflict of interest statements, and other institutional documents for leaders’ submission.
• Manages faculty member’s individual finances including soliciting and processing travel arrangements and reimbursements, honoraria, and other internal and external receivables, to ensure timely dispersal of obligated payments. Orders supplies and equipment.
• Stays informed of activities relating to University programs and initiatives, apprising the leaders of issues when deemed necessary.
• Serves as an information gateway for general inquiries, including assistance with answering the main administrative phone line and general email.
• Assists in managing daily operation of the office and may assist in developing administrative goals and policies. Maintains the leaders’ calendar, exercising discretion and judgment as to priorities and effective use of the leader’s time.
• Coordinates special projects as directed by leader. May manage a portion of the leader’s budget, monitoring and reconciling accounts. May prepare financial and/or administrative reports.
• Assists in the planning and execution of faculty recruitment and promotions.
• Assists in office operations and department activities including social events.
• Processes reimbursements for students.
• Procures office supplies for the office, and labs as needed, and initiate payments to vendors.
• Updates Ben May Department of Cancer Research Website.
• Provides confidential and high-level administrative support for a leader. Stays informed of activities relating to University programs and initiatives, apprising the leader of issues when deemed necessary. Coordinates information flow from leader's office to University. May staff Board of Directors meetings. Relieves leaders of administrative responsibilities.
• Initiates correspondence and other written materials under own signature or for signature of the leader. Triages emails and telephone calls for action. Resolves routine and complex inquiries. May act as liaison to Board of Directors.
• Prepare special reports and summaries, assists in managing daily operation of the office, and may assist in developing administrative goals and policies. Maintains the leader's calendar, exercising considerable discretion and judgment as to priorities and effective use of the leader's time.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Work Experience:

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficiency with word processing applications and spreadsheets and databases preferred.

Preferred Competencies

• Familiarity with central administration within a complex research university environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Handle public contacts with courtesy, clarity, and diplomacy.
• Handle sensitive and confidential situations and information with absolute discretion.
• Maintain calm and courteous demeanor and work productively despite heavy workload, competing priorities, complex problems, and tight deadlines.
• Excellent problem-solving skills. Use appropriate resources to resolve an issue.
• Follow an issue through to resolution. Considerable skill in working both independently and as a team member.
• Take initiative and organize and complete projects with minimal supervision.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Role Impact

Scheduled Weekly Hours

Drug Test Required

Health Screen Required

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

Pay Rate Type

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FLSA Status

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Pay Range

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

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.

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