Program Manager
About The Unit: As part of the University of Chicago's efforts to enhance the arts, the Arts and Public Life Initiative actively encourages the development of relationships between the creative and artistic projects taking place at the University of Chicago with those that are taking place throughout the South Side of Chicago, the city and beyond. Arts and Public Life (APL) will strengthen and develop sustainable partnerships with local artists, design professionals, architects, developers, commerce professionals and researchers to focus on the creations of innovative placemaking models in Chicago, and various other US cities, to support small-scale, culture-driven development among traditional players in the enhacement of distressed neighborhoods, among traditional players in the development ecosystem. By advancing artistic ambition through collaborations, master planning, architecture, landscapes, product mix, and interiors, the place can be a catalyst for public art, creativity and placemaking. Arts and Public Life Initiative, through a 3-year grant entitled the Place Project, will seek to implement demonstration projects in selected cities and host learning events, workshops and convenings to complete demonstrations, and publish research and lessons from the projects.
Unit Job Summary: The Program Manager is responsible for managing and implementing community engagement strategies, visioning process, overseeing local research initiatives and coordinating strategy with the Lead Design Manager, APL staff and other participating universities. The Place Lab, a new University of Chicago project, will help to expand and test a community development model that supports arts and culture as a strategy for transforming communities and promoting local growth and vibrancy. The Place Project will jumpstart community-led development by bringing together artists, designers, urban planners, and policy experts in cities such as Akron, Ohio, Detroit, Michigan and Gary, Indiana. The project will involve training and mentoring on-the-ground partners to localize the approach and develop best practices in the design, architecture and build environment for arts and culture. The Place Project is rooted in the idea that reinventing abandoned spaces through community-led arts and cultural programs can open opportunities in urban communities, both by mobilizing residents to contribute to neighborhood change and by attracting outside investment. The Program Manager will work closely with the Place Lab staff to further the Place Project initiatives and with the research fellows and partner organizations to implement the Place Project's demonstration projects.
Unit Job Summary: The Program Manager is responsible for managing and implementing community engagement strategies, visioning process, overseeing local research initiatives and coordinating strategy with the Lead Design Manager, APL staff and other participating universities. The Place Lab, a new University of Chicago project, will help to expand and test a community development model that supports arts and culture as a strategy for transforming communities and promoting local growth and vibrancy. The Place Project will jumpstart community-led development by bringing together artists, designers, urban planners, and policy experts in cities such as Akron, Ohio, Detroit, Michigan and Gary, Indiana. The project will involve training and mentoring on-the-ground partners to localize the approach and develop best practices in the design, architecture and build environment for arts and culture. The Place Project is rooted in the idea that reinventing abandoned spaces through community-led arts and cultural programs can open opportunities in urban communities, both by mobilizing residents to contribute to neighborhood change and by attracting outside investment. The Program Manager will work closely with the Place Lab staff to further the Place Project initiatives and with the research fellows and partner organizations to implement the Place Project's demonstration projects.
The position requires a high degree of organizational skills, attention to detail, the ability to complete independent projects as well as to work in a team environment. The position is responsible for directing and coordinating the work of the Place Lab fellows and maintaining effective public relations with educational, institutional and governmental representatives, business and community agency personnel, students and members of the community. Other responsibilities include identifying opportunities for marketing and promoting the Place Lab and implementing promotional activities to advance the Place Project Initiatives. The Program Manager reports to the Director of Operations.
Unit Education: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to social service is required. An advanced/ master's degree, is preferred.
Unit Experience: Envisions, develops, organizes, plans, directs and implements the community engagement strategies.
Reviews demonstration project proposals and/or plans to determine time frame, funding limitations, procedures for accomplishing projects, staffing requirements and allotment of available resources for the various projects.
Establishes working partnerships with community-based organizations, colleges and universities.
Serves a liaison between partner organizations and other participating universities by attending meetings, responding to information requests and resolving issues as they may arise.
Assures compliance with the conditions of the grant by monitoring and analyzing agreements, contracts, grant expenses and activities in terms of grant requirements.
Provides administrative oversight and support over the Place Project fellows and provides supervision and training to assure completion of the individual projects.
Researches, compiles data and finalizes reports, narratives, presentations, surveys, needs assessments and other detailed materials for the Place Project and demonstration projects.
Develop publications through collaborative writing and editing.
Develops a thorough understanding of the Place Lab and its operations so that responsibilities can be conducted in a proactive versus a responsive manner.
Performs ongoing assessments of the status of he demonstration projects and promotion of the Place Lab and provides recommendations to Director of Operations.
Manages multiple tasks with a demonstrated ability to review and prioritize work.
Effectively handles highly sensitive, and often highly confidential, information with tact, diplomacy and exemplary judgment.
Develops and implements standardized, replicable processes for repeating and/or recurring events and activities.
Regularly provides status updates to the Director of Operations.
Unit Job Function Competencies: A minimum of seven years of experience in program management and personnel management are required. Experience collaborating with businesses, universities and/or not-for-profit agencies is required.
Unit Education: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to social service is required. An advanced/ master's degree, is preferred.
Unit Experience: Envisions, develops, organizes, plans, directs and implements the community engagement strategies.
Reviews demonstration project proposals and/or plans to determine time frame, funding limitations, procedures for accomplishing projects, staffing requirements and allotment of available resources for the various projects.
Establishes working partnerships with community-based organizations, colleges and universities.
Serves a liaison between partner organizations and other participating universities by attending meetings, responding to information requests and resolving issues as they may arise.
Assures compliance with the conditions of the grant by monitoring and analyzing agreements, contracts, grant expenses and activities in terms of grant requirements.
Provides administrative oversight and support over the Place Project fellows and provides supervision and training to assure completion of the individual projects.
Researches, compiles data and finalizes reports, narratives, presentations, surveys, needs assessments and other detailed materials for the Place Project and demonstration projects.
Develop publications through collaborative writing and editing.
Develops a thorough understanding of the Place Lab and its operations so that responsibilities can be conducted in a proactive versus a responsive manner.
Performs ongoing assessments of the status of he demonstration projects and promotion of the Place Lab and provides recommendations to Director of Operations.
Manages multiple tasks with a demonstrated ability to review and prioritize work.
Effectively handles highly sensitive, and often highly confidential, information with tact, diplomacy and exemplary judgment.
Develops and implements standardized, replicable processes for repeating and/or recurring events and activities.
Regularly provides status updates to the Director of Operations.
Unit Job Function Competencies: A minimum of seven years of experience in program management and personnel management are required. Experience collaborating with businesses, universities and/or not-for-profit agencies is required.
Must be a highly seasoned professional.
Must have demonstrated ability to anticipate the needs of a fast-paced office environment.
Must have the ability to set-up effective systems and processes and follow them.
Must exhibit demeanor appropriate to the office and to work with other units collaboratively, cooperatively, and productively.
Must be highly organized and take initiative and must be able to handle pressure with a calm appearance.
Must have strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to manage sensitive and confidential situations and information with absolute discretion.
Interest in contributing to advance the Place Lab's mission is highly valued.
Must have demonstrated ability to anticipate the needs of a fast-paced office environment.
Must have the ability to set-up effective systems and processes and follow them.
Must exhibit demeanor appropriate to the office and to work with other units collaboratively, cooperatively, and productively.
Must be highly organized and take initiative and must be able to handle pressure with a calm appearance.
Must have strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to manage sensitive and confidential situations and information with absolute discretion.
Interest in contributing to advance the Place Lab's mission is highly valued.
Ability to maintain calm and courteous demeanor and to work productively despite heavy workload, competing priorities, complex problems, and tight deadlines required.
Excellent problem-solving skills required.
Ability to use appropriate resources to resolve an issue required.
Ability to follow an issue through to resolution required.
Considerable skill in working both independently and as a team member required.
Must have excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
Must be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite software, including MS Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint, and also with Adobe Acrobat Professional. Must have proficiently with other Adobe software.
Excellent problem-solving skills required.
Ability to use appropriate resources to resolve an issue required.
Ability to follow an issue through to resolution required.
Considerable skill in working both independently and as a team member required.
Must have excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
Must be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite software, including MS Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint, and also with Adobe Acrobat Professional. Must have proficiently with other Adobe software.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.