Director, STEM Grad Career Development and Postdoctoral Affairs
The University of Chicago

Job Info

---

Department
Provost UChicagoGRAD Careers

About the Department
UChicagoGRAD, a part of the Office of the Provost that supports graduate education across the University, is an innovative national model for preparing graduate students and postdocs to succeed while at UChicago and beyond. With teams focusing on admissions, fellowship advising, writing support and public speaking training, diversity initiatives, career exploration and planning, and administration, UChicagoGRAD works with campus partners to support students and postdocs at every stage of their academic careers and beyond. UChicagoGRAD functions as a one-stop shop for graduate students and postdocs to access resources that support timely degree completion and to enhance professional preparation that helps them translate their degrees into a variety of careers. UChicagoGRAD works with academic departments and divisions as well as campus-wide offices to develop and implement outreach, recruitment, and yield efforts; graduate and postdoc-focused programs, workshops, and events; training and support tailored to UChicago graduate students and postdocs; and administrative practices and policies in support of graduate education.

Job Summary
The job independently develops and implements advisory programs focused on students' career developments.

Responsibilities

• Develops, implement and assess effectiveness of graduate/postdoc specific programs and workshops on professional development and career preparation topics, often in close collaboration with campus partners.
  
• Conducts one-on-one advising with graduate students, postdocs, and recent graduate alumni on topics including career exploration, job market planning and preparation, and the graduate student/postdoc experience, with the goal of helping graduatestudents/postdocs/graduatealumni successfully navigate their academic, professional, and personal transitions.
  
• Develop and implement strategy to advance and expand myCHOICE programming at GRAD.
  
• Manage Associate Director, myCHOICE on daily tasks and strategic priorities.
  
• Develops relationships and works closely with campus partners (including the myCHOICE program, the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, science faculty, program administrators and deans of students) on career development and myCHOICE initiatives.
  
• Develops relationships with the external partners and alumni to foster myCHOICE programming and further initiatives.
  
• Tracks and maintains contact with postdocs and graduate alumni to monitor career progress. Records and analyzes placement outcomes to improve support for future students and postdocs.
  
• Serve as liaison for the broader postdoctoral community and the Provost Office through advisory and administrative meetings and postdoctoral trainee events.
  
• Supports colleagues in employer relations work and engages strategically with employers as needed on behalf of the PhD and postdoc STEM population.
  
• Conducts mock interviews, reviews resumes and cover letters, and coordinates other interview related programming in both individual and group settings.
  
• Develops original content for career related publications and assists with the editing and distribution of Career Services communications materials.
  
• Analyzes markets and trends as they relate to job searches. Assesses student feedback and evaluations and collaborates with other career services staff members, student organizations, or other staff to determine program offerings and innovations.
  
• Works, with minimal guidance, to write timely and effective articles about career management topics for a variety of student publications. Conceptualizes, develops, and delivers career management programming and published materials.
  
• Conducts job search and career management related large lectures, hands-on workshops, special events, training programs, and one-on-one career coaching sessions. Acts as a resource for and directs students to other career resources as needed.
  
• Analyzes markets and trends as they relate to job searches. Assesses student feedback and evaluations and collaborates with other career services staff members, student organizations, or other staff to determine program offerings and innovations.
  
• 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 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Ph.D. in a scientific field, including biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, or related field.
  

Experience:

• Mentoring or advising experience with graduate students.
  
• Working knowledge teaching or leading workshops.
  
• Background developing or managing career development programs.
  
• Some postdoctoral research experience in a laboratory setting.
  

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficient in basic data analysis tools including Microsoft Excel.
  
• Knowledge of diverse career options for STEM PhDs.
  
• Proficient at the process for applying to postdocs and faculty jobs.
  
• Knowledge of Symplicity or other career services management platform.
  

Preferred Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly one-on-one, in groups of people, and in writing.
  
• Demonstrated teamwork skills to lead and collaborate with a wide range of students, faculty and staff in a complex and decentralized research university environment.
  
• Maintain strict confidentiality.
  
• Work under pressure during seasonal high volume.
  
• A strong focus on customer service.
  

Working Conditions

• Occasional evening and weekend work.
  

Application Documents

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

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

Job Family
Student Affairs & Services

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
$72,250.00 - $93,500.00
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 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.

---