Department
Lab School Family Life Programs
About the Department
At the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, students in Nursery through Grade 12 experience a world-class educational journey. Founded in 1896 by John Dewey as a place for educators to develop and explore novel approaches to pedagogy and curriculum, Lab continues to provide excitement and imagination in learning to this day. Academic rigor, experiential learning, and intellectual discourse are hallmarks of a Lab education. Lab educators are recognized for excellence in teaching and pride themselves on innovation in the classroom. Students in every grade have access to unparalleled resources, and all members of the Lab community benefit by partnerships and connections with the University of Chicago. Families who choose Lab care deeply about curiosity, inquiry, and creativity.
No less than scholarship, Lab’s mission prioritizes honoring diversity and exhibiting kindness. We are committed to building and supporting a teaching and learning community where young people see aspects of their backgrounds and identities reflected around them, where they feel a deep sense of belonging, and where they discover and use their voices to full effect. Today, 53-59 percent of Lab’s student body are students of color. Families report speaking nearly 40 different languages in their homes. Approximately 60 percent of Lab families are also affiliated with the University of Chicago. Half of our families live in Hyde Park, and the rest come from across Chicago, the suburbs, and northwestern Indiana. Inclusion is a fundamental value at Lab, such that we celebrate every facet of community members’ identities, and even where we disagree, we emphasize respect, civility, and maintaining a spirit of community.
Lab seeks the finest employees to join our vibrant learning community. We employ people with a wide range of skills and training in many different disciplines, who have in common a love of learning and the wish to inspire that same love of learning in young people. We seek candidates for employment who thrive in an educational environment. We provide a great professional home for those committed to collaboration, ongoing personal and professional growth, and cultivating positive relationships. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of color, LGBTQ+ identified candidates, candidates from historically marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds, and candidates with a demonstrated commitment to a deepening diversity, equity, and inclusion practice. In turn, we strive to ensure that Lab is a joyful, welcoming, and inspiring place to work. Through our connection to the University, faculty, staff, and administrators enjoy benefits and opportunities that would be nearly impossible to match in any other environment.
Job Summary
The job manages a range of programs, events, and student activities. Develops and implements orientation programming for incoming students and other programming that fosters student communities. Performs analysis of financial operations that support all recognized student organizations with minimal guidance from others.
Responsibilities
- Oversee recruitment, selection, and interviewing strategies to attract highly qualified candidates.
- Collaborate with HR partners to design, post, recruit, develop and retain solid Family Life Programs team members.
- Conduct reference checks for all new employees.
- Create comprehensive onboarding programs to ensure new hires are effectively integrated into the Lab Schools and FLP department.
- Coordinate orientation sessions to familiarize all FLP staff with the schools’ culture, values, and policies.
- Assess training needs and provide professional development programs to enhance employee’s skills and competencies.
- Continuously improve onboarding processes and employee training based on feedback and best practices.
- Facilitate career coaching and mentorship programs to support employee growth and development.
- Champion DEI initiatives to create a diverse and inclusive workplace.
- Facilitate effective communication between daytime administration and the FLP team.
- Collaborate with various Lab departments to support departmental goals and initiatives.
- Provide guidance and support to Assistant Directors on handling staff relations and family relations issues effectively.
- Implement employee recognition activities to celebrate achievement and milestones.
- Use various methods to gauge overall satisfaction and identify areas for improvement.
- Manage and input biweekly payroll of all FLP staff.
- Oversee the performance management process of part-time employees.
- Develop performance improvement plans for underperforming employees and support their progress.
- Address employee concerns in a timely and fair manner.
- Use in-depth knowledge and experience to recommend concepts for programming to leaders of various organizations and programs.
- Market student activities programming throughout the year. Develop and implement protocols for evaluating the effectiveness of programs.
- Perform 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: None required.
Preferred Qualifications
Education: Master's degree.
- At least five years experience working with school-age children or equivalent experience.
- A minimum of three years of experience managing people.
- Experience working in a school or afterschool setting.
- Previous employee coaching and mentoring experience.
Preferred Competencies
- Demonstrated organizational and leadership skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.
- Ability to work with a diverse group of students, parents, staff, administrators, vendors and faculty.
- Ability to be agile and flexible.
- Problem-solving skills.
- Decision-making skills.
- Attention to detail.
- Organizational skills.
- Computational skills.
- Creativity.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to manage stressful situations.
- Ability to perform multiple concurrent tasks with occasional interruptions.
- Ability to work with a diversity of individuals and/or groups.
- Ability to adjust to changing priorities.
- Ability to lead, guide and coordinate with others.
Working Conditions
- Ability to work into the early evening on a daily basis.
- Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.
- Ability to carry or lift loads of up to 25 lbs.
- Ability to climb stairs up to 2 stories.
- Ability to stand for 2 hours to 4 hours.
- Ability to travel to various on-campus locations.
- Ability to use standard office equipment.
- Ability to support Early Day and Late Day programs as needed.
Application Documents
- Resume (required)
- Cover Letter (required)
- Professional References (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: Student Affairs & Services
Role Impact: Individual Contributor
FLSA Status: Exempt
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40
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.
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