Sharp Building Program Coordinator

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

About The Department

The mission of Continuing Studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago is to provide an education that harnesses the transformative power of a leading art and design school, a world-renowned museum, and a vibrant city to support the development of critical thinking, rigorous investigation, and playful creativity. Serving students ages six to adult, we believe having confidence in one’s creative abilities plays a critical role in successfully meeting the unique challenges of today’s world.

Over The Course Of a Year, Continuing Studies Manages Close To 300 Part-time Faculty Teaching Assignments, 200 Teaching Assistant Assignments, And 30 Program Assistants. Our Programs Include:

• Adult Continuing Education (ACE), ages 18+, high school graduates (or equivalent)
• Early College Program (ECP), ages 14-18, grades 9-12
• Early College Program Summer Institute (ECPSI), ages 15-18, grades 11-12
• Early College Program Online Summer Institute (ECPOSI), ages 15-18, grades 11-12
• Middle School Program (MSP), ages 10-13
• Multi-Arts Camp (MAC), ages 6-9
• We also offer programs for high school art teachers and Chicago-based teens.

Continuing Studies programs offer high-quality arts education to develop students' personal art practice. Our programs make SAIC's resources and facilities available to these students and give them access to mentorship from our renowned faculty.

Read more about our programs at

Position Summary

The Program Coordinator: Sharp Building (PC) serves as the primary on-site operational lead for Continuing Studies summer youth programs housed in the Sharp Building, with a particular focus on the Middle School Program (MSP) .

The Middle School Program (MSP) serves youth ages 10–13 and emphasizes skill development alongside social, emotional, and creative growth across a range of disciplines. MSP courses run in two-week sessions throughout July and August.

The PC works closely with Continuing Studies colleagues, faculty, student employees, and campus partners to prepare for and manage the daily operations of all Continuing Studies programs in the Sharp Building. This role carries building-level responsibility and requires consistent physical presence, independence, and sound judgment. The PC is “staff on the ground,” responsible for ensuring smooth daily operations, addressing issues in real time, and maintaining a safe, supportive learning environment for students, families, faculty, and staff.

The PC is the primary point of contact for students, families, faculty, and student employees. During active program sessions, the PC balances student and family support, supervision of program and teaching assistants, and real-time operational decision-making. Frequent caregiver communication, youth behavior management, conflict mediation, and de-escalation are core components of the role.

While MSP and ECP are the primary focus, the PC also provides limited administrative support to other Continuing Studies programs as needed throughout the summer.

Schedule

This is a full-time, temporary, onsite position from May 4 to August 28. The weekly schedule is Monday through Friday. Typical hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with variable start and end times to accommodate program needs and peak activity periods.

Candidates unavailable for the following required dates are ineligible for this position:

• One faculty meeting will be held:
  • June 9, 5 - 6 pm: virtual
• Session check-in days are the first Monday of each session: June 29, July 13, and July 27.
• End-of-session events occur on the final Friday of each session: July 10, July 24, and August 8.
  

Responsibilities

Pre-Program Planning and Preparation (May–June)

In collaboration with Continuing Studies colleagues and campus partners, the PC prepares for the successful launch of summer programs by:

• Participating in planning meetings to establish program workflows, building-specific procedures, communication norms, and escalation pathways.
• Preparing and co-leading recorded information sessions for students and caregivers, with particular attention to family-facing communication expectations.
• Preparing and co-leading training sessions for faculty, teaching assistants, and program assistants, including expectations around supervision, communication, documentation, and student support.
• Organizing, distributing, and maintaining inventory of classroom and program supplies.
• Preparing materials and family-facing and internal email communications necessary for program administration.
• Completing administrative preparation and documentation required for summer operations.

Program Operations and Building Management (During Sessions)

During Active Program Sessions, The PC Serves As Staff On The Ground For The 280 Building, Responsible For Daily Operational Oversight And Real-time Problem-solving. Responsibilities Include:

• Acting as a primary point of contact for students and caregivers, managing frequent parent communication, responding to concerns, and resolving conflicts with professionalism, clarity, and care.
• Leading daily management of MAC drop-off and pick-up processes, ensuring safety, efficiency, and clear communication with caregivers.
• Managing peak congestion periods—including lunch, transitions, and high-traffic moments—by prioritizing needs, deploying staff effectively, and adjusting plans in real time.
• Moving throughout the SAIC campus, with a focus on the 280 Building, to observe teaching and learning environments, monitor student behavior, and proactively identify and address issues.
• Collaborating with faculty and Continuing Studies staff to ensure classrooms are appropriately staffed, equipped, and supported.
• Building and maintaining working relationships with campus partners outside Continuing Studies, including SAIC cafes, security, and facilities management.
• Supervising student program assistants, including task delegation, monitoring follow-through, providing feedback, and offering course correction within a formal supervisory structure.
• Overseeing daily lunch operations in collaboration with program and teaching assistants.
• Meeting weekly with the Assistant Dean for Operations to report highlights, concerns, and emerging operational needs.
• Communicating with Continuing Studies deans and administrative directors to respond to faculty and teaching assistant needs and to escalate concerns appropriately.
• Supporting end-of-session exhibitions and open studios.
• Ensuring classroom spaces and supply areas are clean, organized, and functional.
• Coordinating coverage for absent faculty and teaching assistants and, when necessary, temporarily substituting until coverage is secured.

Post-Program Wrap-Up

Following Program Completion, The PC Supports Program Closure By:

• Assisting with space reset and organization.
• Reviewing student and caregiver evaluations.
• Updating shared documentation and operational resources.
• Contributing to reporting and end-of-summer debrief processes.
• Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be added as needed at the manager’s discretion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in an art/education-related field or evidence of a self-directed work ethic, a demonstrated ability to think critically, and a passion for education/youth development
• At least three years of experience working directly with youth (pre-k, elementary, middle school, and/or high school)
• Ability to effectively multitask in a fast-paced environment, with special attention paid to caring for student well-being and safety
• Experience communicating with students and caregivers around sensitive topics and information
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to communicate clearly with students, staff, and caregivers
• At least one year of experience supervising others
• Basic computer experience, including working with word processors, spreadsheets, and the ability to learn new software

This position requires a background check and completion of mandated reporter training before beginning employment.

Physical Requirements

• Regular written and spoken communication with youth, staff, and caregivers.
• Visual oversight of large youth groups during lunch periods and other gatherings.
• Moving from building to building to oversee programs throughout the day (up to a ¾ mile distance per journey).
• Email students, caregivers, faculty, and staff using a computer or tablet.
• Maintaining classrooms and supply closets may include moving furniture and heavy supplies or equipment.

Compensation & Benefits

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:

• Hiring Range

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications and other job-related reasons.

This position is not benefits eligible.

• Job Classification: Hourly
• Employment Category: Temporary
• Grade Level: 06

If you are accessing this listing from a third party, not all links to salary and benefits information may work. Please visit our career page at saic/ artic.edu/employment for complete information

Application Instructions

Please submit your resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

Accessibility

If You Are a Job Seeker With a Disability And Require a Reasonable Accommodation To Apply For One Of Our Jobs, You Will Find The Contact Information To Request The Appropriate Accommodation By Visiting The Following Page:

Accessibility Accommodation for Applicants

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals compliant with federal and state laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at [email protected].