Program Assistant

The Center for Dewey Studies at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale seeks a Program Assistant. The primary responsibility of this position is to advance the research, teaching, publication, and outreach missions of the Center for Dewey Studies (CDS) by assisting the Director. The program assistant will be a collaborator in the further development of Dewey Studies at SIU. The CDS supports research and teaching on Dewey and related topics at SIU; trains graduate students in archival research, editing, and publishing; publishes work by and about Dewey; organizes academic conferences, lectures, and events; hosts visiting researchers; coordinates with the Special Collections Research Center concerning Dewey's papers and related archives.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

Examples of Duties

1. Provide professional support to the CDS Director, serve as a staff advisor.
2. Assisting with budget functions and bookkeeping for the CDS.
3. Maintain knowledge of CDS program activities and procedures, provide program knowledge and expertise, technical specifications, and developments related to the field of Dewey Studies, American Philosophy, and connected fields.
4. Pursue professional development activities to expand knowledge and maintain currency; work to develop new skill sets that will advance the program mission.
5. Interview and assess needs of faculty, students, visiting researchers, and external scholars who rely on the resources and services of the CDS program.
6. Develop materials and techniques for training graduate assistants who work for the CDS; assist in developing and maintaining program vision and design, program policies, and standard operating procedures.
7. Compile and analyze data and information, evaluate, and summarize findings as necessary to advance the mission of the CDS; prepare reports on activities synthesizing contributions from multiple individuals and projects.
8. Represent and coordinate working relationships of the CDS on various committees, teams or peers; act as a liaison to campus, agency, and community groups, other skilled specialists throughout the state and nationwide, and professional societies related to Dewey Studies and American Philosophy; serve as a resource person and referral agent.
9. Coordinate the logistics and activities for CDS events and programs including talks and lectures, visiting fellowships, conferences and workshops, research and publication projects, grants, and other programs as needed.
10. Participate in the hiring, selection, training, supervising, and evaluation of graduate assistants, visiting fellows, and other program staff.
11. Scheduling, assigning, reviewing, and recommendations concerning work within the CDS.
12. Maintain a positive working relationship with staff and clients.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree is required.

A degree, certification, training, or experience in the following areas is preferred but not required (in order of preference):

• Philosophy (especially pragmatism, American philosophy, or history of philosophy)
• History (especially American intellectual or political history, work with archives)
• Library sciences, museum studies, or other fields involving historical archives.
• Education (history, philosophy, or social foundations)
• Other humanities and social sciences connected with Dewey Studies
• Business, finance, accounting, or other field connected with logistics, planning, & budget
• Based on position requirements, additional education, training, and/or work experience in the area of specialization inherent to the position, may be required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of general office practices and procedures
• Familiarity with archival or academic research or publishing practices
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services
• Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects
• Skill in oral and written communication
• Ability to work effectively with students, staff, the public, and outside constituency groups
• Ability to organize and multi-task
• Ability to supervise and knowledge of administrative concepts and methods
• Ability to utilize various computer software packages
• Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment

Challenges

Schedule: Due to the timing of certain CDS events, this position requires occasional work outside of normal business hours.

Self-motivation: This position must be able to take the initiative in determining task priorities and allocation of time to projects.

Flexibility: They must be able to identify needs as they arise, take on new tasks, and bring projects to a close in a timely fashion.

Complexity: The CDS engages in a wide variety of academic and outreach tasks that must be coordinated according to deadlines and priorities. A wide variety of types of organizational and academic information must be mastered. The program assistant supports the development and planning of complex activities and must be able to handle numerous projects simultaneously and with a high degree of accuracy. The employee must exercise careful judgment in using established policies and procedures.

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For more information about the position, including the Illinois residency requirement, tips for completing a civil service application, and information about civil service examination/testing, please see the application website. 

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Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an R1 Opportunity University with a statewide economic impact of $2.7 billion dollars.  We offer 200+ undergraduate degrees, minors and specializations, 79 master’s degrees, and 40 doctoral degrees. Our main campus is 1,136 acres, with additional acreage in University Farms, Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, and other facilities. The university is an essential part of the city of Carbondale and an important contributor to the culture of the entire region. While Carbondale includes many of the amenities of urban life, it retains its small-town flavor. Cost of living is considerably lower in the region than similar areas elsewhere, and many employees commute from nearby counties.

The Southern Illinois region is distinct from the rest of the state, boasting considerable natural beauty including the Shawnee National Forest, many state parks, national wildlife areas, and several lakes beloved for recreation. Local foods are readily available in the area, with a variety of eateries and a growing specialized food truck presence. The area is home to the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, an official wine appellation designation. The wineries extend the cultural reach of the community, hosting live music and continual art exhibits. The campus itself is a microcosm of the area, with a lake and forest on campus, as well as traditional collegiate architecture, quad, and residential halls. Students enjoy outdoor study areas as well as specialized computer labs scattered across campus, including in the three million volume Morris Library. To learn about employee benefits, employee tuition waivers, and find resources about Carbondale and the Southern Illinois region, visit: https://jobs.siu.edu/.
 

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer dedicated to building a community of excellence, equity, and diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, order of protection status, genetic information, marital status, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation including gender identity, unfavorable discharge from the military or status as a protected veteran. The university will comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, orders, and regulations.