Business Coordinator

Department PSD Mathematics:
Business Assistants

The Department of Mathematics at the University of Chicago is one of the most exciting places in the world to do mathematics. We have over 30 tenured and tenure‑track faculty working in areas such as combinatorics, algebraic geometry, number theory, pure and applied analysis, representation theory, probability, geometry, topology, dynamical systems, logic, and financial mathematics, along with a similar number of Dickson Instructors.

The research environment in the department is very lively, with seminars meeting virtually every day of the week and a constant stream of visitors. In addition, the department hosts regular colloquia and several annual lecture series, including the Adrian Albert Lectures in Algebra, the Zygmund‑Calderón Lectures in Analysis, the Charles J. Amick Memorial Lectures in Applied Mathematics, the Unni Namboodiri Lectures in Geometry and Topology, the Patrick Billingsley Lecture in Probability (joint with the Statistics Department), and the newly established Zheng Tong Chern‑Weil Symposium in Mathematics.

The Business Coordinator reports to the Assistant Director of Faculty Affairs and provides comprehensive administrative and operational support to the Manager, faculty, and visitors. As the primary front‑facing representative of the Department of Mathematics, this position creates a professional, welcoming environment while serving as the first point of contact both in person and by phone. The Business Assistant manages a broad range of administrative, financial, event and office operations, balancing competing priorities in a busy environment.

• Process expense reimbursements through GEMS; handle travel reimbursement and departmental payments in Oracle while supporting departmental events, faculty needs, and daily office operations.
• Manage approximately 500 classroom and meeting room reservations annually using Astra, coordinating with the Registrar’s Office regarding room assignments, reservation blocks, furniture requests, and scheduling needs.
• Coordinate aspects of the departmental colloquium, including creating and distributing announcements, maintaining event webpages, communicating with speakers, and coordinating audiovisual requirements.
• Plan and coordinate departmental events, including daily teas, annual dinners, named lectures, conferences, and special events.
• Execute day‑to‑day event logistics, coordinating venues, catering, vendor services, communications, and event publicity to ensure successful programs.
• Coordinate audiovisual support, including scheduling AV staff, approving time records, and ensuring equipment readiness for departmental events.
• Serve as the department’s front desk coordinator, providing exceptional customer service to faculty, staff, students, visitors, and vendors.
• Maintain and update departmental websites related to colloquia and events.
• Negotiate with vendors and coordinate contracts, locations, catering, and event services while monitoring budgets and expenditures.
• Create and maintain annual faculty, staff, and graduate student photo directories.
• Track departmental event and operational expenses, prepare reports, and resolve routine and moderately complex financial issues using established procedures.
• Maintain departmental bulletin boards, signage, and informational displays.
• Assist faculty and staff with purchasing requests and expense reimbursement processing through GEMS.
• Prepare and distribute office keys for faculty and departmental guests.
• Maintain departmental Google Sheets and Google Docs, ensuring information remains current, accurate, and accessible.
• Monitor, organize, and replenish supplies in four departmental kitchens.
• Collaborate with office staff and provide support as needed.
• Receive, sort, and distribute incoming mail and packages.
• Provide administrative support for a leader: stay informed of activities, apprising the leader of issues, coordinate information flow, may initiate correspondence, triage emails and telephone calls for action, resolve routine and complex inquiries, and perform related work as needed.

• Education:
  
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