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 c.edu/cs.

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.

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