Assistant Director of Material Source

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—and are exemplified 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 SAIC's Material Source sells art‑making supplies to faculty, staff and students to facilitate the various making possibilities available at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Our stores provide convenient access to curriculum‑driven and hard‑to‑source art materials across campus. Stores are staffed by student employees and located in or near many of SAIC’s art‑making facilities to help students explore the various media the school engages in. Position Summary Provide SAIC students, faculty, staff and departments with specialized materials through the management of SAIC’s Material Source Center operation. Ensure each facility has an ample stock of a variety of safety‑approved specialized art‑making materials, supervise and provide strong leadership for professional staff who directly manage the storefronts and maintain accurate accounting records consistent with SAIC Fiscal Office standards. Responsibilities Work with academic departments and instructional facilities to understand and accommodate material needs to best support the curriculum. Work closely with the Associate Director of Media and Instructional Resources to develop policies related to selection, discontinuation, pricing of products and services. Supervise and provide continuous leadership to full‑time employees in the operation of the Material Source facilities. Ensure the facilities are reliably operational, clean, well‑organized, staffed and the shelves are adequately stocked. Research and direct the implementation of solutions relating to Material Source storefronts, storage locations on campus and warehouse. Maintain point‑of‑sale system for the Material Source operation. Manage the ordering and purchasing of products. Evaluate how to best package and sell items. Determine appropriate stock levels and item types based on curricular needs. Set price points accounting for margins. Reconcile payments and maintain accuracy of purchase orders in point‑of‑sale with those in the Month End report and invoices sent by vendors. Perform annual audits and deliver regular reports to the fiscal office. Oversee the management of cycle counts and track adjustments. Collect, organize and reconcile purchasing and sales data. Process journal transfer requests for interdepartmental purchases. Using collected sales and inventory data to develop solutions that enhance customer service. Design and implement online catalog, and educational materials for public use. Report and advise on resources needed for capital requests and operating equipment and technology. Actively participate in institutional committees and initiatives to support student access and outcomes. Work with the Director of Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability and the Instructional Fabrication department to ensure that all Material Source products meet SAIC’s Health and Safety requirements. Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in higher education 2+ years of verifiable related work experience Excellent communication, organization, and customer service skills Supervisory and leadership experience preferred Experience with budget management Experience using spreadsheets, point‑of‑sale systems, or other database programs to develop data visualization Familiarity with a variety of art processes and materials preferred Purchasing experience including product selection and vendor relations Familiarity with Point of Sale equipment (barcode scanners, printers, computers) Physical Requirements Ability to operate pallet jacks, move equipment on push carts and dollies and use general packaging and moving equipment. Frequent travel between Material Source storefronts located in buildings across campus. 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 View email address on click.appcast.io. Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor. #J-18808-Ljbffr School of the Art Institute of Chicago