Program Assistant

Description Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. 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, and coordinates with the Special Collections Research Center concerning Dewey’s papers and related archives. 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. Examples of Duties Provide professional support to the CDS Director, serve as a staff advisor. Assisting with budget functions and bookkeeping for the CDS. 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. Pursue professional development activities to expand knowledge and maintain currency; work to develop new skill sets that will advance the program mission. Interview and assess needs of faculty, students, visiting researchers, and external scholars who rely on the resources and services of the CDS program. 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. 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. 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. 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. Participate in the hiring, selection, training, supervising, and evaluation of graduate assistants, visiting fellows, and other program staff. Scheduling, assigning, reviewing, and recommendations concerning work within the CDS. Maintain a positive working relationship with staff and clients. Qualifications 1. Bachelor's degree is required. A degree, certification, training, or experience in the following areas is preferred (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 Supplemental Information Illinois Residency Requirement Pursuant to the State Universities Civil Service System, out-of-state candidates must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days of the start date for this position. Tips for Completing a Civil Service Application: To be eligible for the role, ensure that your application includes a complete and detailed employment history that highlights your relevant full-time and part-time work experience, including start and end dates of employment. Relevant part-time work experience will count towards the qualifications for this position and will be converted to full-time equivalence to calculate the total length of experience. Upload all official transcripts to meet the educational requirements. If the job description specifies a minimum number of college hours, transcripts are mandatory for the successful processing of your application. Veterans who qualify for preference must provide proof of eligibility within ten (10) working days of submitting an application, unless the same proof has already been submitted in a previous application. The required proof of eligibility includes, at a minimum, a copy of the veteran's DD214/DD215 form (Department of Defense), NGB22 form (National Guard), or Discharge Orders or DD256 Discharge Certificate (Reserves). After the position has closed, your application and supporting materials will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications, including any specialty factors associated with this position. Those who qualify will move forward for Civil Service Examination/Testing. Please monitor your e‑mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from View email address on click.appcast.io. For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at sucss.illinois.gov About Civil Service Examination/Testing: The Civil Service examination for this classification is based on your application materials and responses to the supplemental questions. No participation other than submission of application materials is required from applicants that qualify to take the exam. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, your application will move forward for examination/testing in which you will receive a score calculated based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register by exam score. This score will be emailed to the email address noted on your application. After the application deadline, the names within the top three scores will be referred to the department for interview. Sponsorship for Work Authorization is not available. For more information visit Equal Opportunity Employer Statement 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr