Assistant Director of Material Source

About SAIC

For more than 150 years the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the worlds 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. SAICs undergraduate graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the worldas seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner David Sedaris Elizabeth Murray Richard Hunt Georgia OKeeffe Cynthia Rowley Nick Cave and LeRoy Neiman.

About the Department

SAICs 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 SAICs 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 management of SAICs 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 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 SAICs Health and Safety requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelors 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

Compensation & Benefits

Please click on the links below to view our competitive comprehensive benefits package:

• Hiring Range

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors including skill set experience qualifications and other job-related reasons.

• Benefits
• PTO Overview
• Job Classification: Full time staff
• Employment Category: Exempt
• Grade Level:8

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Application Instructions

Please submit your resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

Accessibility

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following page:

Accessibility Accommodation for Applicants

Equal Opportunity Statement

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 .

Required Experience:

Director