Employment Opportunities
University of Chicago Student Positions
These jobs are only available to University of Chicago students. For more information on student internships and opportunities, please see Student & Faculty Resources.
Student Docent Program
University of Chicago undergraduate and graduate students from a wide range of academic departments form the Smart Museum’s docent team. Docents facilitate tours for K–12 and university students, adults, and families. Docents gain valuable teaching and public speaking experience and develop a deep understanding of art and museums.
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Manager of Tour & Teacher Initiatives, docents facilitate tours of the Smart Museum’s collections and special exhibitions for K–12, university, and adult audiences. Docents also assist with education outreach and family events. This position is part-time (3–7 hours per week), year-round. Prior to leading tours, docents must participate in a paid training program offered fall and winter quarters. Attendance of ongoing supplementary training sessions required as well.
Qualifications
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong public speaking skills
- High level of interest in visual art
- Prior teaching experience preferred
- Knowledge of studio art and/or art history a plus, but not required
Hours
Part time, 3–7 hours per week.
Note: To prepare for teaching in the Smart’s galleries, new docents must complete an orientation and training during fall and winter quarters. Docent orientation will take place on October 30 at 5 pm; docent training will run from January 8 to March 5 and will be held on Thursdays from 5–8 pm. Attendance of these training sessions is mandatory and essential to your success as a docent. In addition, docents are required to observe tours during fall and winter quarters. Docents are paid for all tours and training.
Pay Rate
$8/hour. Work-study accepted, but not required.
Application
Download the application (PDF). Type all responses into the form and return completed application to the Smart Museum's front desk or submit via e-mail to lboylan@uchicago.edu. Deadline for applications is October 16, 2008. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until positions for the training class are
filled. Select applicants will be called for an interview. No phone calls please.
Gallery Attendants
Applications for Gallery Attendant positions are always accepted. Work schedules are flexible and can be designed to fit around a student's class schedule. Work-study students are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications are available at the Museum's front desk.
Café Attendants
When positions are open applications are made available at the Museum's front desk.
Staff Positions
Director of Development
Reporting to the Director of the Museum, the Director of Development leads the Smart's fundraising as the Museum significantly enhances its operational base of support, builds its endowment, prepares for a capital campaign, and further heightens its visibility locally, nationally and internationally.
The Director of Development works closely with the Director to develop overall development strategy and projections for the future, cultivate major gifts, and further strengthen the Board of Governors in its function and effectiveness. He/she oversees a robust program of individual, corporate, and foundation giving and manages a development team that encompasses an Assistant Director of Development, a Development and Membership Associate, and student interns with the possibility of an additional part-time grant writer and/or other part-time and/or contract staff. The Director of Development works closely and in coordination with the University's development staff and various university units to effectively advocate for Smart and pursue development efforts. The Director of Development is a member of the senior staff of the Museum and is involved in planning for the institution's future. In consultation with the Museum's Director, the Director of Development works closely with senior members of the Museum's staff, including the Director of Education, the Director of Collections and Exhibitions, and the Director of Finance and Administration to ensure that Museum programs and activities obtain the funding they require and that all available funding opportunities are exploited.
Qualifications
- A minimum of 3 years experience in fundraising in a museum, non-profit, or higher education setting required; five or more years preferred
- Demonstrated comfort with and success in gift solicitation and donor cultivation, including working with volunteer support groups required
- Experience developing successful corporate, foundation and/or government proposals required
- Significant knowledge of best practices in membership, direct mail solicitation, and uses of technology in development efforts required
- Supervisory, organizational, planning, and leadership skills required; excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills required; ability to effectively use prospect management computer systems required
- Passion for the arts and an understanding of the value of university museums as well as of the university environment required.
- Experience in a visual arts institution or museum preferred; substantial understanding of and experience with Chicago-area and University alumni arts supporters preferred; experience in development at a major university preferred; experience with event planning and coordination preferred.
A cover letter, resume and reference contact information are required to be considered for this position.
APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED ELECTRONICALLY ONLY. Submit application at http://jobopportunities.uchicago.edu. Requisition number 079695.