Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, headquartered in downtown Chicago, seeks an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to manage its acclaimed graduate, professional, and public programs and serve as a critical member of the senior leadership team.

For more information about Spertus Institute, see below.

About the Position

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs is a new position. The person in this new role will manage initiatives at the heart of Spertus Institute’s mission: its acclaimed graduate, professional, and public programs. These core Spertus Institute offerings are rooted in thoughtfully constructed curricula and delivered by accomplished faculty, mentors, and presenters. A key thought partner in program development and growth, the Associate Dean is a critical member of the senior leadership of the institution.

Responsibilities

Program Management

  • Administer all aspects of academic and certificate programs (in partnership with the Director of Academic Administration).
  • Plan academic calendars (in partnership with Director of Academic Administration).
  • Communicate regularly with students, and work to enhance the student experience (in partnership with Director of Academic Administration).
  • Conduct ongoing curricular review of all academic and certificate programs (in partnership with the Dean/Chief Academic Officer).
  • Identify potential new faculty and presenters across program areas.
  • Engage in program evaluation and assessment of student learning (in partnership with the Dean/Chief Academic Officer).
  • Generate and assist with generating student enrollment and other reports. These reports include those for the Higher Learning Commission, Illinois Board of Higher Education, Jewish United Fund, and key grantmaking foundations.

Student Advising/Support

  • Provide academic advising for students in Spertus Institute’s certificate, master’s, and doctoral programs. These students come from diverse backgrounds, bring varied academic and professional interests, and work in a broad range of professions.
  • Develop and implement a system for regular student check-in.
  • Support student progress for purposes of retention and completion.
  • Support student enrollment growth, by working with recruitment and marketing team members to develop strategies for student recruitment, community or organizational collaboration, and strategic positioning of programs.

New Program Initiatives

  • Explore new program opportunities and conduct market research.
  • Evaluate ideas/recommendations for new programs.
  • Develop business and implementation plans.

Thought Leadership

  • Participate in think tanks, as relevant.
  • Write short articles in areas of expertise and about the impact of our programs.
  • Regularly scan the market within our existing programmatic areas to identify trends and opportunities.
  • Occasionally teach courses across our programs, in area of expertise.

Institutional Leadership

  • Contribute to the preparation and reporting of grants and broader development efforts, as they relate to academic offerings.
  • Represent the institution in the broader community through meetings, communal gatherings, alumni and student engagement, articulating its impact and aiding in brand awareness.
  • Develop workshops and seminars to engage a broader audience with the work of the institution.
  • Contribute to strategic resource development.

Requirements

Background

  • Earned doctoral degree in a related field.
  • Three to five years of experience in academic affairs or relevant administrative experience.
  • Experience teaching in Jewish Studies, Nonprofit Management, Leadership Studies, or related fields.

Key Qualifications

  • Must have strong communication skills, including written, verbal, and public speaking/presentation skills.
  • Proven ability to strategically plan and successfully manage multiple simultaneous projects with numerous components and fixed deadlines.
  • Demonstrated teaching and research skills.
  • Proven success in working with diverse constituents.
  • Language skills: Hebrew a plus.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $110,000-$140,000

Attractive Benefit Package includes:

  • Vacation and paid sick leave
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Retirement savings/401K plan
  • Employee assistance program
  • Early Friday closures and Jewish and secular holidays

The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs reports to the Dean/Chief Academic Officer.
Occasional travel is required.

Start Date: Flexible, but preferred by Fall 2023.

To Apply

Candidates must submit a resume or vitae and cover letter. Applications will be reviewed beginning August 1 until the position is filled. 

Apply Here

Please note that Spertus Institute requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination status for employment.

Spertus Institute is an established DBA for Spertus College of Judaica.

About Spertus Institute Programs

Degree & Certificate Programs: At our core are degree and certificate programs in which students engage with Jewish ideas in the service of personal growth, community leadership, and professional advancement. These offerings, which merge theory and practice, educate Jewish professionals, community leaders, and those who seek quality, reflection-driven Jewish Studies scholarship. They serve students and organizations around the world.

Many Ways to Learn: Our academic and professional offerings are complemented by onsite and online programs, in an array of formats that invite people of all backgrounds and denominations to experience the richness of Jewish learning and culture. These programs are open to all. Every year thousands of participants increase their understanding of Jewish history, culture, and beliefs.

Why Work at Spertus?

Spertus Institute is a nondenominational institution of higher Jewish education, proudly based in Chicago and increasingly serving students around the world. Its offerings include graduate degree programs in Jewish Studies, Jewish Education, and Jewish Professional Studies, as well as a range of sophisticated professional and public programming.

Founded in 1924 as Chicago’s College of Jewish Studies, Spertus Institute today offers dynamic learning opportunities, rooted in Jewish wisdom and culture and open to all. These opportunities enable personal growth, train future leaders, and engage individuals in exploration of Jewish life. Spertus Institute is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It is guided by core values that inform its operations and programming.

For Spertus, this is a time of exciting opportunity and growth. Tied to a new Strategic Plan, we are building our standing as a leading center for thoughtful and relevant applied Jewish learning, with programs that address current and emerging needs. About to enter our second century as an academic institute with renewed vigor and vision, we are expanding the Spertus team to achieve ambitious academic and global expansion goals.

What is it like to work at Spertus? Here is what our staff has to say.

In our most recent employee survey, 9 out of 10 employees agreed that:

  • Their work contributes to the organization’s mission, strategy, and goals.
  • They have what they need to be successful in their roles.
  • They are comfortable asking for help from others on their team.
  • They have confidence in the leadership of the organization.
  • Spertus demonstrates care and concern for its employees.

If this is what you would like to be saying about your workplace, Spertus just might be the place for you.

Spertus Institute provides equal opportunity in all employment practices to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, ancestry, color, religion, gender, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, marital status, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by federal, state, and local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, compensation, promotion, transfer, disciplinary action, layoff, return from layoff, training, and social and recreational programs. All such employment decisions will be made without unlawfully discriminating on any prohibited basis.