Assistant Program Manager

Description

Rare Book School (RBS) provides continuing-education opportunities for students from all disciplines and skill levels to study the history of written, printed, and digital materials with leading scholars and professionals in the field.

RBS is searching for an organized and detail-oriented full-time Assistant Program Manager to aid the Director of Programs & Education in facilitating excellent programming for a field-leading continuing-education organization affiliated with the University of Virginia. In addition to working with the Director of Programs & Education, the Assistant Program Manager will work closely with the other members of the Programs team to maintain and improve upon the successful programming at RBS.

The Assistant Program Manager will be asked to:

• manage course logistics relating to select partner institutions (including catering, space reservations, course materials, and hosting on site);
• travel to remote partner institutions to oversee course logistics;
• support programs logistics for course sessions in Charlottesville (communicating with conference services and students about dormitory housing, setting up classrooms, participant registration, evening receptions, &c.);
• communicate regularly with RBS faculty members and applicants as well as individuals who are sponsoring, supporting, or variously related to RBS courses and programs;
• assist with leading/teaching demonstrations of various book-related processes and technologies (e.g., relief and intaglio printing, bookbinding, &c.);
• produce and distribute informational documentation for students, assist in planning and facilitating online courses;
• coordinate travel and housing reservations for faculty members, session staff, and lecturers;
• participate in the coordination of outreach events, such as open houses;
• design, order, and maintain stock levels of RBS-related merchandise;
• assist with tracking course applications through the admissions process;
• manage the Certificate of Proficiency program; and
• carry out other Programs-related duties as needed.

Our organization, celebrating its 40th-anniversary year, offers a fast-paced, creative, and collaborative work environment located on Central Grounds at the University of Virginia. We provide cutting-edge, specialized instruction vital for understanding and preserving artifacts central to our cultural heritage.

Rare Book School is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer as a nonprofit affiliated with the University of Virginia. RBS is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment that embraces a richly diverse representation of human attributes, perspectives, and disciplines. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, citizenship status, Vietnam era or special disabled veteran’s status, or sexual orientation. We champion an accessible, diverse, and inclusive learning environment and invite candidates to review Rare Book School’s Inclusive Excellence goals (see http://www.rarebookschool.org/inclusive-excellence-plan).

Required qualifications and terms: Qualified applicants must have a bachelor’s degree; the ability to deliver high-quality customer service; excellent attention to detail; strong time-management and organizational skills; steady work ethic; the ability to work well in a team; integrity; strong written and oral communication skills; and a close familiarity with one or more of the constituencies from which our students and faculty principally come (e.g., book history & bibliography, special collections librarianship, book arts, antiquarian bookselling, archives, digital humanities, and higher education). The position requires increased hours (50 hours), including weekends, during course sessions as well as some travel to support RBS classes. The successful candidate will work in RBS’s Charlottesville, VA office, soon to be relocated to the fully renovated UVA main library. In-office or on-site work will be required, although we encourage flexibility in work schedules.

Preferred qualifications: A degree in the humanities or social sciences; proficiencies with PC or Mac operating systems, MS Office Suite, InDesign, Acrobat, and Photoshop; familiarity with the Chicago Manual of Style; and a valid driver’s license.

This is a full-time, year-round, non-exempt, salaried position. Starting salary ranges from $45,000 to $50,000, depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits will include health insurance (including dental and vision); long-term disability; an RBS course each year; and a 403(b) retirement plan, with employer’s matching contribution up to 5% (after one year). Financial assistance with moving expenses (taxable) will be available.

To apply, applicants should submit the following materials to Laura Perrings, Director of Programs & Education, at laura.perrings@virginia.edu:

1) A cover letter
2) A curriculum vitae
3) The phone numbers and email addresses of at least three references, at least one of whom has served as your supervisor (we will not contact references until the offer stage)

In your cover letter, please address: 1) your competency and experience with regard to the responsibilities and desired qualifications; 2) why you are interested in working for Rare Book School; 3) your efforts to advance the values of diversity and belonging in your professional practice; and 4) when you will be available to begin, either remotely (until able to coordinate a move) or in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Review of applications will begin November 15; applications will remain open until the position is filled.

Job Duties

The Assistant Program Manager will be asked to:

• manage course logistics relating to select partner institutions (including catering, space reservations, course materials, and hosting on site);
• travel to remote partner institutions to oversee course logistics;
• support programs logistics for course sessions in Charlottesville (communicating with conference services and students about dormitory housing, setting up classrooms, participant registration, evening receptions, &c.);
• communicate regularly with RBS faculty members and applicants as well as individuals who are sponsoring, supporting, or variously related to RBS courses and programs;
• assist with leading/teaching demonstrations of various book-related processes and technologies (e.g., relief and intaglio printing, bookbinding, &c.);
• produce and distribute informational documentation for students, assist in planning and facilitating online courses;
• coordinate travel and housing reservations for faculty members, session staff, and lecturers;
• participate in the coordination of outreach events, such as open houses;
• design, order, and maintain stock levels of RBS-related merchandise;
• assist with tracking course applications through the admissions process;
• manage the Certificate of Proficiency program; and
• carry out other Programs-related duties as needed.

Skills Required

The ability to deliver high-quality customer service; excellent attention to detail; strong time-management and organizational skills; steady work ethic; the ability to work well in a team; integrity; strong written and oral communication skills; and a close familiarity with one or more of the constituencies from which our students and faculty principally come (e.g., book history & bibliography, special collections librarianship, book arts, antiquarian bookselling, archives, digital humanities, and higher education).

Work Schedule

9-5 M-F mostly; 16 hours available for WFH is the office policy. The position requires increased hours (50 hours), including weekends, during course sessions as well as some travel to support RBS classes. The successful candidate will work in RBS’s Charlottesville, VA office. In-office or on-site work will be required, although we encourage flexibility in work schedules.