Job No. 157258
- Job Title:
- Assistant to the Department Chair
- Employer:
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University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- Location:
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Ann Arbor , MI
- Posting Date:
- 09-Dec-2025
- Description:
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Job Summary
The Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan College of Engineering is at the forefront of research in human health, sustainable energy, and programmable matter. We are committed to creating a positive, inclusive workplace and providing flexible work arrangements.
Reporting to the Department of Chemical Engineering Chair and working closely with department leadership, providing highly responsible administrative support in a fast-paced and high-energy environment.
What You'll Do
Draft, edit, format, and proof communications, letters, documents, reports, presentations, and other technical writing, using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Dropbox, and Google Workspace. This will require understanding the Department's strategic objectives and the underlying supporting data, as well as an ability to compose and edit work products with limited supervision and guidance.
Thrive in a highly collaborative and dynamic environment that requires flexibility, strong teamwork, and the ability to step in wherever support is needed.
Provide complex calendar management for the Department Chair.
Schedule meetings for department leadership, often including high-level University and external contacts, professionally and efficiently. Coordinate on-site logistics, including greeting, orienting, and escorting external guests to their scheduled meetings with the Chair.
Maintain a collaborative partnership with the Unit Administrator, ensuring clear and timely communication on faculty-meeting follow-ups, College deadlines, and Chair-related meetings involving shared responsibilities. Consult on department-wide events and uphold clear lines of communication within the department's organizational structure to support efficient, aligned operations.
Staff department meetings, including faculty meetings and other committees, creating meeting agendas, catering, providing appropriate meeting materials based on meeting objectives, preparing minutes as necessary, and tracking follow-up activities.
Provide technical meeting support: slide presentations, audio/video support as needed.
Coordinate domestic and international travel arrangements for the Chair, including air and car travel reservations, hotel accommodations, detailed travel itineraries, and appropriate prep materials.
Prepare and submit expenses for reimbursement, reconcile P-card charges, and follow up on any discrepancies.
Support faculty recruitment, selection, and appointment process, including staff support to search committees, arranging candidate visits, detailed travel and on-campus meeting itineraries, and other appropriate material preparation. Also, serve as the primary contact and escort for faculty candidates. Support casebook process for newly selected faculty to include drafting letters for the chair and coordinating with department leadership throughout the process.
Provide support as staff lead for casebooks associated with faculty reviews and promotions. Assist tenure, promotion, and review committees with the administrative processes, including the development of internal timelines for chair and committee chairs to ensure the timely submission of the casebook to the CoE.
Provide support as staff lead for the department faculty awards committee. Maintain faculty awards database and provide reports and summary information to the department faculty awards chair and committee. Assist with award submission processes, proof documents for the committee to ensure letters and documents are correctly formatted and in compliance with award submission requirements.
Assist with faculty appointments in collaboration with department leadership, including Emeritus and courtesy appointments, sabbatical requests, etc.
Serve as part of the broader administrative team that supports faculty, assisting as needed with department-wide events and providing coverage for the faculty support team during absences or periods of increased workload.
Work collaboratively with department leadership to manage on- and off-campus department-level events, achieving the stated event objectives. This includes managing event budgets, logistics (e.g., room scheduling, equipment, vendor relationships, catering, invitations, RSVPs, and other communications), and documenting and tracking follow-up activities as necessary. Events include the annual Katz Lectureship, faculty retreats, Professorship ceremonies, department celebrations, special visitors/guests, Chair Chats, and more.
In collaboration with department leadership, serve as the point of contact for communicating significant life events to the Dean's Office of Michigan Engineering, including bereavements, and coordinate appropriate gestures or acknowledgments, ensuring cultural sensitivity and appropriateness.
Additional duties, as assigned, to support the Department Chair and department leadership.
Who We Are
Michigan Engineers are world-class educators, researchers, students and staff who strive to build a people-first future. As part of a top national public research institution, Michigan Engineering's mission is to provide scientific and technological leadership to the people of the world, develop intellectually curious and socially conscious minds, create collaborative solutions to societal problems, and promote an inclusive and innovative community of service for the common good.
Why Work at Michigan?
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:
Generous time off
A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
Life insurance
Long-term disability coverage
Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
Maternity and Parental Leave
Required Qualifications*
Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
5+ years of relevant administrative support experience, including experience organizing and staffing meetings and events.
Proven discretion and ability to maintain strict confidentiality when handling sensitive and departmental information.
Proven professionalism and ability to manage competing responsibilities while communicating on behalf of the Chair with tact, diplomacy, and respect for others' time and commitments.
Demonstrated strong computer skills, including experience working with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and other office software.
Must be able to take direction from several different people and have proven ability to prioritize tasks with conflicting deadlines, handle frequent interruptions, and meet deadlines.
Proven ability to work independently and effectively in teams. Flexibility, positive attitude and exceptional work ethic are essential.
Commitment to a supportive, inclusive, and safe working environment for all members of our community.
- Contact information:
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- Ann Arbor, MI 48109
- United States
- Employer's Website:
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