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

BASIC FUNCTION: The Communications Assistant supports the Office of Marketing and Communications across a broad range of operational responsibilities, including calendar management, financial processing, and office management. This person must possess strong communication and organization skills.

• Serve as first point of contact for the department, answer incoming calls and manage general department email account.
• Schedule meetings, coordinate travel logistics, manage staff PTO tracking and reporting, and submit expense reports for the VP of Marketing and Communications.
• Track all advancement-related communications projects across the team and serve as primary liaison with advancement (fundraising, alumni, and events) staff.
• Support photography and videography team with uploading, tagging, and cataloguing images and videos in the digital asset management system.
• Manages invoice payment requests and contract approval for office.
• Maintains department and project specific mailing lists.
• Maintain office supply inventory and order items as needed. Sort and distribute department incoming/outgoing mail.
• Manages subscriptions and memberships.
• Serves as the liaison with departments for facility and printing needs and maintenance, including printers and computers.
• Stay abreast of industry developments to maintain the professional competence, knowledge, and skills necessary for the satisfactory performance of all assigned responsibilities. Attend trainings as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• A high school diploma or equivalent required.
• Four years of administrative support or other relevant experience required.
• Must be highly detail orientated, well-organized, process/deadline oriented with ability to multi-task. Must be able to work independently, take initiative and use independent judgment.
• Must have strong written and verbal skills, excellent customer service skills, and ability to handle multiple communications concurrently.

The Art Institute of Chicago is an equal opportunity, equal access employer fully committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace.