Associate Director - Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center - 1024385-6689

at University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois, United States

Job Description

• Serve as the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) and academic advisor for REEES BA majors and minors; monitor students' progress toward degree completion and graduation; Be a point of contact for students and handle difficult and challenging student academic and personal situations and issues;
• Serve as FLAS coordinator for academic year and summer for the Center's fellowship program, advising students on overseas programs and campus coursework as it pertains to FLAS fellowships;
• Serve as liaison between students and other campus units;
• Assist the Director with management of the Center's MA Program;
• Coordinate student assistantship funding and other student funding when necessary;
• Serve ex-officio as a member of the REEEC MA admissions committee;
• Serve as FLAS liaison with the Graduate College Fellowship Office and the U.S. Department of Education;
• Work with students to find faculty to assess their language aptitude and enter information into data reporting system;
• Research FLAS-eligible language training programs domestically and abroad and obtain approvals for students' overseas programs

• As Instructor, teach at least one course per year, usually the REEES proseminar for BA majors and MA's (REES 495/550) and occasionally a general education undergraduate course such as REES 200.
• Develop academic instructional materials including course syllabus and weekly instruction plans
• Hold office hours and provide guidance to students in the course as needed
• Grade student assignments and proctor exams
• Oversee the work of teaching assistants when that position is needed

• Pursue professional development as a scholar in the field through advanced research activities in an area of Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies;
• Seek further training in emerging methods, themes, and topics that could contribute to REEEC program development, such as new REEES degree programs, courses, or grant initiatives.
• Participate in conferences and academic networks in the field of Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies as well as other scholarly fields as they can contribute to REEEC program development.

• Lead REEEC'S major federal grant projects and programs (including Department of Education Title VI grant, Department of State Title VIII grant, and others as appropriate);
• Manage grant execution to comply with University and funding agencies' guidelines, deadlines, and regulations.
• Prepare grant proposals, narratives, and budgets in coordination with the director and center staff;
• Oversee and manage grant projects and programs; design and implement grant reporting and evaluation;
• Attend meetings with federal grant agencies and officials;
• Build effective relationships with the University's federal relations staff
• Develop and oversee the Center's budgets and financial policy.

• Represent REEEC to prospective students and their families at a variety of recruiting events and information sessions; this includes presenting information to large groups.
• Counsel, provide information and advice about Illinois generally, and about its admissions procedures specifically, to prospective students, applicants, their parents and secondary school counselors in a prompt, professional, and courteous manner.
• Reach out and encourage prospective students to explore and eventually matriculate at Illinois through staffing on-campus programs, scheduling personal visits to secondary schools, attending college fair programs, and engaging in correspondence, email, and/or telephone contact.
• Develop an international recruitment and yield strategy plan annually within the confines of set budget.
• Support recruitment and programming by working some evenings and weekends and traveling as required.

• In collaboration with the Director and REEEC Executive Committee, shape the policies and overall direction of REEEC as a major interdisciplinary area studies center dedicated to research, teaching, and public engagement in the field of Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies;
• Use area studies academic training and experience to help the center respond to new challenges and opportunities in REEES scholarship; assist with center responses to difficult current questions in international relations and understanding (including but not limited to war and authoritarianism).
• Develop strategic action plans for the Center and assist with unit governance, working with the REEEC Executive Committee and external grant advisory boards in the field as needed;
• Act as REEEC representative to other units in IGI and across campus;
• Work with Director, REEEC Executive committee, and other external and internal stakeholders to maintain and build funding for REEES area studies, through institutional advancement as well as new grant initiatives.

• Hire, train, assign, and supervise and review Center staff and student assistants;
• Conduct staff performance reviews, address work issues, set work schedules and goals;
• Attend and lead weekly center staff meetings.
• Other job duties as assigned to further the mission of the unit.

• Master's degree in a humanities or social science discipline with a concentration in Russian, East European, or Eurasian studies; proficiency in a regional language
• A total of one (1) year (12 months) of education, training and/or work experience in academic advising, grant management, university teaching, and / or academic program management.

• PhD in a humanities or social science discipline with a concentration in Russian, East European, and Eurasian studies; advanced proficiency in one or more regional language(s).
• Two semesters experience in teaching humanities courses at university level.
• Experience with U.S. Department of Education Title VI or US State Department Title VIII grants, grant writing, program evaluation, and requirements.
• 1 year work experience in grant management.
• Advanced proficiency in one or more regional language(s).
• UIUC Certified Research Administrator Certificate (Illinois CRA)

• Ability to work harmoniously with faculty, staff, and students from a wide variety of disciplines, and with representatives from national and international institutions
• Ability to assume responsibility and to work independently with minimum guidance
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously without supervision
• Excellent skills in Microsoft Office suite, in particular Excel and Outlook
• Interdisciplinary and creative orientation