Assistant Director, Frank Center

The Judith R. Frank Business Communications Center at the Tippie College of Business is seeking an Assistant Director. This position will coordinate and assist in assigned program areas, manage the day-to-day operations of the Frank Center, and participate in the administration of policies, programs, and procedures related to students and part-time employees in the Frank Center. Events and activities include but are not limited to: hiring, training and mentoring peer consultants; teaching the consultant training course; liaising with academic departments to develop communication instruction, assignments, and skill assessment; supervising consultants tasked with generating social media and digital content and functioning as the community manager for the center, including maintaining Frank Center alumni networks; leading center fundraising efforts; creating the appointment schedules for the center, and assisting the director of the center as needed. Additional responsibilities and duties assigned as necessary to support the mission of the center and student success in communication skill development. Responsibilities will require some time outside the 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. workday.

About the Frank Writing Center
The Judith R. Frank Business Communications Center supports Tippie College of Business students as they transition from “communicating like students” to “communicating like professionals.” Frank Center programming responds to the changing communication needs of Tippie students as trends in business communications practice dictate, for the center considers the students’ future employers as its ultimate “customers.”

Key Areas of Responsibility

Enhance and Support Student Educational Experiences and Increase Retention. Foster a Sense of Community and Engagement for Students:
• Identify opportunities to enhance undergraduate peer consultant and graduate student employee performance as well as Tippie student usage of the center
• Develop the curriculum and teach the required fall semester business communication intern course for new peer consultants
• Manage website and social media platforms dedicated to the Frank Center
• Develop and maintain Frank Center peer consultant alumni relations
• Plan and carry out periodic fundraising initiatives for the Frank Center

Establish and Maintain Relationships with Partners to Provide Educational Support Services. Partners Include on-campus Units and External Agencies (Local, State, National, and International):
• Enforce Frank Center rules and regulations and provide customer service support with respect to student use of the center and its software
• Collaborate with peers in other university writing and speaking centers to identify best practices in operational management and tutor training
• Collaborate with the Undergraduate Program Office, the Graduate Management Programs Office, the Collegiate Marketing and Social Media Team, and other college and on-campus units to improve the delivery of communication resources to students in the college
• Represent the Frank Center to external parties
• Publicize and promote Frank Center events throughout the college and university
&#x 2022; Assist in selection process for communication-based awards; includes selection of recipients and communicating with donors, college, and Center for Advancement
• Assist in coaching for case competitions and commencement speeches

Academic Standards and Curricular Policies:
• Administer and develop programs designed to promote more proficiency in written, oral and digital channels of communication among students in the Tippie College of Business
• Collaborate with Tippie academic departments to develop communications programming and resources for students and faculty including assignment-specific workshops and tutorials
• Communicate changes in business writing and oral communication standards and formats to Tippie faculty and assist faculty in updating writing and oral communication assignments as needed

Administrative (HR, Budget), Supervision and Training:
• Determine and maintain the operating schedule and software for the Frank Center website
• Obtain and organize relevant Frank Center usage data for use in semi-annual reports and to develop programming
• Hire, train, mentor and manage undergraduate peer consultants and graduate student employees in the Frank Center
• Assist the Frank Center Director in developing annual budgets and coordinate with college accounting team

Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. For questions, additional information and/or a complete job description, please contact Nancy Kroeze at nancy-kroeze@uiowa.edu.

There is an expectation that the person in this position will maintain effective, civil, and respectful working relationships with the University of Iowa campus community and uphold a high standard of cultural competency and respect for difference that represents the Tippie College of Business’ commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Successful candidates will be subject to a credential and criminal background check.

Please note regarding references: Five professional references will be requested and required at a later step in the recruitment process.

Required Qualifications:
• Master’s degree in English, communications studies, or a related field preferred.
• Typically, 2 or more years in higher education writing or communication centers or in higher education tutoring of English language writing OR 2 or more years writing and delivering presentations in a business environment
• Extensive knowledge of English language composition, including grammar and usage, and working experience with current conventions of business communication and protocol (written, oral, and digital communication)
• Working knowledge of and proficiency with MS Office computer applications
• Working experience with online tutoring or online instruction
• Working experience with creating visual media in the workplace
• Working knowledge of and proficiency with creati ng content for digital media and social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn)
• Working experience and demonstrated success in managing a team in a workplace or academic environment
• Expert written communication skills and extensive oral and visual communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to interact positively with a diverse population.
• Demonstrated ability for strong attention to detail

Desirable Qualifications:
• Working experience evaluating, hiring, training, and mentoring tutorial staff
• Working experience as lead instructor teaching written and oral communication at the post-secondary level
• Basic experience with WC Online or equivalent web-based scheduling and record-keeping software
• Extensive experience in business or professional (non-academic) communication
• Working experience with budgeting for an organizational unit
• Demonstrated experience with fundraising

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, religion, associational preference, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran.