The Communication Arts department offers one of the largest majors on campus as well as two undergraduate certificate programs and four graduate programs, all of which showcase our faculty's cutting-edge research in media and communication. We support this research through our operation of the Center for Communication Research (CCR) and the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research (WCFTR), while also engaging our community with public outreach initiatives including but limited to the Wisconsin Film Festival.

Our department administrator works in collaboration with the department chair (an elected member of the faculty) and serves as a strategic partner, providing leadership that will ensure the excellence and growth of Communication Arts. This role is central to all aspects of department and responsible for the smooth running of all administrative, operational and financial functions. The ideal candidate will combine expertise in budgeting, financial management, human resources, and recruiting with skill sets based in planning, analysis, forecasting, communication, and development. Responsibilities include supervision of the department's administrative team and coordination of budget, personnel, technology, facilities, and infrastructure needs with dedicated teams and committees throughout the department. In addition, the department administrator interfaces with teams at the College of Letters & Science (L&S) to ensure support for daily operations including human resources, instructional administration, purchasing, fund management, research support, and other business functions. Similarly, the department administrator coordinates with the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) to manage the department's many gift funds. The department administrator will report to the department chair as part of the department's leadership team, and in that role will need to be collaborative, professional, and able to take the initiative to pursue goals independently. The administrative leader we seek in this position will be able to develop the financial and administration strategies necessary to position Communication Arts for continued success as the world of higher education evolves.

The Communication Arts department currently payrolls 45 faculty and staff as well as approximately 70 graduate assistants and 20 student hourly employees with a FY 2025 operating budget exceeding of $6 million. Our current strategic plan can be viewed at https://commarts.wisc.edu/about/strategic-plan/. 

• 15% Provides leadership for the strategic and short-term planning processes, as well as obtaining and validating data needed for strategic decision-making
• 15% Provides leadership, guidance, and management of the department's research, teaching and service programs, and staff to ensure efficient and effective operations
• 10% Provides leadership and oversight of training programs
• 5% Provides leadership and administrative oversight of basic and translational research programs including staffing, compliance, fiscal, information technology (IT), and facility needs
• 15% Provides leadership in developing and administering budgets. Oversees financial operations including grants, contract, and other funds to ensure adherence to prudent and generally accepted accounting practices, and compliance with Federal, State, university, and sponsor rules, regulations, laws and bylaws
• 10% Provides leadership for faculty recruitment, evaluation, development, and promotion processes
• 10% Provides oversight and management of office and research space on and off campus, department information systems, and regional network development
• 15% Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
• 5% Collaborates on a wide variety of administrative issues with the department's leadership, faculty, staff, students, and strategic partners

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Required
Bachelor's Degree with preference in business, non-profit administration, or related field.

Required Qualifications:
- At least 3 years of professional administrative experience with progressively increasing responsibilities
- Experience in fiscal management
- At least 1 year of supervision experience
- Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to foster and maintain effective working relationships with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and education levels

Preferred Qualifications:
- 2 or more years of supervision experience
- Experience with university administration
- Experience leading and supporting strategic initiatives
- Experience with challenging personnel issues, including conflict management
- Experience providing support and guidance on policy, budget forecasting, and decision-making
- Experience with philanthropy strategy and oversight of gift funds
- Understanding of our department mission and excitement to contribute to it

Skills and Abilities:
- Organization
- Leadership
- Communication and presentation skills
- Ability to adapt to complex and changing environments

The ideal candidate will have existing knowledge of UW campus systems and/or experience in higher education administration. Preference will also be given to candidates who can demonstrate their understanding of the mission of Communication Arts and their ability to learn even more about it.

Full Time: 100%

This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.

Ongoing/Renewable

Minimum $90,000 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications
The typical starting salary for this position is $90,000, depending on qualifications and experience. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at (https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/)

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. University sponsorship is not available for this position.

Please click on the "Apply Now" button to start the application process.

Applications must be submitted by 11:55 pm on the deadline date. To apply, please upload a cover letter (no more than 1 page) and resume (no more than 3 pages). Your cover letter and resume should address how your skills, knowledge, and abilities are transferrable to this role. Additional materials submitted other than your cover letter and resume will not be considered.

Selected applicants will receive an invitation to participate in virtual interviews 7-10 business days following the application deadline. Those moving on to second round interviews will be invited to an in-person interview at UW-Madison. Once final applicants are identified, they will be asked to provide names and contact information for at least three professional references, including a current/most recent supervisor.

For questions on the position, contact: Derek Johnson drjohnson3@wisc.edu 

Derek Johnson
drjohnson3@wisc.edu
608-262-8788
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Department Administrator II(AD026)

A48-COL OF LETTERS & SCIENCE/COMMUN ARTS/COMM ART

Academic Staff-Renewable

311837-AS

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.