Academic Coordinator, Center for Feminist Futures

This is a full-time position, reporting to the Faculty Director of the Center for Feminist Futures. The Academic Coordinator will provide critical program management to help expand the Center for Feminist Futures, an initiative in the Division of Social Sciences. Feminist Futures is dedicated to bringing crucial attention to feminist research, teaching, and engagement that is already being done at UCSB and expanding opportunities for new collaborations. It is intended to be a dynamic, inclusive, and welcoming space for all members of the UCSB community. Unique to UCSB and rare among universities nationally, the space will be dedicated to supporting feminist scholarship, engagement, and pedagogy through new initiatives and programming in collaboration with individuals, departments, centers, and other units across the University to better support students, staff, and faculty.

The Center for Feminist Futures is committed to antiracism, decolonialism, and anti-oppression in our mission and operations; we seek to engage in practices and programming that enhance equity and combat systemic racism while striving to serve as a model for transformative work within higher education. In pursuit of this goal, we consider an applicant’s record working with individuals from historically marginalized backgrounds and their experience identifying and eliminating systemic barriers to success in an academic environment. The Center seeks to increase the diversity of its workforce, and we particularly encourage applications from those who belong to groups that have been underrepresented in higher education, including those who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color; those with disabilities; and those from LGBTQIA+ communities

The Academic Coordinator will play an integral role in the operation of the Center, providing day to day oversight for the Center under the leadership of a Faculty Director to help fulfill the mission of the Center for Feminist Futures. The successful candidate will be someone who is capable of planning and enacting initiatives, tracking details and planning ahead, managing multiple projects and priorities, working collaboratively and independently, navigating university processes and policies, and interested in utilizing feminist praxis within higher education.

The Academic Coordinator is responsible for the daily management of the Center’s initiatives, activities, and will provide support to the Director in fulfilling the mission of the Center. The responsibilities will include:

Project Coordination and Management

Work in consultation with the Faculty Director to develop, implement and modify, as needed, a strategic plan articulating a vision, set of priorities, and initiatives for Feminist Futures.

Develop and implement operating policies, practices and procedures grounded in feminist praxis to forward the priorities and initiatives of the Center.

Track and manage Center activities (programming, research clusters, student groups, etc.) in collaboration with the Director

Facilitate and organize the publishing, recording, and archiving of Center initiatives. Create summaries of accomplishments and activities. Participate in producing annual review materials and reports.

Create and coordinate application processes for initiatives (including creating call for proposals or applications, facilitating process of soliciting and reviewing applications, responding to inquiries from potential applicants, sending out award letters, etc.)

Develop and maintain office, organizational, and data systems with accuracy and completeness to support the workflow and sustainability of activities.

Campus and Public Relations

Build constituency of the Center. Host listening sessions and events for bringing new members to the Center.

Establish and support a Center Advisory Committee including onboarding, coordinating, and recruiting new members.

Develop and maintain strong working relationships with various campus units such as feminist and ethnic studies departments, centers, and other units across the university.

Facilitate collaborations for research and engagement that involve faculty, students, and staff.

Communications and Programming

Work with Director and graduate student research assistant to develop and update content for Center communications including newsletter, social media, and website. Work with graduate RA on Center promotional materials (e.g., flyers, evites, press releases, videos, etc.) for its activities and initiatives. Coordinate efforts to document activities, which could include using data, pictures, videos and other tools to tell the story of Feminist Futures.

Assist with coordinating programming events. Serve as an on-site host and facilitator for events that take place in the Center as needed.

Create feminist public engagement programs for graduate students. Mentor participating graduate students.

Budget and Financial

Budget and track spending of Center funds.

Systematize and maintain financial files.

Monitor supply inventory, order supplies as needed, and track order receipt and delivery.

Work with the faculty director to maintain the financial health of Feminist Futures.

The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching, and service as appropriate to the position.