Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA) Program Coordinator

Located in the heart of the nation’s second-fastest-growing metropolitan area, Queens University of Charlotte leverages the city’s diverse and thriving environment as an extended classroom. Nationally recognized for undergraduate programs in international and interdisciplinary education, Queens blends the best of liberal arts learning with professional preparation and community engagement. Focused on supporting success for diverse learners, faculty build close and collaborative relationships with students and help them build intentional and individualized roadmaps for flourishing at Queens and beyond. At the graduate program level, the University offers innovative educational experiences that help learners advance professionally and retool for new opportunities. Our environs afford faculty myriad opportunities to advance their own professional growth and teaching and research interests by collaborating with vibrant industry, non-profit, and community organization sectors.

Because of our history of innovation and our legacy of strong leadership, Queens is positioned to be among the new forerunners of American higher education. This is a defining moment for Queens. While other institutions are focused on sustaining and surviving, we are thinking much bigger.

Institutions that understand what is needed and are willing to reimagine what is possible can position themselves to thrive and strengthen their market position after the pandemic with innovative approaches that are deeply connected to the world and its greatest challenges.

By 2030, Queens aspires to become the leading, private, national university of Charlotte with deep, meaningful, and reciprocal connections to the needs of our local community and economy; inventive and multidisciplinary academic programs that are connected to the world’s most pressing challenges and biggest areas of opportunity; a fully connected, integrated, and innovative set of experiences that support holistic wellness and wellbeing; a culture of continuous improvement and investment that enables faculty and staff to flourish and achieve their full potential; and a comprehensive approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion that begins on campus and radiates throughout the community.

Job summary:
The College of Arts & Sciences seeks qualified applicants for a Program Coordinator position in the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program and related certificate programs. The person in this position, reporting to the Dean and Program Director, will coordinate and complete program operations and work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students for the successful delivery of graduate programs in creative writing.

Although some remote work is possible, there is a preference for regular in-office availability on campus in Charlotte, NC. This is a full-time, benefits-eligible staff position that will require occasional weekend and evening work, especially during MFA residencies throughout the year.

This position is exempt from provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore is not eligible to earn overtime pay or compensatory time off for additional hours worked. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Essential duties and responsibilities:
In support of faculty
• Facilitate faculty on-boarding, following University policies
• Facilitate annual faculty evaluation process
• Generate, distribute, track, and file faculty contracts and travel reimbursements
• First point of contact for faculty seeking information or assistance from University support offices—for example, IT, Payroll, Hayworth Center for Digital Learning.
In support of curriculum delivery
• Communicate courses and instructors to the Registrar
• Maintain and update the program’s academic and administrative calendar to comply with the larger University academic calendar published by the Registrar
• Collaborate with Program Director and other staff to distribute residency seminar reading lists to students
• Maintain and update the curricular information on the Graduate Community Hub in Canvas
• Each term, update the program’s Master Course Templates on Canvas and associate the templates with the appropriate courses
• Each term, assist the Program Director and the Dean with identifying students with Student Qualification issues
• Serve as the College of Arts & Sciences contact for the MFA Academic Advisor & Residency Coordinator
In support of financial operations
• Visibility into the budget in support of Program Director and Dean
• Allocate monthly all the program’s purchase card expenses
• Generate, track, and file all purchase orders, check requests, and other accounting forms related to the program operating budget
In support of continuity
• Maintain and update program files including course syllabi, assessment reports, transaction reports, co-curricular program rotations, copies of the Qu literary magazine, records of marketing plans and artwork, and other work products.
• Maintain and update the MFA SharePoint site
Non-essential duties
• Other duties and special projects may be assigned to meet department and University needs.

Experience, knowledge and skills required:
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience, preferably in higher education
• Expertise in Microsoft Office suite, particularly Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, and familiarity with virtual meeting software
• Experience with learning management systems, preferably Canvas
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to deal effectively with others at all levels within the University, including faculty, staff, students, and vendors
• Ability to quickly learn and assimilate new systems and information
• Ability to consistently exercise considerable tact, judgment, and diplomacy while maintaining exemplary poise and professionalism
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to handle multiple competing tasks and demands and changing priorities
• Must possess a strong, self-driven work ethic that includes taking initiative and seeing assignments through to completion
• Solid problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze components and arrive at a logical course of action while knowing when to ask for assistance or direction
• Proven ability to maintain the utmost discretion and integrity, especially pertaining to confidential matters; FERPA knowledge a plus
• Superb customer service orientation, responding to requests in a helpful and accurate manner, striving to exceed expectations
• Excellent attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and control large and small projects
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to accept direction on assignments and respond appropriately to feedback
• Commitment to the University’s inclusive mission
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of experience and education

Benefits:
Queens offers comprehensive benefits to eligible employees, including: medical, dental and vision insurance, domestic partner benefits, defined contribution (matching) and supplemental 403(b) retirement plans, vacation and generous paid holidays, tuition remission and tuition exchange, Queens-paid life insurance, supplemental life insurance, dependent life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, flexible spending accounts (medical, dependent care, Health Savings Account), sick leave and long-term disability leave, paid parental leave, FMLA leave when eligible, reduced cost meals at Morrison Dining Hall, employee assistance program (EAP), free access to the Levine Center, wellness programs. In addition, employees may choose benefits such as pet insurance, critical care insurance and legal assistance.

Physical requirements (with or without reasonable accommodation) require ability to:
• Remain in a stationary position, most of the time.
• Exchange accurate information with students, faculty and staff, frequently.
• Read reports, create presentations, use a computer system, most of the time
• Communicate with students, faculty and staff, most of the time.
• Write, type, and use the computer, telephone, copier, and other office equipment systems, most of the time.
• Move about inside the workspace to access resources and office equipment, and attend meetings across campus, regularly.
• Exert moderate force to move objects, occasionally.
• Think critically, concentrate on the task at hand, and respond quickly to changes in conditions, most of the time.
Work Conditions
• Must be able to work in office environment while having contact with students, faculty staff, parents, vendors on any given day.
• Work has deadlines, multiple interruptions, high volume and can be stressful.

Nothing in this job description restricts the university’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time; this description reflects the university’s assignment of essential functions, it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned; this job description is subject to change at any time.

To apply:
Does this sound like a good fit? Click the link https://smrtr.io/hfZYv and then click on the green “I’m interested” button and submit:
1. A cover letter addressing the position qualifications and experience
2. Current résumé
3. Salary requirements
4. Contact information for three professional references.

Applications received by December 15, 2023 will receive first consideration. Queens will continue to accept applications until the position is filled.

Queens University of Charlotte is an equal opportunity employer and is firmly committed to supporting and celebrating all forms of diversity. Queens does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, national origin, disability, political beliefs, veteran status, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law in the administration of its educational and admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic programs, employment and hiring policies, or other University-administered programs.

Any individual with a disability who needs any reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act to apply for a position or otherwise to participate in Queens’ job search/selection process should contact the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources at 704.337.2222.