Department
Lab School Admissions & Financial Aid
About the Department
At the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, students in Nursery through Grade 12 experience a world-class educational journey. Founded in 1896 by John Dewey as a place for educators to develop and explore novel approaches to pedagogy and curriculum, Lab continues to provide excitement and imagination in learning to this day. Academic rigor, experiential learning, and intellectual discourse are hallmarks of a Lab education. Lab educators are recognized for excellence in teaching and pride themselves on innovation in the classroom. Students in every grade have access to unparalleled resources, and all members of the Lab community benefit by partnerships and connections with the University of Chicago. Families who choose Lab care deeply about curiosity, inquiry, and creativity.
No less than scholarship, Lab’s mission prioritizes honoring diversity and exhibiting kindness. We are committed to building and supporting a teaching and learning community where young people see aspects of their backgrounds and identities reflected around them, where they feel a deep sense of belonging, and where they discover and use their voices to full effect. Today, 53-59 percent of Lab’s student body are students of color. Families report speaking nearly 40 different languages in their homes. Approximately 60 percent of Lab families are also affiliated with the University of Chicago. Half of our families live in Hyde Park, and the rest come from across Chicago, the suburbs, and northwestern Indiana. Inclusion is a fundamental value at Lab, such that we celebrate every facet of community members’ identities, and even where we disagree, we emphasize respect, civility, and maintaining a spirit of community.
Lab seeks the finest employees to join our vibrant learning community. We employ people with a wide range of skills and training in many different disciplines, who have in common a love of learning and the wish to inspire that same love of learning in young people. We seek candidates for employment who thrive in an educational environment. We provide a great professional home for those committed to collaboration, ongoing personal and professional growth, and cultivating positive relationships. In turn, we strive to ensure that Lab is a joyful, welcoming, and inspiring place to work. Through our connection to the University, faculty, staff, and administrators enjoy benefits and opportunities that would be nearly impossible to match in any other environment.
Job Summary
Reporting to the Director of Enrollment Management, the Data Management Specialist (DMS) at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (Lab) is responsible for supporting data integrity, management, and reporting for the office of admissions and enrollment.
The successful candidate will bring technical expertise and willingness to continue to grow in skills, a passion for data-informed decision-making, and a collaborative spirit to help advance Lab’s mission. At the direction of the Director of Enrollment Management, the DMS will execute projects to support data cleaning, tracking, management and data retention at the Laboratory Schools. A more detailed job description is listed below.
Responsibilities
At the direction of the DEM, provides technical and data support for admissions and enrollment objectives, both for established procedures and in the development of new procedures.
Participates in and supports special data projects, as needed.
Is the technical expert on the admissions and enrollment team in Lab’s admissions/enrollment and financial aid database systems.
Understands and supports technical procedures and supports the development of new procedures from a technical perspective.
Maintains the data integrity of the admissions office databases for admissions, enrollment and financial aid by ensuring that data is entered accurately, and by monitoring for errors. Constantly works with the database support team to ensure best in class practices.
Supports admissions team on complex searches and data pulls for data analytics, and for internal and external reporting.
At the direction of the DEM, sets up a data dashboard to organize and maintain historical data.
Assist with the creation of standard operating procedures to formalize processes data collection and management processes within Finalsite and/or other database management systems.
Collaborate with the DEM and admissions team members to set up, improve, and/or clarify data collection protocols, and to establish structures within each database management system to improve data collection.
Understands Lab’s admissions, enrollment and financial aid databases and can work internally and with external vendors to troubleshoot issues as they arise.
At the direction of the DEM, works directly with third party data management systems providers to troubleshoot issues and generate solutions to tech based problems as they arise
Works with the Information Services and Registrar’s department to ensure data integrity and consistency across different platforms (e.g. Finalsite vs. PowerSchool)
At the direction of the DEM, supports complex data transfer projects and manages the technical details of the re-enrollment process, including document set up and work with Lab’s outside third party providers such as Finalsite, FACTS, and others.
Supports the collection of data for major data requests, including data for periodic reporting and reporting to third parties such as the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).
Responds to ad hoc data requests within the admissions and enrollment teams, particularly involving complex data searches that must be built or managed.
Understands basic information technology functions across the schools, and in coordination with Lab’s information systems team, can provide additional support if needed for music and other audio visual needs at admissions events.
Engages in projects to review office processes and suggest technological improvements to support better work flow.
As needed, supports local and national research regarding admissions and enrollment trends, and pulls data for presentations and various other needs.
As needed, assists with external events for recruitment.
In collaboration with the DEM, sets up a system for long term data management.
Prepares regular reports to track key admissions and enrollment metrics such as yield, application completion, etc.
Regularly audit and clean data to ensure completeness and accuracy, focusing on strategic data integrity.
Standardize key data fields (e.g., salutations, addresses, recognition names) and troubleshoot data integration issues.
Participates in special projects such as developing marketing materials, monitoring budgets and recruiting underrepresented groups with moderate/high levels of authority.
Maintains relationships with all individuals involved in the recruitment process, including routinely counseling students and parents regarding the admission process.
Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor’s or Master's degree with an emphasis in business or technical background.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, especially database programs such as Excel, Powerpoint, etc.
Proficiency with Tableau, PowerBI or other data viz platforms.
Familiarity with python, R, R Studio or other statistical analysis programming language.
Experience managing large customer databases.
Preferred Competencies
Demonstrated track record of managing large amounts of data.
Proven ability to successfully manage a complex network of services.
Exceptional communication skills.
Proven ability to analyze processes and plan improvement initiatives.
Outstanding interpersonal and organizational skills.
Work on own initiative, develop rapport, and work well with others.
Handle multiple tasks simultaneously and accurately under strict deadlines.
Effectiveness; smoothness and coordination of the admissions services functions.
Familiarity with python, R, or other statistical analysis programming language.
Strong statistical skills to interpret complex datasets.
SQL skills.
Working Conditions
Standard office environment.
Willingness and ability to travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for Lab Schools business required.
Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends required.
Application Documents
Resume/CV (required)
Cover Letter (required)
Three Professional References Contact Information (required)
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Student Affairs & Services
Role Impact
Individual Contributor
Scheduled Weekly Hours
40
Drug Test Required
No
Health Screen Required
No
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No
Pay Rate Type
Salary
FLSA Status
Exempt
Pay Range
$54,000.00 - $70,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
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