Lab School Family Life Programs
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. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of color, LGBTQ+ identified candidates, candidates from historically marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds, and candidates with a demonstrated commitment to a deepening diversity, equity, and inclusion practice. 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.
Reporting to the Director of Family Life Programs, the Travel and Transportation Coordinator, primarily plans, coordinates, and oversees functions pertaining to the travel and transportation services utilized by Lab students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Works closely with faculty and staff from all Lab academic divisions and administrative units, making proper arrangements for a wide variety of groups ranging in size from solo travelers to large groups. As a member of the Family Life Programs team this position will offer assistance in overseeing the Early Day program for grades Nursery 3-5, and other programmatic support. This person will need to be available to work onsite between the hours of 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., and occasionally after business hours.

• Organizes bus transportation for Lab field trips, athletic and extracurricular team travel, class retreats, and other school groups local travel.
• Acts as liaison between preferred bus companies and members of the Lab community (teachers, coaches, administrators) seeking to hire buses.
• Arranges and confirms reservations for yellow school buses, coach buses, University shuttles, Lab mini-vans, and other vehicles as needed.
• Places and follows up on purchase orders for outside bus services; reviews, approves and reconciles invoices after confirming services were provided as billed.
• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with Lab’s and/or the University’s preferred school bus and charter bus vendors, the University’s preferred travel agent, and other service providers.
• Manages and maintains the schedule for use of the Lab vehicle fleet.
• Oversees driver verification process to ensure only properly trained and credentialed individuals are allowed to drive Lab vehicles.
• Offers and reserves minivans for use by Lab groups requesting local transportation, including during summer sessions.
• Maintains logs of reservations and usage; collaborate with the Business Office to book recharges to reflect usage.
• Liaise with the University’s preferred travel agency, helping to facilitate out-of-town travel requests for Lab faculty, staff, and invited guests (such as guest speakers). This could include solo or group travel, with or without students, for such functions as professional development, recruitment, fundraising, or student competitions.
• Collaborates with Lab administrators to ensure all travel is properly documented, approved, and in compliance with applicable policy, and charged using appropriate University procurement channels against appropriate Lab budgets before releasing requests to the travel agency.
• Arranges lodging and provides hotels with the appropriate authorizations to cover all rooms and fees.
• Acts as a general resource to help Lab personnel find the most effective way to travel on Lab business in accordance with Lab and University policies.
• Communicates with the daytime administrative team, seasonal staff, parents, and students through messaging, email, telephone, and in-person meetings regarding program procedures, practices, and expectations.
• Point of contact for families with questions regarding the Early Day program.
• FLP administrative team resporesetivative during the Early Day program time available to resolve any immediate issues.
• Performs some routine and complex assignments for the unit usually in the areas of finance, event planning or support services. Initiate the hiring process of students and staff for a unit, which includes the processing of payroll.
• Assists in the monitoring of the various financial and budgetary activities, including vendors contracts. Preparing and monitoring the budget for a unit.
• Triages emails and telephone calls for action. Resolves mostly routine and some complex inquiries.
• Coordinates special projects as directed by the leader. Prepares write ups for recommendations for operational and administrative problems. Prepares financial and/or administrative reports.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree). Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

• Bachelors degree.

• Previous customer services experience, preferably working with varied levels of staff, administration, and faculty.
• Experience in an educational setting, specifically in a K-12 environment.
• Experience coordinating travel arrangements.
• Previous experience coordinating transportation and logistics.

• Service-oriented professional nature, balancing travelers’ needs with Lab’s available resources to best meet Lab’s mission.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills with an orientation to detail.
• Positive demeanor, a commitment to excellence, and a strong desire to be part of an evolving, energetic, and positive campus environment.
• Build and establish credibility and trust with the Lab community, including faculty, staff, parents, and University colleagues.

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)
• Professional References Contact Information (3)(preferred)

Administration & Management
Individual Contributor
Non-Exempt
Biweekly
40
Yes
Yes
No
No
No