Associate Director

Department

UL Crime Ed Lab Management

About the Department

Who We Are
In cities across the country, people face high rates of gun violence, under-resourced schools, and social harms associated with the criminal justice system – all of which disproportionately impact people of color. These inequalities have profound consequences on public safety and opportunity. As a society we have failed to address these challenges, in part, because of our lack of understanding of the most effective and cost-effective solutions that can have a real impact on people’s lives. We believe that rigorous research can help.
The University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab partner with cities and communities to use data and rigorous research to design, test, and scale programs and policies that enhance public safety, improve educational outcomes, and advance justice. Our mission is to combine world-class data science and research, in partnership with government agencies, to substantially improve the effectiveness of the public sector and achieve impact at scale.
For more information about our work, visit the Crime Lab and Education Lab websites.

About the Role:

The Associate Director is a pivotal role supporting the work of the University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab. This individual will ensure the overall success of the organization’s expansive portfolio of work by supporting high-impact initiatives, facilitating collaboration, and ensuring effective resource allocation across all projects. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success as both a project manager and proactive problem solver and will possess exceptional communication skills.

Job Summary

The job is responsible for all aspects of non-technical (not information technology or construction related) projects from conception to completion. Assembles teams and develops detailed work plans, schedules, project estimates, resource plans, and status reports while being the point of contact for those projects.

Responsibilities

• Maintains alignment between project activities and organization objectives by tracking project timelines, milestones, and addressing roadblocks. Maintains regular communication with project leaders, Leadership Team, and Finance Team to ensure understanding of current organizational objectives and resource allocation.
• Under the direction of the Leadership Team, coordinates and leads quarterly project review meetings.  
• Monitors adherence to project and program budgets. Works closely with project leads to track spending, anticipate changes in needed resources, and communicate updates to both Leadership and Finance Teams in a timely manner.
• Participates in the preparation of presentations, reports, project updates, and other communications for internal and external audiences.
• On occasion, may represent the Crime Lab and Education Lab in place of Leadership. May serve as a liaison for external relationships relating to the Crime Lab and Education Lab’s research portfolio.
• Collaborates with the Associate Director of Project Management to design and implement professional development for project management staff, both around new processes tied to managing projects to budget and around broader project management skills.
• As needed, supports new, strategically significant, or large projects within the organization’s portfolio.
• Tracks progress, conducts analysis, as well as prepares for and facilitates project meetings. Ensures adherence to quality standards and reviews project deliverables.
• Acts as a resource and subject matter expert for project team and provides analytical guidance. Interprets complex project issues and provides analytical guidance to a project team.
• 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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Previous experience working in a research organization or managing research projects.

Preferred Competencies

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a complex environment, strong project management and organizational skills.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with internal colleagues and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing timelines, expectations, or project parameters.  

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

Job Family

Administration & Management

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$96,000.00 - $132,000.00

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.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.