Assistant Director

Department

College Undergraduate Research

About the Department

Office of Undergraduate Research

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), the Assistant Director supports OUR’s undergraduate research opportunities, grants, and academic year and summer programming. This role demands competencies in working with students across all disciplines and from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and experiences, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all. In partnership with other OUR staff, the Assistant Director will provide student advising and support for existing undergraduate research initiatives, as well as contribute to the planning and support of new initiatives and programs. This position will liaise with faculty, leadership, and other campus partners to advance existing opportunities and aid in the creation of new opportunities.

The Assistant Director will serve as the OUR lead on a range of workshops, information sessions, and other programs, taking ownership of the program life cycle from ideation through planning, delivery, and assessment. The Assistant Director will enhance OUR’s efforts to promote critical reflection and long-term engagement among undergraduate researchers. The Assistant Director will also provide key support for the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. The Assistant Director will actively participate in the broader activities of the CCRF, including serving on national fellowship selection committees and/or mock interview committees for the Fulbright, Goldwater, and other research-related fellowships.

Responsibilities

• Advises undergraduates interested in pursuing faculty-mentored research across the disciplines.
• Organizes and facilitates events and workshops for students to a) increase their awareness of undergraduate research opportunities on and off campus; b) provide guidance on foundational research skills and best practices; c) provide discipline-specific training on tools, systems, and data collection); and d) improve their research, communication, presentation, and reflection skills.
• In partnership with unit leadership, supports new undergraduate research initiatives; liaise with faculty and departments to promote and recruit for existing research opportunities and aids in the development of new opportunities as needed; and works across disciplines to develop funding sources to broaden and diversify student and faculty participation in undergraduate research and creative inquiry.
• Designs and implements effective procedures and tools to manage research programs and initiatives, including evaluation and data tracking.
• Develops written content for reports, stewardship materials, and communications for a variety of audiences.
• Contributes to the planning and execution of the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.
• Actively promotes undergraduate research among internal and external audiences through meetings, presentations, and other events.
• Actively participates as a representative of the University of Chicago in professional development opportunities sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), among others.
• Develops and leads programs and workshops related to various aspects of scholarly development.
• Presents program content.
• 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:

• PhD in an academic discipline.

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years full-time experience in undergraduate research.
• Minimum 3 years experience in research mentoring, developmental advising, and instruction.
• Five years of progressively responsible administrative experience.
• Organizing events and facilitating and leading workshops and information sessions.
• Developing undergraduate research best practices and policies.
• Formal teaching experience.
• Substantive experience working within the broader research enterprise and guiding undergraduates in translating their academic interests into viable research experiences.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficiency in Mac and PC environments.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, Outlook, and online organizational tools.
• Familiarity with graphic design/web development environments, database management, social media platforms.

Preferred Competencies

• An in-depth understanding of undergraduate research and an established track record of activities related to undergraduate research, high-impact advising, and broadly, teaching and learning practices in higher education.
• Highly motivated, well-organized, detail-oriented, and resourceful individual who enjoys working closely with undergraduates.
• Familiarity with students and educational experience in highly selective, research-intensive institutions.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and empathetically with students and colleagues from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and life experiences, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all.
• Strong commitment to young adults and the values and goals of a liberal arts education; appreciation for the value of undergraduate research as a scholarly enterprise and as important for student development.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, provide thought-leadership, and work well as a principal, contributing member to a small team.
• Excellent organizational, administrative, and computer skills.
• Strong event management skills, prioritize and manage concurrent tasks with interruptions, meet deadlines and respond to many emails, in-person and phone requests in a timely fashion.
• Demonstrated ability to handle highly confidential information related to students, faculty, and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and effectively manage competing demands.
• Proven ability to collaborate with faculty and staff.
• Strong written and oral presentation skills.

Working Conditions

• Office environment.
• Some evening and weekend work.
• Fast-paced environment.
• Lift up to 40 lbs.
• Push carts with up to 50 lbs. of material.
• Sit at a computer for 4-6 hours.
• Periodic walking to other campus locations.
• Climb up to 5 flights of stairs.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, to include interest in and competencies for this position (required)
• References Contact Information (3) (required)

Job Family

Student Affairs & Services

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

$60,000.00 - $75,000.00

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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