Assistant Director

Department

PSD Applied Data Science Staff

About the Department

The Master of Science in Applied Data Science (MS-ADS) program is a large professional graduate program within the Data Science Institute (DSI) and Physical Sciences Division (PSD) at The University of Chicago. Students may complete the degree full- or part-time and in-person or online. Beginning in autumn 2026, students may apply to an 18 course, thesis track pathway in addition to the current 12 course degree. MS-ADS also offers a joint degree with the Booth School of Business’s full-time program. The MS-ADS curriculum and co-curriculum are designed for those with strong academic backgrounds in technical STEM fields. MS-ADS’s competitive domestic and international student body wants to launch or advance their careers in data science. Faculty train students for careers in industry across multiple sectors by applying their extensive real-world experiences as data science leaders and teaching the latest topics in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and more. Learn more about our program at https://datascience.uchicago.edu/education/masters-programs/ms-in-applied-data-science

Job Summary

The Assistant Director of Career Services will join a mid-sized team of full-time staff experts in instructional services/innovation, enrollment management, student affairs, and career services/external partnerships. A large group of industry-expert faculty and instructors also support the success of the MS-ADS program through their real-world experience and up-to-date knowledge on artificial intelligence and machine learning within the rapidly changing field of applied data science. The new hire will have a primary focus on serving the part-time student population in both the online and in-person programs in addition to joint-degree students who enter the program as online students. A percentage of the new hire’s time may be dedicated to serving the full-time online and in-person populations and/or the planning and development of new related master’s programs, pending year-round needs. The Assistant Director will be an individual contributor and collaborator for the development and maintenance of career services offered by the MS-ADS program in addition to 1:1, small, and large-group educational sessions. This position is eligible for a partially remote work schedule and is based in the downtown Chicago NBC Tower campus. This position reports to the MS-ADS Director of External Partnerships and Career Development.

Responsibilities

• Advises and counsels students—emphasis on part-time students—by empowering them to make decisions associated with their career goals and objectives in 1:1, small, and large-group settings.
• Assesses individual situations and circumstances to create, implement, and/or monitor student career plans; reviews and makes suggestions to improve resumes, covers letters, and other relevant job documentation.
• Leads professional workshops related to resumes, cover letters, networking, interviewing, social media presence, and other related areas with a focus on part-time student support.
• Supports the creation and maintenance of MS-ADS career resources in relationship to program and student career outcomes goals (e.g., interviewing, internship searches, job searches, technical interview practice, professional written and verbal communication, teamwork skills).
• Partners with a variety of internal and external stakeholders including program faculty to create, maintain, and measure the impact of career resources at scale.
• Provides expert input and project management for the required Career Seminar (asynchronous and synchronous content) which is housed in Canvas.
• Collaborates with MS-ADS team members to maintain and cultivate strategic relationships with current and prospective external employers and program alumni in support of student career outcomes.
• Engages with associations, organizations, alumni, and employers to encourage experiential education and professional development.
• Reviews existing use of technology and recommends changes to incorporate state-of-the- art systems and tools as appropriate into all aspects of the advising, counseling, and recruiting/employment programs.
• Creates, manages, and maintains efficient methods to track student data, quantify student engagement, and report on student career outcomes.
• Researches best practices and peer institutions and market/economic conditions and recommends changes and enhancements to improve career services and resources.
• Identifies opportunities and strategies for short- and long-term growth and expansion of program resources, value, and participation at scale.
• Continually develops and maintains knowledge of applied data science functions and industries that target master’s students for recruiting.
• Analyzes markets and trends as they relate to job searches. Assesses student feedback and evaluations and collaborates with other career services staff members, student organizations, or other staff to determine program offerings and innovations.
• Works, with minimal guidance, to write timely and effective articles about career management topics for a variety of student publications. Conceptualizes, develops, and delivers career management programming and published materials.
• Researches organizations that are hiring and partners with a wide variety of employers to ensure recruitment strategies meet their needs. Maintains contact with a portfolio of employers to serve as their dedicated Career Advancement liaison.
• Conducts job search and career management related large lectures, hands-on workshops, special events, training programs, and one-on-one career coaching sessions. Acts as a resource for and directs students to other career resources as needed.
• 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 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Experience with learning platforms and technologies (Canvas, Symplicity, Handshake, Zoom, Salesforce, SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, Microsoft Excel, Box, RegFox, MailChimp).

Preferred Competencies

• Experience working with domestic and international graduate students.
• Experience working with part-time students who have 2-3+ years of full-time work experience.
• Experience working with STEM students and/or faculty.
• Ability to interact successfully with diverse constituencies including the ability to resolve problems with a high degree of discretion, diplomacy, and tact.
• The ability to shift responsibilities as needed based on departmental needs.
• Strong project management skills.
• Proven ability to interface with and engage senior level clients.
• Ensures program and operational excellence and optimization.
• Maintain optimistic outlook, display confidence, and creatively marshal resources to achieve results amidst difficult circumstances.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly communicate to a diverse audience including students, faculty, industry partners and staff.
• Excellent organizational skills and constant attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently with minimal guidance.

Working Conditions

• This position is eligible for a partially remote work schedule.
• This position requires occasional work on evenings and weekends.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• 2-3 References – Contact information (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

$90,000.00 - $100,000.00

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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