Program Director

Department

SSD: Economics - Staff and Temporary Employees

About the Department

The Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics at the University of Chicago is globally recognized for its pioneering research and academic excellence. With a legacy of producing Nobel laureates and influential economic thinkers, the department fosters a vibrant intellectual community committed to advancing economic knowledge and policy.

Job Summary

The Program Director serves as the operational lead for Professor Ufuk Akcigit’s research initiatives, including the Global Center for Economic Growth (GCEG) and the Growth Academy—a collaborative platform with The World Bank. Reporting directly to Professor Akcigit, the Program Director plays a pivotal role in shaping research direction, managing high-impact projects, and cultivating global partnerships. This role requires a dynamic leader to ensure operational excellence and amplify the global impact of the research portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Leads the design, planning, and execution of research initiatives aligned with long-term academic and policy goals.
• Shapes and implements strategic priorities for the GCEG and Growth Academy.
• Fosters successful collaborations with external institutions, funders, and industry partners to support research growth, policy engagement, and strategic initiatives.
• Identifies emerging research opportunities and develops new initiatives in collaboration with global partners.
• Oversees complex, multi-institutional projects, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality outcomes and track milestones.
• Manages project lifecycles, including budgeting, compliance, procurement, and reporting.
• Collaborates with HR, Grants, URA, and Procurement to ensure seamless operations.
• Oversees visiting student programs and ensures enriching educational experiences.
• Leads cross-functional teams, including research staff, students, and external collaborators.
• Facilitates weekly team meetings, ensuring tasks and responsibilities are clearly defined and research goals are met.
• Organizes events and conferences in collaboration with executive administrative support.
• Remains current on University financial systems and policies through regular training and implementation of best practices.
• Conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends operational improvements as needed.
• Collaborates with the Communication teams to maintain and update website content.
• Sets program priorities and performance benchmarks; assesses and reports on operational effectiveness.
• Manages the ART lab and allocation of workstations.
• Reviews and approves employee time in Workday.
• Handles complex problems, identifies and implements innovative solutions.
• Serves as the primary liaison to academic institutions, policymakers, donors, and industry leaders.
• Travels and represents the program at international conferences, donor meetings, and strategic forums.
• Cultivates and sustains partnerships to support research dissemination and policy influence.
• Leads grant writing, proposal development, and donor stewardship.
• Monitors financial performance and coordinates with the Grants Manager on fund utilization.
• Develops compelling fundraising materials and strategic communications.
• Reviews and approves GEMS reports in SAP/Concur.
• Reviews and reports monthly on program accounts, collaborating with finance partners.
• Processes payroll expense cost corrections (PECCs), journal entries, and corrects documents as needed.
• Troubleshoots and reconciles financial discrepancies in collaboration with the finance and HR teams.
• Handles invoices, reimbursement requests, funding transfers, and non-payroll payments to individuals, corporations, and suppliers/vendors.
• Serves as a key resource for program information. Resolves problems or questions referred to by program staff, University administrators, or other contingencies.
• Provides specialized professional expertise in program management. Implements plans for educational programs and initiatives and acts as a liaison between the program and program participants.
• Plans and develops program objectives and/or content. Researches and identifies trends and needs and establishes program directions accordingly.
• 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

Education:    

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Experience:

• Working knowledge in research and evaluation of international development, with proven analytical, quantitative, organizational, and management skills.

Preferred Competencies

• Proven project management skills, with keen attention to both operational and research details, and manage multiple projects efficiently.
• Highly organized and proactive, anticipate needs, and adapt quickly in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, interpret complex data, and provide clear, actionable insights.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience producing explicit, concise materials for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as collaboratively within diverse, cross-functional teams.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and shifting priorities while maintaining focus on key objectives.
• Skilled in working across global teams with diverse cultural backgrounds, communication styles, and time zones.
• Deep interest in and commitment to development economics.
• Detail-oriented and dependable, with excellent organizational and time management capabilities.

Working Conditions

• Office setting, in-person, on campus.
• Some international travel.
• Fast-paced environment.
• Work some evenings and weekends.

Application Documents

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

$120,000.00 - $135,000.00

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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