Senior Executive Director of the Urban Education Institute

Department
 

University of Chicago Urban Education Institute

About the Department
 

The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, & Practice (Crown Family School) builds upon a legacy of more than a century of scholarship, education and leadership in social work and social welfare, blending a distinctive interdisciplinary tradition with applied problem-solving to foster innovative solutions to some of society’s most pressing social problems. For more information about the Crown School, please visit our website at: https://crownschool.uchicago.edu/.

The University of Chicago Crown Family School is the academic home to the Urban Education Institute (UEI), an internationally and nationally renowned institute addressing educational inequality in urban communities by conducting rigorous research, informing evidence-based policies, and implementing innovative practices to promote educational equity and excellence.

Job Summary
 

Reporting to the Faculty Director, the Senior Executive Director (SED) plays a pivotal role in advancing the mission and strategic priorities of UEI. The SED will ensure efficient operations and collaboration across teams within UEI, providing oversight of all aspects of the Institute’s administrative functions.

This senior leadership role will partner with the UEI Faculty Director to conceptualize a strategic vision that encapsulates UEI’s objectives. Fostering a culture of scientific excellence and public service, this role will partner closely with other senior leaders to make recommendations for organizational improvement and build a culture that supports the mission, vision and values of UEI. The SED will spearhead the development and implementation of strategic plans that ensure UEI leadership and staff act in concert with the vision and long-range objectives.

The SED will work closely with local, state and national education leaders, community partners, schools, school districts, non-profits, media, and funders. In partnership with the Faculty Director and other leaders, the SED will work to advance strategic priorities and ensure continuity of funding.

The ideal candidate will be innovative, intellectually curious, and a collaborative leader with experience in urban education or a related area.  Strong candidates will have deep familiarity with educational leaders throughout the City of Chicago, a strong foundation in policy and practice research, and familiarity with higher education institutions. The ideal candidate will have experience disseminating the results of research to various audiences.

Responsibilities

• Oversight of all aspects of the Institute’s administrative functions

• Partner with the Faculty Director and senior leaders to set strategic priorities for the Institute.

• Develop and articulate a compelling vision and strategic plan for UEI.

• Cultivate strategic partnerships and relationships with key stakeholders in Chicago and nationally to advance UEI’s mission.

• Represent UEI with educational leaders, policymakers, non-profit partners, and funders.

• Support development and execution of a fundraising strategy for UEI, including the cultivation of individual donors, institutional philanthropy, foundations, and corporate philanthropy.

• Collaborate with the Crown Family School’s Communication team to ensure UEI is effectively and proactively represented to external stakeholders and to enhance the institute's reputation as a national leader in urban education research. Provide guidance on specific communication needs, including press releases, website content, and newsletters.

• Partner with Crown Family School’s Alumni Relations and Development team and Office of Community Partnership and Impact

• Serve as a leading voice on urban education policy issues at the local, state, and national levels.

• Engage policymakers, thought leaders, and the media to raise awareness of key challenges and opportunities in urban education.

• In collaboration with the Faculty Director and UEI senior leadership, develop and manage the institute's annual budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with strategic priorities.

• Oversee administrative functions, including resource allocation and compliance with university policies and procedures.

• Ensure effective communications across teams through frequent check-ins and convenings with senior leadership on recurring and ad-hoc intervals.

• Foster a supportive and inclusive organizational culture that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Serves as a liaison to academic departments, and administrative units of the University.

• Acts as a lead