Chief of Staff and Associate Dean for Academic Planning

Department
 

University of Chicago Social Sciences Division

About the Department
 

Consistently ranked among the top ten social science research universities in the world, the Division of Social Sciences is at the vanguard of inquiry and impact. Whether through the field-defining scholarship of the Chicago Schools in Sociology, Political Science, and Economics, the path-breaking impact of the first graduate international affairs program in the U.S., the creation of interdisciplinary programs in the Department of Comparative Human Development and the John U. Nef Committee on Social Thought, or many other pivotal milestones, the Division has repeatedly transformed the social sciences since its founding in 1930.

Job Summary
 

The job provides leadership and direction through senior managers who are responsible for providing complex and diverse functions critical for faculty course delivery and academic advising and services.

The Chief of Staff and Associate Dean for Academic Planning (COS-AD) plays a key leadership role developing and implementing effective planning processes for academic programs and ensuring the Division’s strategic plans are effectively operationalized. Reporting to the Dean, the COS-AD partners closely with Deputy Deans, Department Chairs, Associate Deans, Center Directors and other key stakeholders to lead a portfolio of strategic projects and advance the Division’s academic mission. The COS-AD directly supervises senior director-level staff, including academic affairs, information technology and computing services, and facilities management. The ideal candidate will thrive in an intellectually engaging role, build partnerships based on integrity and trust, and navigate demanding and complex dynamics with exemplary leadership. The COS-AD must maintain superior professionalism with confidential and privileged information and perform a wide range of duties that require sensitivity, independent judgment, diplomacy, discretion, and adaptability.

Responsibilities

• Lead high impact, mission driven strategies for the long-term future growth and vitality of the Division

• Work closely with the Dean, deputy deans, associate deans, department chairs, and other academic leadership to ensure successful planning and activities under each leader’s purview and strong operational coordination across the Division

• Manage multiple projects simultaneously with impeccable follow-up and execution, effectively engaging, managing and updating project stakeholders, contributors, and others impacted

• Develop and maintain networks with peers and leaders across the University to stay abreast of best-practices and collaborate with key partnerships to advance Divisional goals

• Contribute to research, analysis, and reporting on a diverse range of matters related to the academic mission; manage recurring and ad hoc data-analysis to support strategic decision-making among senior Divisional leadership

• Represent the Dean and the Division on various working groups and committees, acting as a key leader to advance the Division's interests

• Develop and implement thoughtful change management and communication plans for Divisional initiatives

• Develop and implement processes to support effective short-term and long-term planning across a wide range of academic programs, including curricular programs, academic hiring, and academic policies

• Provide informed recommendations to the Dean on a wide array of issues associated with the academic planning;

• Ensure academic strategies inform, and are informed by, planning in other key domains, including space planning, IT planning, and budget and capital planning; lead the Division’s planning efforts related to space/facilities, IT, and capital projects

• Ensure new academic initiatives are well-positioned for success; serve as an expert resource on a wide range of academic policy and emerging issues across higher education

• Provides leadership for teams that provide course curriculum design and delivery, academic advising and faculty administrative support

• Oversees the preparation of and presents analyses and reports. Establishes direction and goals for a variety of committees/teams with a diverse array of colleagues and partners

• Performs other related work as needed

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 10+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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