Senior Director of Research Programs & Strategy

Department

PSD Data Science Staff

About the Department

The Data Science Institute at the University of Chicago was established to support the development of emerging efforts in data science across the University. The staff in the Data Science Institute support the University’s community of scholars, their shared ideals, and the core values that make the University a singular intellectual destination. Together with the University's deans and department chairs, the Data Science Institute provides the opportunities, infrastructure, and resources that encourage our faculty and other scholars to pursue their finest work.

Job Summary

The Data Science Institute (DSI) is seeking a highly experienced Senior Director for Research Programs & Strategy to lead the DSI’s research and evaluation efforts. The Senior Director is responsible for the strategic management of research initiatives and external and internal research partnerships that support DSI’s activities. The Senior Director for Research Programs & Strategy reports directly to the Executive Director. The Senior Director for Research Programs & Strategy will work collaboratively with the DSI Faculty Director of Research and Faculty Director of AI to sharpen the DSI’s research vision and build strong relationships with scholars, scientists and faculty/staff and to grow the DSI’s research portfolio. The Senior Director will build relationships with agencies and organizations to support research strategy. This includes high-level relationship building, research project development and management, financial and grant management, and program and donor development. The Senior Director will translate academic research into policy and implementation recommendations. The Senior Director will oversee a group of research professionals who are responsible for targeted research and programmatic activities and work with the team to sustain, implement, and disseminate research.

The Senior Director of Research Programs & Strategy will focus on positioning the DSI to become a global data science research hub by securing large-scale external funding, building strong university-wide partnerships, and increasing global visibility through high impact programs. The DSI research pillar will also enhance and integrate with the education and outreach activities of the organization.

Responsibilities

• Develops and manages strong relationships with faculty members and other stakeholders working in the sciences or adjacent areas.

• Maintains and promotes awareness of faculty data science research, initiatives, and programs; collaborates and communicates with faculty and leadership to coordinate initiative and program activities.

• Serves as a key member of the Executive Director’s senior leadership team and works collaboratively with staff and faculty at all levels across the University and with internal and external partners to ensure the success of the research programs.

• Lead, manage, and supervise research professionals and support staff that are involved with planning, implementing, monitoring, and compliance aspects of research projects.

• Designs and executes strategies to enable scaling of relevant innovations through partners.

• Builds relationships with key partners in governments, foundations, and industry vital to the success of the research initiatives and programs.

• Spearheads fundraising and grant writing efforts to support core center activities.

• Work collaboratively with a diverse professional team to design, develop, implement, and evaluate scientific research projects and advise the team on long-range plans for research projects.

• Develop goals, metrics , practices to measure project impact and success.

• Manage staff research team

• Work collaboratively with Data Science faculty, DSI’s staff and research professionals to develop scientific content and research proposals for grant funding.

• Manage research initiative budgets, postdoctoral scholars program, and seed grant program.

• Work closely with the Executive Director and Faculty Directors to identify, launch and sustain research initiatives and programs.

• Serve as a key resource for program information and resolve problems or questions referred by program staff, University administrators, or other contingencies.

• Implements objectives, as well as some long-term strategic plans respective to the department's focus.

• Maintains external partners to advance strategic priorities. Communicates and collaborates with internal and external community members and leadership to achieve strategic priorities.

• Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and fede