Associate Director, Research Training Programs and Communications

Department

BSD MED - Center for Health and the Social Sciences - Administration

About the Department

The Center for Health and the Social Sciences (CHeSS) provides the infrastructure to advance interdisciplinary research and training in health and social sciences at the University of Chicago. Housed under the Dean of the Biological Sciences Division's office, the Center attracts participation from across the University, including the Biological Sciences Division and Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM), the Center for Healthcare Delivery Science and Innovation (HDSI) at UChicago Medicine, Social Sciences Division, Physical Sciences Division, Business School, Harris School of Public Policy, Law School, Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, National Opinion Research Center (NORC), and Argonne National Labs. The Center supports and promotes innovation and collaboration as well as excellence in research, scholarship, and training. With over 130 faculty associates from virtually all schools and divisions of the University, CHeSS serves as an incubator of ideas and supporter of research in health and the social sciences, sponsors seminars and workshops on campus, invites nationally-known scholars and policymakers to speak on a variety of topics, supports the writing and submission of grant applications and fundraising proposals, coordinates new research initiatives and projects, manages several training programs, and provides expert research methods consultation during formative and operational phases of investigations.

Job Summary

The Center for Health and the Social Sciences (CHeSS) is seeking an Associate Director of Research Training Programs and Communications. Reporting to the CHeSS Executive Director, the Associate Director will oversee a portfolio of CHeSS-sponsored programs with a high degree of independence and support the design, day-to-day administration, and quality improvement for new and existing initiatives, which include federally and privately funded research training programs that target trainees at the predoc, postdoc, and junior faculty levels. The Associate Director will collaborate with faculty and staff in the BSD and other University units to develop grant proposals, grant renewals, progress reports, and training program curricula; facilitate trainee-facing events; lead program evaluation efforts; and provide oversight for grant compliance. This role will also work with the Executive Director to lead the center’s communication strategy and may help manage research activities for CHeSS and its partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead quality improvement for the recruitment, selection, appointment, and onboarding of trainees.

• Track trainees’ progress and administer learning plans.

• Manage day-to-day operations, including scheduling and staffing training events and advisory board meetings.

• Recruit speakers for workshops and conferences.

• Collaborate with faculty leaders on the development of didactic curricula and experiential training opportunities for training programs.

• Lead the design and implementation of program evaluation efforts.

• Develop strategies for and lead implementation of alumni tracking and engagement.

• Collaborate with faculty and staff on the development, preparation, and submission of new training grant proposals, competitive renewals, and progress reports.

• Monitor compliance of training grants and programs with respect to the relevant divisional, institutional, and state/federal policies.

• Support health communication research activities.

• Manage center wide communication efforts, including the Center website, social media, and newsletter.

• Lead the recruitment of trainees and dissemination of research through CHeSS’ e-newsletter, website, social media, and other channels.

• Ensure compliance of communications with University standards and policies.

• Supervise part-time staff who support execution of CHeSS training programs and communications strategy.

• Support development of CHeSS’ research capabilities in health communication and educational program evaluation.

• Work with partners and stakeholders across campus to advance research, education, and communications at the intersection of health and the social sciences.

• Collaborate with faculty to design and lead new and ongoing workshops and events such as the Collaborative for Innovation in Data and Measurement on Aging (CIDMA) Institute.

• Manage and oversee research project(s) in collaboration with affiliated CHeSS faculty from the Pritzker School of Medicine and other departments across the University of Chicago, ensuring alignment with project goals and timelines