Managing Director, Therapeutics Discovery Institute

Department

BSD PAT - Oakes Lab

About the Department

The University of Chicago is one of the world’s leading academic institutions and a founding member of the Association of American Universities. With 101 Nobel laureates and a top 15 national ranking, UChicago is known for bold inquiry and transformative impact. At the center of its medical enterprise are UChicago Medicine, the Biological Sciences Division, and the Pritzker School of Medicine—an integrated, interdisciplinary ecosystem advancing scientific discovery, clinical excellence, and medical education. Located on a shared campus in Hyde Park, these units offer a full therapeutic pipeline—from research labs to clinical trials to patient care—bringing breakthrough discoveries to patients.

Building on our multidisciplinary strengths across the biological, physical, and engineering sciences, UChicago is in the planning stages to launch a new Therapeutics Discovery Institute---a University-wide effort to accelerate drug discovery and development by creating a fully integrated ecosystem that translates groundbreaking discoveries into innovative therapeutics. A collaboration among the Biological Sciences Division, the Physical Sciences Division, and the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, the Therapeutics Discovery Institute will bring world-leading UChicago research out of the lab and into patients’ lives in the form of more effective treatments for the most complex and challenging diseases.

Job Summary

We are seeking a Managing Director for the Therapeutics Discovery Institute who will play a pivotal role in launching the Institute. The successful candidate will be critical in the planning, design, fundraising, and execution of the vision for this new Institute. The Managing Director will serve as a pivotal leader within the Therapeutics Discovery Institute, reporting to the Faculty Executive Director, and entrusted with advancing both the strategic direction and operational effectiveness of the Institute. This position integrates day-to-day organizational stewardship with long-term vision setting, ensuring the Institute’s continued growth, impact, and alignment with the University’s mission and evolving priorities.

Responsibilities

• Effectively collaborate with colleagues across the University and external advisors from industry and academia to refine and advance the Institute’s strategic framework, including preparation of a five-year strategic plan and competitive benchmarking against leading academic and industry therapeutic discovery and development models. 

• Work closely with faculty across the University to identify therapeutic projects, track ongoing research, and triage opportunities for development through the Institute.

• Identify and execute agreements with external partners to conduct research to further the development of the assets.

• Evaluate the University’s program portfolio through coordination of expert panels to assess translational potential of UChicago projects.  

• Align and coordinate the cross-functional/divisional resources to advance prioritized assets through IND-enabling preclinical and early clinical development.

• Partner with key organizational stakeholders including the Polsky Center, UChicago Corporate Engagement, and academic departments/divisions to ensure integrated planning and execution.

• Work closely with Divisional and University Development teams to build a philanthropic case and help present it to potential donors and partners.

• Design and implement organizational models, decision-making protocols, standard operating procedures and portfolio management processes that align stakeholders, resources, and objectives across departments and administrative units.

• Provide oversight for daily operations, including organization of a robust seminar program, budget management, financial forecasting, human resources, facilities, and core administrative processes.

• Partner with Divisional leadership, the Faculty Executive Director and with senior Institute leadership to determine the personnel, core facility, and laboratory space needs for the Institute.

• Support senior leadership in engagement with academic, corporate, and philanthropic partners to enhance visibility, collaboration, and sustainable funding for the Institute.

• Identifies operational goals and oversees allocation of resources to meet priorities. Ensures compliance of staff with organizational, University and other relevant policies and guidelines.

• Oversees the management of informational technology planning, ensuring necessary operating and information systems and resources are in place to accomplish strategic goals. Conceives and directs s