Senior Director of Strategic AI Initiatives and Operations

Department
 

PSD Data Science Staff

About the Department
 

The Data Science Institute (DSI) executes the University of Chicago’s bold, innovative vision of Data Science as a new discipline. The DSI seeds research on the interdisciplinary frontiers of this emerging field, forms partnerships with industry, government, and social impact organizations, and supports holistic data science education. The mission of DSI is to address important scientific and societal questions through coordinated advances in applications, models, algorithms, and platforms. To execute this goal, we engage in research, education, and outreach efforts. The Data Science Institute partners with the UChicago Department of Computer Science and the UChicago Department of Statistics, and is co-located with UChicago CS in the John Crerar Library Building. DSI is also part of an ambitious, multi-year expansion of computer and data science efforts at the University of Chicago.

Job Summary
 

We are seeking a highly organized, adaptable, and proactive Senior Director of Strategic AI Initiatives and Operations to join our team. The ideal candidate will convene people around operational tasks and strategic initiatives, ensuring the execution of processes they helped develop. Their goal will be to help move a portfolio of cutting-edge programs forward while ensuring that day-to-day operations run smoothly. Their duties will cover facilitating new strategic initiatives and fundraising, program and project management, and day-to-day operations. A successful candidate will be a forward-thinking professional with a passion for advancing innovative programs and ensuring operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Identify and research opportunities for strategic partnerships with internal and external entities.

• Draft slides, reports, and emails for key audiences, including potential donors, sponsors, government officials, and University administration.

• Develop and utilize metrics and report to advise current and future state initiatives.

• Coordinate with faculty, communications, event planning, and fundraising stakeholders to develop and advance strategies that elevate Artificial Intelligence (AI) priorities.

• Proactively coordinate large events, communications campaigns, and fundraising drives.

• Create and oversee processes for routine updates for public-facing channels such as websites, social media, news, and promotional materials.

• Develop and manage the internal process for proposal development and submission, ensuring Principal Investigator (PI) and research administrator buy-in.

• Enhance file sharing and communication among team members and external partners.

• Serve as a thought and writing partner for PI in early-stage proposal submission development, including vision and thematic development, drafting, and editing.

• Integrate all proposal components, incorporating feedback from reviewers and ensuring alignment with sponsor criteria.

• Draft templates and guidance for management, data sharing, facilities, mentorship, and other operational proposal components.

• Create top-level budgets to guide PI/Co-PI in determining budget requests and division between project components and institutions.

• Provide in-depth editing and writing support throughout the proposal development process.

• Lead other staff members and stakeholders on strategic initiatives, overseeing project delivery and execution. Share supervisory responsibility (i.e., “dotted line reports”) for relevant program directors.

• Develop and implement processes for trainee recruitment and professional development programming.

• Create and manage coordination strategies for professional development and training programs.

• Identify funding sources for professional development and education programming and guide the development of funding applications.

• Provide guidance on advertising, application processes, staffing, and website management.

• Oversee and guide the planning and implementation of large events, including public lectures, conferences, workshops, and bootcamps.

• Manage public communications, ensuring accuracy and timeliness across social media, news, websites, and email campaigns.

• Develop and execute processes for timely reporting on large-scale grants, projects, and strategic initiatives.

• Oversee and provide direction on research project management.

• Coordinate with pre-award and post-award financial managers and Business Associates on receipts and reimbursements.

• Manages program operations and administrative functions to include planning and scheduli