Director
Great Cities Institute
The College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago invites nominations and applications for the position of Director of the Great Cities Institute (GCI). The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is the largest institution of higher learning in the Chicago area and is classified as a Research University/Very High Research Activity by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA), established in 1995, houses two academic departments, one undergraduate program, and eight research centers and institutes.
Great Cities Institute (GCI). GCI was founded in 1995 as the key component of UIC’s Great Cities program. The Great Cities program represents UIC’s metropolitan commitment and advances its urban mission. GCI conducts interdisciplinary applied urban research, outreach, and education projects focused on Chicago and other cities nationally and internationally.
In 2011, the GCI released a strategic plan, The Great Cities Institute: Roadmap to the Future, which defined its mission as the following:
"The Great Cities Institute sponsors research, service, and educational programs aimed at improving the quality of life of people living in Chicago, its metropolitan region, and other great cities of the world. In carrying out its work the Institute engages closely with government institutions, businesses and their membership organizations, foundations and grant-making agencies, and organizations devoted to the social, cultural, and economic vitality of cities, local communities and neighborhoods. It serves as a research laboratory and meeting place for scholars, policymakers, and citizens who share an interest in finding answers to the question, 'What can cities and regions do to make themselves into great places?' "
GCI has permanent state funding that supports the Great Cities Scholars, who are selected annually from throughout UIC and whose research focuses on areas of urban resilience, urban disparities, economic development, planning and design, housing, public finance, sustainability, education, community health, and other urban issues.
Position. The Director of GCI reports to the Dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs and will hold a tenured faculty position as a Full Professor in an appropriate department and college. The Director is expected to provide strong intellectual and managerial leadership for GCI as a leading interdisciplinary unit for the campus; develop research, outreach, and education opportunities that draw in other UIC faculty; generate external grant support to supplement state funding; and direct the day-to-day activities of the Institute. The Director will also be responsible for raising the visibility and impact of the work of the Institute regionally, nationally and internationally, maintaining strong relationships with relevant stakeholders including the city of Chicago, augmenting the research profile of the Institute, securing external grants, and directing various established and new programs and projects.
Professional qualifications. Applicants should have a doctorate or equivalent terminal degree in their discipline, a minimum of 10 years experience, a background in an urban-oriented field, a national or international reputation of scholarly achievement, and be qualified for the rank of tenured full Professor. The Director must have the capacity to represent GCI in academic and policy circles nationally and internationally. A track record of effective leadership, management, and fundraising at a senior level in a university research center or similar type position is required. In addition, the candidate must be able to manage multiple priorities and build consensus among diverse constituencies.
Application procedure. For full consideration, please upload all application documents (minimally, a letter of application and curriculum vitae) to-- https://jobs.uic.edu/default.cfm?page=job&jobID=15028. Also, please send three confidential letters of recommendation to Professor Paul Brandt-Rauf, Chair, Search committee, at cuppa@uic.edu.
The search will remain open until the position is filled, but for full consideration, nominations or applications should be submitted by 3 February 2012.
The University of Illinois at Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer