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Associate Director, Urban Labs - University of Chicago (Deadline 6/22!)

Who: By 2050, the global urban population will nearly double to 6.4 billion. This unprecedented growth in the global urban population creates incredible opportunities but also intensifies the most difficult problems cities face, such as concentrated poverty, crime, poor-quality schooling, and pollution. The University of Chicago founded Urban Labs to help address these challenges. Urban Labs is a set of highly synergistic labs focused on undertaking inquiry and having impact on five essential dimensions of urban life: crime, education, health, poverty, and energy & environment.

Urban Labs partners with cities to identify and rigorously evaluate the policies and programs with the greatest potential to improve human lives at scale. Urban Labs’ evidence-based approach gives policymakers and practitioners the knowledge they need to effectively achieve the greatest social good per dollar spent. In sum, UChicago Urban Labs: Identifies promising solutions to urban challenges; Tests the most promising urban policies and programs; Scales-up the most effective and cost-efficient policies and programs.

What: The Associate Director will develop and maintain relationships with Health Lab partners, identify ways to leverage the Lab's unique resources, and assist our partners in improving the health and well-being of citizens in Chicago. The Associate Director will report to the Executive Director. Responsibilities include:
  • Work with Faculty Directors, Executive Director, Analysts and Research Managers to allocate staff resources across multiple, overlapping projects within the Health Lab 
  • Develop and maintain high-level relationships with Health Lab partners by serving as a point of contact, attending meetings and events, and through regular correspondence 
  • Support the Health Lab’s fundraising efforts, including identifying opportunities consistent with our priorities, and conceptualizing, preparing, and presenting proposals to support our work 
  • Assist in the implementation of the Health Lab’s strategic plan 
  • Coordinate with other labs, including Executive Directors, Research Directors, Associate Directors, and Faculty Directors on project development and cross-lab collaboration as needed. Other duties as assigned 
Qualifications:

  • Masters’ degree in economics, public policy, statistics, communications, business or another relevant field required 
  • At least two years of experience in applied research 
  • At least 5 years work experience 
  • Experience in management 
  • Fundraising experience preferred, including experience writing grants, cultivating and tracking donors, identifying funding prospects 

Competencies:

  • Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning. 
  • Ability to liaison directly with Faculty Directors
  • Excellent project management skills
  • Excellent judgement and instincts with respect to partner management
  • Excellence in organizational management with the ability to manage and mentor staff, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget
  • High attention to detail and follow-up, and excellent organizational skills required.
  • Integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed 

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter to Ruth Coffman (rcoffman@uchicago.edu) and Yael Sharon (ysharon@uchicago.edu) by Friday June, 22nd.