Assistant Director for Research Collaboration and Public Engagement

University of Illinois Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Illinois Chicago invites applications for the position of Assistant Director for Research Collaboration and Public Engagement at the Great Cities Institute (GCI) in Chicago. This role advances collaboration across academic, civic, and community partners to connect applied research with policy and public engagement.

Responsibilities include designing and leading partnership development, strategizing dissemination of research findings, coordinating cross-campus initiatives, and

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work/Urban Planning/Public Policy/Public Administration/Sociology
• At least three years experience in applied research, community-engaged scholarship, program coordination, or partnership development within academic, nonprofit, government, or policy research environments.
• Experience designing and conducting qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods research, including data analysis and the preparation of applied research reports, policy briefs, or scholarly publications.
• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral-level training in Social Work, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Sociology, or a related field.
• Demonstrated research expertise in interorganizational collaboration, collaborative governance, or cross-sector partnerships, particularly within urban policy, community development, or public-sector contexts.
• Demonstrated experience translating research into accessible public-facing formats, including reports, digital media, visual communication, multimedia storytelling, or community-oriented knowledge dissemination.
• Experience working within interdisciplinary research environments or university-based research institutes, including collaboration with faculty, community organizations, and public-sector partners on applied research initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Support the design, implementation, and evaluation of collaborative research initiatives aligned with GCI's program areas and research clusters.
• Conduct and co-lead applied qualitative and quantitative research related to interorganizational collaboration, participatory governance, and community partnerships.
• Facilitate and sustain collaborative relationships among university researchers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community-based partners.
• Support the design, implementation, and evaluation of collaborative research initiatives aligned with GCI's program areas and research clusters.
• Contribute to the development of research partnerships, grant proposals, and funding strategies that strengthen collaborative research capacity.
• Lead the dissemination of GCI research through reports, policy briefs, multimedia storytelling, digital platforms, and public events.
• Translate complex research findings, datasets, and policy analyses into accessible formats for policymakers, practitioners, community partners, and the broader public.
• Coordinate visual, digital, and narrative communication strategies that enhance the reach and impact of GCI's research initiatives.
• Support the development of public-facing research outputs that highlight GCI's contributions to urban policy, community development, and regional planning.
• Develop Institute's faculty engagement program.
• Coordinate and mediate cross-campus collaborations by connecting UIC faculty with GCI initiatives, including the development of topical lecture series, collaborative research projects, and community-engaged scholarship opportunities.
• Establish and facilitate interdisciplinary faculty working groups aligned with GCI's research clusters to advance urban policy dialogue, generate collaborative outputs, and strengthen sustained academic engagement.
• Design and lead a bi-directional
• Collaborative Exchange
• model between GCI and UIC units, coordinating the integration of GCI researchers into campus-based centers, initiatives, and academic programs, while also connecting UIC faculty and partners to GCI-led projects and research clusters.
• Strengthen university-community partnerships through coordinated institutional engagement strategies, supporting the development, alignment, and sustainability of collaborations between UIC units and external partners, and positioning GCI as a central hub for relationship-building, communication, and project coordination.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Skills

Applied research

Community-engaged scholarship

Partnership development

Data analysis

Education

Master's degree in Social Work/Urban Planning/Public Policy/Public Administration/Sociology

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral-level training

Job description

Assistant Director for Research Collaboration and Public Engagement

Hiring Department: Great Cities Institute (GCI)

Location: Chicago, IL USA

Posting Close Date: November 13, 2026

Salary: From $80,000 to $90,000

About the University of Illinois Chicago

UIC is among the nation's preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent "Best Colleges" rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Position Summary

This position advances the mission of the Great Cities Institute (GCI) at the University of Illinois Chicago by strengthening collaboration, research dissemination, and institutional coordination across academic, civic, and community partners. Under the direction of Institute's leadership, the Assistant Director for Research Collaboration and Public Engagement will support initiatives that connect applied research with policy, practice, and public engagement. The position contributes to building collaborative research capacity across academic units, government agencies, and community organizations.

Duties & Responsibilities

Research Collaboration and Partnership Development

• Support the design, implementation, and evaluation of collaborative research initiatives aligned with GCI's program areas and research clusters.


• Conduct and co-lead applied qualitative and quantitative research related to interorganizational collaboration, participatory governance, and community partnerships.


• Facilitate and sustain collaborative relationships among university researchers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community-based partners.


• Support the design, implementation, and evaluation of collaborative research initiatives aligned with GCI's program areas and research clusters.


• Contribute to the development of research partnerships, grant proposals, and funding strategies that strengthen collaborative research capacity.

Strategic Communication and Dissemination

• Lead the dissemination of GCI research through reports, policy briefs, multimedia storytelling, digital platforms, and public events.


• Translate complex research findings, datasets, and policy analyses into accessible formats for policymakers, practitioners, community partners, and the broader public.


• Coordinate visual, digital, and narrative communication strategies that enhance the reach and impact of GCI's research initiatives.


• Support the development of public-facing research outputs that highlight GCI's contributions to urban policy, community development, and regional planning.

Institutional Engagement

• Develop Institute's faculty engagement program.


• Coordinate and mediate cross-campus collaborations by connecting UIC faculty with GCI initiatives, including the development of topical lecture series, collaborative research projects, and community-engaged scholarship opportunities.


• Establish and facilitate interdisciplinary faculty working groups aligned with GCI's research clusters to advance urban policy dialogue, generate collaborative outputs, and strengthen sustained academic engagement.


• Design and lead a bi-directional "Collaborative Exchange" model between GCI and UIC units, coordinating the integration of GCI researchers into campus-based centers, initiatives, and academic programs, while also connecting UIC faculty and partners to GCI-led projects and research clusters.


• Strengthen university-community partnerships through coordinated institutional engagement strategies, supporting the development, alignment, and sustainability of collaborations between UIC units and external partners, and positioning GCI as a central hub for relationship-building, communication, and project coordination.

Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Public Administration, Sociology, or a closely related field.


• At least three years experience in applied research, community-engaged scholarship, program coordination, or partnership development within academic, nonprofit, government, or policy research environments.


• Experience designing and conducting qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods research, including data analysis and the preparation of applied research reports, policy briefs, or scholarly publications.


• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral-level training in Social Work, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Sociology, or a related field.


• Demonstrated research expertise in interorganizational collaboration, collaborative governance, or cross-sector partnerships, particularly within urban policy, community development, or public-sector contexts.


• Demonstrated experience translating research into accessible public-facing formats, including reports, digital media, visual communication, multimedia storytelling, or community-oriented knowledge dissemination.


• Experience working within interdisciplinary research environments or university-based research institutes, including collaboration with faculty, community organizations, and public-sector partners on applied research initiatives.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.