Associate Director, CIIC

University of Chicago; United States; On-site; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits eligible

Job summary

University of Chicago seeks an Associate Director to lead the Chicago Immunoengineering Innovation Center (CIIC), overseeing activities, resources, and research infrastructure. The role shapes strategic priorities, funding strategies, communications, and partnerships to advance immunoengineering in human health.

Responsibilities include coordinating with PME and Institute leadership, pursuing federal and private grants, and managing training programs such as ImEPosT (NIH grant).

Qualifications

• College or university degree in a related field.
• 5–7 years of related work experience.
• Graduate degree in bioengineering, immunology, or related field.
• Scientific writing and/or grant and proposal development experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the CIIC strategic plan.
• Coordinate with the Immunoengineering and Bioengineering Institute to align goals.
• Identify grant opportunities and prepare competitive proposals.
• Manage NIH-funded ImEPosT T32 program and budgets.
• Ensure compliance with funding sources and reporting.
• Produce data analyses and regular program reports.
• Collaborate with PME Marketing to enhance visibility.
• Organize immunoengineering programming such as seminars and workshops.
• Oversee shared facilities and program infrastructure.
• Maintain budgets and communicate priorities.

Skills

Strategic planning

Grant writing

Budget management

Communications

Staff management

Education

Graduate degree in bioengineering

Bachelor's degree in related field

Job description

Department PME Immunoengineering Center

About the Department The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) was established in May 2019 and evolved from the Institute for Molecular Engineering, founded in 2011. The PME integrates science and engineering to address global challenges from the molecular level up. The PME’s rigorous academic and research programs are made possible through the University of Chicago’s unique partnership with Argonne National Laboratory. The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering is the first new school at the University of Chicago in three decades and the first school in the nation dedicated to molecular engineering. In the next phase of growth as a School, the PME will continue to expand its team of world-class faculty researchers and empower students from diverse backgrounds to collaborate with faculty in cutting‑edge facilities. The PME aims to bring solutions for urgent societal problems to the forefront, while training the next generation of scientific leaders and entrepreneurs.

Job Summary

The Chicago Immunoengineering Innovation Center (CIIC) applies engineering principles to gain a deeper understanding of immune system function and develop innovative solutions to tackle immunological challenges in human health. The Associate Director manages the activities, resources, and research infrastructure of the CIIC.

Responsibilities

• Helps develop and execute the strategic plan for the CIIC, encompassing scientific priorities, research infrastructure, funding strategies, communications, and partnerships.
• Serves as liaison between the CIIC and the Immunoengineering and Bioengineering Institute to align strategic research goals, optimize shared infrastructure, and programming.
• Partners with faculty to identify appropriate federal and private grant opportunities, develop competitive proposals, and develop and maintain detailed knowledge of faculty research interests and strengths.
• Serves as liaison to PME and University administrative offices and external agencies; engages with federal, non‑profit, philanthropic, and corporate sources.
• Manages the Immunoengineering Postdoctoral Training (ImEPosT) T32 Program (NIH grant), ensuring the program runs on budget and all postdoctoral fellows complete training objectives in a timely fashion.
• Ensures compliance with requirements of funding sources, such as submitting program plans, providing progress reports, and final reports.
• Provides data analysis, updates, and regular reports on CIIC programs and initiatives, and other reports on request from the CIIC leadership.
• In collaboration with the PME Marketing and Communications team, develops and executes a communications plan for enhancing visibility of the CIIC to both external and internal audiences.
• Organizes and implements immunoengineering‑oriented programming for faculty and trainees, such as Works‑in‑Progress Seminars, Grant Writing Workshops, fundraising activities, and alumni/industry workshops.
• Facilitates joint academic and community programming, including co‑sponsored symposia, workshops, and working groups, to enhance the visibility, scientific synergy, and translational impact of Chicago's immunoengineering ecosystem.
• Improves CIIC program delivery and designs innovative initiatives that expand program reach.
• Oversees the development and maintenance of shared research infrastructure, focusing on shared user and core facilities, and manages affiliated staff.
• Manages program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
• Develops and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria.
• Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.
• Has a deep understanding when interacting with faculty, researchers and staff for committee work or information.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Certifications: ---

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Graduate degree in bioengineering, immunology, or a related field.
• Experience: Scientific writing and/or grant and proposal development experience. Familiarity with the higher education environment.
• Preferred Competencies: Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Excellent interpersonal skills. Effective time management and organizational skills; remain attentive to details while handling multiple concurrent tasks and during high‑demands periods. Effective decision‑making and problem‑solving skills. Work independently with a high degree of initiative.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• References Contact Information (3) (required)

Job Family

• Administration & Management Role Impact Individual Contributor
• Scheduled Weekly Hours 37.5
• Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required No Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Rate Type Salary FLSA Status Exempt Pay Range $100,000.00 - $110,000.00
• Benefits Eligible Yes The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case‑by‑case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637. The University of Chicago is an urban research university that has driven new ways of thinking since 1890. Our commitment to free and open inquiry draws inspired scholars to our global campuses, where ideas are born that challenge and change the world. We empower individuals to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of original ideas. Students in the College develop critical, analytic, and writing skills in our rigorous, interdisciplinary core curriculum. Through graduate programs, students test their ideas with UChicago scholars, and become the next generation of leaders in academia, industry, nonprofits, and government.