Associate Director, Research & Programs

Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12 paid holidays

6 sick days accrued

Insurance eligibility after 30 days

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Short/long term disability

Life insurance 2x salary

Employee recognition events

401(k) matching

On-site dining options

Job summary

The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired invites applications for the Associate Director, Research. This senior role reports to the Chief Research Officer and leads the organization’s research portfolio with strategic and operational leadership.

Travel is required monthly to organizational sites, with occasional conferences and events. The position requires a master's degree (PhD/MD preferred) and at least five years in research or related fields.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required; doctoral degree preferred in a relevant field.
• Extensive experience in research, program management, or related fields.
• Strong knowledge of research methodologies and data management.
• Experience coordinating multiple projects with multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience with grant proposals and research administration.
• Familiarity with regulatory compliance and data security in research.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the research portfolio with strategic and operational oversight.
• Coordinate cross-functional research activities among academic, clinical, engineering, and industry partners.
• Communicate project status, risks, findings, and milestones to internal teams and collaborators.
• Oversee clinical psychophysical testing and data handling for research studies.

Skills

Research leadership

Project management

Data analysis

Regulatory compliance

Scientific communication

Grant proposal support

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Master's degree

Doctoral degree preferred

Job description

The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired invites applications for the Associate Director, Research. This senior role reports to the Chief Research Officer and leads the organization’s research portfolio with strategic and operational leadership.

Travel is required monthly to organizational sites, with occasional conferences and events. The position requires a master's degree (PhD/MD preferred) and at least five years in research or related fields.