Associate Director, Research Support

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business; Harper (OR); On-site; USD 72,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is seeking an Associate Director, Research Support to guide, support, and program Booth non‑Center research staff; directly support five Booth tenure‑line faculty; assist in the planning and execution of the Expanding Discovery in Economics+ program, and deliver effective solutions to research staff, faculty, and the larger Booth community.

This role is not eligible for employer‑sponsored employment authorization and requires in‑office presence

Qualifications

• Minimum qualifications: a college or university degree in a related field and 5-7 years of related work experience.
• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in a related discipline.
• Understanding of academia and higher education in research and teaching environments.

Responsibilities

• Guide and support faculty as they recruit, hire, and onboard research staff.
• Work closely with faculty managing research staff to ensure they are managing staff effectively.
• Maintain existing content and create new content for Booth research staff websites.
• Design and execute programming for research staff, including presentations, workshops, orientation week sessions, mentorship programs, and professional development programming.
• Provide faculty with SSRN administrative support.
• Design and execute retention and engagement programming for Expanding Discovery in Economics+ alumni.
• Support five faculty with workload during staff transitions.
• Advance teaching and research missions by preparing course materials and managing teaching assistants and FERPA privacy.
• Manage day-to-day operation of the faculty group, including finances and policies.
• Plan, develop, analyze, and manage budget and grants.

Skills

Organizational skills

Verbal and written communication

Presentation skills

Self-motivated

Customer-service orientation

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Job description

Job Summary

The Associate Director, Research Support will provide guidance, support, and programming to Booth non‑Center research staff; directly support five Booth tenure‑line faculty; assist in the planning and execution of the Expanding Discovery in Economics+ program, and deliver effective solutions to research staff, faculty, and the larger Booth community. This position is not eligible for employer‑sponsored employment authorization.

Responsibilities

• Guide and support faculty as they recruit, hire, and onboard research staff. Execute processes related to recruiting (information sessions), time management (Workday), ongoing management support (performance engagement), and programming.
• Work closely with faculty managing research staff to ensure they are managing staff effectively, and that their research needs have been met.
• Maintain existing content and create new content for the Chicago Booth research staff websites.
• Design and execute programming for research staff, including presentations, workshops, orientation week sessions, mentorship programs, and professional development programming.
• Provide faculty with SSRN administrative support.
• Design and execute retention and engagement programming for Expanding Discovery in Economics+ (EDE+) alumni, including matching alumni to academic advising and research opportunities, integrating program alumni into new iterations, assisting in identifying, inviting, and securing instructors and speakers, and supporting overall execution during in‑person weeks.
• Support five faculty as described above, with faculty load temporarily increased for coverage during staff transitions.
• Advance the faculty mission of teaching by creating and preparing course materials and websites, overseeing and managing teaching assistants, responding to students, entering grades with delegated authority, ensuring FERPA privacy.
• Advance the faculty research mission by providing technical and administrative support, including data ingestion and cleaning, manuscript editing, submitting papers, grant management, literature reviews.
• Manage day‑to‑day operation of the faculty group, handling financial and support services management, compliance with Booth, University, and other policies, payment of invoices, processing reimbursements, developing financial reporting for grants, creating and maintaining web pages.
• Use best practices to develop and execute operational and strategic plans, develop and implement policies and procedures, ensuring compliance.
• Plan, develop, analyze, and manage budget, including multi‑year forecasts, oversee grant and contract proposals, ensure compliance with all relevant guidelines, develop financial reports, assist with seeking funding for grants.
• Perform other related work as needed.

Education & Experience

• Minimum qualifications: a college or university degree in a related field and 5‑7 years of related work experience.
• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in a related discipline.

Preferred Qualifications & Competencies

• Understanding of academia and higher education in research and teaching environments.
• Understanding of student academic needs.
• Introductory experience with financial budgeting and management.
• Outstanding verbal, written, and presentation skills; strong organizational skills.
• Work independently with little supervision, self‑motivated, able to identify opportunities for improvement and recommend effective changes while achieving key objectives.
• Excellent management, analytical, and administrative skills.
• Handle multiple detailed tasks/projects simultaneously and meet strict deadlines with frequent interruptions.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and diplomatically with colleagues, students, faculty, and corporate contacts via in‑person, email, and phone.
• Professional demeanor, tact, discretion, and a customer‑service‑oriented approach.

Working Conditions

• This position is expected to work a minimum three days per week in the office.

Benefits & Pay

• Pay Range: $72,000.00 – $78,000.00 (salary).
• Benefits Eligible: Yes. The University offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources, including health, retirement, and paid time off.
• Drug Test Required: No.
• Health Screen Required: No.
• Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required: No.
• FLSA Status: Exempt.

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 the Applicant Inquiry Form.