Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Quantum Exchange

University of Chicago; United States; Hybrid; USD 220,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago invites applications for the Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE). This strategic leadership role will guide a cross‑institution team to design and execute growth, research, education, and workforce initiatives, while engaging industry partners and national labs.

Reporting to the CQE Faculty Director, the CEO will drive a compelling vision, manage budgets, and build strong collaborations with academia, sponsors, and external partners to

Qualifications

• Minimum college/university degree.
• 10+ years of work experience in related discipline.
• Strong strategic thinking with track record of partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Designs and manages CQE growth strategy and programs.
• Broker deals with stakeholders to expand CQE memberships and partnerships.
• Develops revenue-generating programming for sustainability.
• Promotes CQE in regional and national quantum initiatives.
• Leads a diversified team of professionals and reports to the Faculty Director.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Budget management

Data-driven decision making

Cross-institution collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science/tech/business/communications

MBA or advanced degree

Tools

Outlook

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

About the Department

The Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) is an intellectual hub in the Midwest that connects leading universities, national labs, and industry partners to advance the science and engineering of quantum information, train the future quantum workforce, and drive the quantum economy. The CQE is based at the University of Chicago and anchored by the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Northwestern University, and Purdue University. The community includes more than 50 corporate, international, nonprofit, and regional partners and is one of the largest collaborative teams working on quantum science in the world. The CQE leads national initiatives, including The Bloch Quantum Tech Hub, a US Economic Development Administration (EDA) designation endorsing the Chicago metro area as a central driver of US leadership in quantum technologies. The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) is the first school in the nation dedicated to molecular engineering, and integrates science and engineering to address global challenges from the molecular level up. UChicago PME’s rigorous academic and research programs are enhanced through the University of Chicago’s unique partnership with Argonne and Fermi National Laboratories, and the broad excellence of scholarship and education on campus. In the next phase of growth as a School, 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. 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 CEO of the Chicago Quantum Exchange develops and executes strategic plans to build a discovery‑to‑deployment research, innovation and commercialization, and talent ecosystem across the CQE member community, an external network of companies, non‑profits, and others. They will lead a team of skilled professionals and area managers to further CQE’s mission and vision, including the CQE’s Bloch Quantum EDA Tech Hub. Reporting to the CQE Faculty Director, this individual must be able to thrive in a fast‑moving, decentralized environment. The ideal candidate is a hands‑on leader able to set a vision to drive change internally; they have a can do, positive attitude, and are passionate about selling a strategic vision to key stakeholders including local and national leadership, faculty, and other internal and external partners.

Responsibilities

• In alignment with the Faculty Director, designs, implements, and manages CQE’s overall growth strategy, furthering its mission, enabling its vision, and fostering novel quantum research, education and workforce development, and innovation and commercialization initiatives throughout the Quantum Prairie of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
• Interacts with key stakeholders, internal leadership, external partners, and others to broker deals, continue to enhance CQE’s position and reputation, and grow CQE’s constellation of members and industry and other partnerships.
• Builds revenue‑generating programming, such as dues‑based memberships or partnerships and educational offerings, with an eye toward organizational sustainability.
• Understands the quantum marketplace and competitive dynamics and implications, including social and economic trends that impact CQE’s position and goals for growth and revenue.
• Enables advantageous positioning for CQE in consultation with leadership and key stakeholders to promote prominence in quantum‑related endeavors in the region.
• Pursues, through partnerships and direct reports, research collaborations, professional and other educational offerings and programs, and business development for the region.
• Through a diversified team of skilled professionals, drives awareness that aids in recruiting faculty, students, philanthropic and other sponsors, and industry partners.
• Establishes programs supported by federal and philanthropic funders, as well as the methodologies to measure, track and course‑correct.
• Builds a global profile for the CQE, and ensures the identity, voice, and objectives are articulated broadly to advantageous effect.
• Anticipates and solves a range of complex problems; work assignments are difficult and broad in nature, usually requiring creativity, originality, and ingenuity.
• Creates and implements data‑driven tools for measuring success and identifying opportunities for expansion in this emerging space.
• Provides strategic leadership for a Center with senior management and serves as a liaison to academic departments, professional organizations and administrative units of the University.
• Manages multiple related teams.
• Establishes department priorities, is responsible for the management of the center budget, allocates resources and executes strategic plans.
• 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 10+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in science, technology, business, marketing, communications, or a related field. MBA or advanced degree in the sciences.
• Experience: Minimum of ten years of relevant, progressively responsible experience. Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through five years of work experience in science, technology, business, marketing, communications or a related job discipline.
• A proven track record as a strong strategic thinker with a results orientation, who approaches any challenge with thoughtfulness, drive, data usage, and appropriate urgency.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling, and thoughtful messaging.
• Cultivating relationships and working with multiple stakeholders to build successful partnerships.
• Leading a data‑driven team towards meeting organizational goals and objectives.
• Working with in an academic unit and/or complex research university environment.
• Background in a higher education setting is a plus.
• Excellent computer skills evidenced by proficiency in Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat.
• Project management skills including budget management, KPI tracking.

Preferred Competencies

• A collaborative, diplomatic, and flexible hands‑on team leader and player who builds strong relationships internally and externally, and works well under pressure, thriving under tight deadlines.
• A strategic leader who also enjoys getting your hands dirty in the execution.
• Attention to detail.
• Demonstrated excellent written and verbal presentation skills, coupled with excellent editing, proofreading and interviewing skills.
• High level of collegiality in working with faculty, staff, departmental and university administrators, including enthusiasm, energy, and creativity.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including outstanding judgment, discretion, a strong ethical approach to decision‑making and a demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts fairly and diplomatically.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• High cultural awareness and experience working across sectors, including with industry and international partners.
• Work independently, take direction, and achieve consensus.
• Handle public contacts with courtesy, clarity, and diplomacy.
• Maintain calm and courteous demeanor to work productively and efficiently despite heavy workload, competing priorities, constant interruptions, complex problems, and tight deadlines.

Working Conditions

Office environment, hybrid work schedule. Occasional extended work hours and some weekends.

Job Family

• Administration & Management Role Impact People Manager
• 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 $220,000.00 - $240,000.00

Benefits

• 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.

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.

Additional University Information

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