Director of Strategy, Academic Initiatives

University of Chicago; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

The Becker Friedman Institute (BFI) at the University of Chicago seeks a Director of Strategy for Academic Initiatives to lead strategic administration and expansion of economics education offerings, starting with the MAE Program. The role requires close collaboration with faculty directors and Economics Department staff to grow enrollment, steward budgets, and promote programs to prospective students.

Grounded in academic rigor and real-world impact, this leader will work with the Dean of

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field required.
• 7+ years of relevant work experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to influence at multiple levels.
• Strong project management and organizational skills; capacity to design and scale programs.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with MA program Directors to ensure alignment of MAE and professional programming with the Economics Department’s curricular mission.
• Develops strategic management plans for expanding the MAE Program and other initiatives; works with BFI leadership, Admissions, SSD Deans, and the Economics Chair.
• Acts as primary liaison to students, faculty, and program administrators for growth strategies and program development.
• Proposes and implements strategies for new academic and professional programs, including international collaborations and onsite/online delivery.
• Oversees events, webinars, recruitment activities, and alignment with Admissions to drive MAE interest and enrollment.
• Manages budgets and financial reporting for designated initiatives; coordinates with University administration on resource allocation.
• Represents initiatives in internal/external forums; builds partnerships with industry, government, and academic partners.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Program management

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Cross-department collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in related field

Job description

Department BFI - Administration

About the Department Inspired by our namesakes, Nobel Laureates Gary Becker and Milton Friedman, who believed that economic research could help improve the world, the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) aims to foster frontier research and apply those findings to achieve global impact. Rooted in core values of service, rigor, and innovation, BFI brings together researchers from the Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, the Law School, and the entire University of Chicago Economics Community to leverage robust data, apply cutting-edge analytical tools, and uncover novel insights on the world’s most difficult economic problems. BFI then bridges the divide between academic researchers and relevant policy makers by translating and packaging rigorous research into accessible formats and proactively sharing those findings with decision-makers and thought leaders in business, government and nonprofit institutions. In this way, BFI has the potential to play a significant role in meeting the most difficult challenges facing the global community.

Job Summary

The BFI Director of Strategy for Academic Initiatives, is responsible for the strategic leadership, administration, and expansion of academic initiatives promoted by BFI, beginning with the Master of Arts in Economics program (MAE Program). The Director will help to support and implement opportunities to expand the academic offerings in Economics, both domestically and internationally. This includes the MAE Program as well as any designated sub-degrees, specializations, certificates, or other related credentials. Grounded in academic rigor and focused on practical impact, the proposed offerings align seamlessly with BFI’s mission and the University of Chicago’s legacy of bold, interdisciplinary thinking. This role includes close collaboration with faculty directors and Economics Department staff to grow enrollment, support student success, steward program budgets, and promote the program to prospective students. The Director ensures that the program meets UChicago standards, aligns with institutional goals, and provides students with a world-class education in economics. In addition, this leader works closely with the Dean of Students in the Social Sciences Division, University Director of Master’s Admissions, Academic and Faculty Services, Career Advancement Services, and Student Life, as well as the Chair of the Economics Department to set the direction and tone for designated academic initiatives. The Director participates actively in the overall leadership, serving as the day-to-day face of these initiatives for donors, supporters, as well as prospective and current students.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with the Directors of the MA programs in Economics to ensure the MAE and professional programming reflect the Economics Department’s curricular mission.
• Develops strategic management plans for the expansion of the MAE Program and leads execution for the ongoing success of other designated initiatives, working in close collaboration with the Director and Executive Director of BFI, University Director of Master’s Admissions, SSD Deans and Associate Deans, and Chair of the Economics Department.
• Visible to students, faculty, and other program administrators as the primary contact for all matters related to associated initiatives on strategies for growth and development.
• Proposes and provides strategies for a new suite of academic and professional programs designed to train students in rigorous applied economics, policy and data science.
• Proposes and provides strategies for new international programs abroad including developing collaborations and partnerships with governments and international institutions to provide local programming to international students both onsite and abroad.
• Executes and delivers the approved programs using practical considerations for launching, managing and scaling the programs in a phased and sustainable manner. Pilots then scales for expansion.
• Provides start-up strategies and oversite of dedicated administrative team to coordinate program delivery. This includes oversight and ownership of promotional webinars, events for recruitment, and close alignment with Admissions team to drive interest toward MAE and new credential programming.
• Establishes and advances networking with partners for student placement including, collaborations with government agencies, international institutions, and private sector partners; placement support through career services, internships, and alumni networks, such as SSD Partners; and applied projects with real-world stakeholders embedded in program design, connecting students to faculty.
• Responsible for risk and mitigation of faculty capacity constraints, differentiation from existing programs, and enrollment.
• Stays abreast of relevant worldwide business, alumni, and trends and issues, and has a deep understanding of the student experience at UChicago.
• Maintains and develops partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including industry leaders, alumni, and academic institutions.
• Serves as a champion for the academic programs to promote admissions efforts and grows the program while maintaining high-quality academic standards.
• This may include participating in information sessions or recruiting events, as well as coordinating post-admissions career engagement.
• Well-versed in the admissions process and timeline.
• Oversees, in close collaboration with Economics Student Affairs staff, events and promotion of the designated initiatives, with the aim of identifying and targeting prospective students through online platforms, and university events.
• Works closely with the BFI Director of Advancement to identify funding opportunities, engage prospective donors, and secure support for the MAE and credential/professional programs.
• Fosters a positive, inclusive, and collaborative learning environment for students.
• Develops and implements strategies for student engagement, retention, and success throughout their academic journey.
• Manages financial reporting and budgets to provide accurate accounting for expenses and revenue for BFI Director, Economics Chair, and SSD Dean, including forecasting expenses, allocating resources, and ensuring efficient use of financial assets.
• Works with University administration to ensure adequate resources are available to support faculty, students, and program needs.
• Represents designated initiatives in internal and external forums, including academic conferences, alumni events, and recruitment activities.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with key employers, organizations, and academic partners to support student placement and internships.
• Plans and develops program objectives and/or content.
• Researches and identifies trends and needs and establishes program directions accordingly.
• Develops and administers program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
• 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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Certifications: ---

Preferred Competencies

• Exceptional written and verbal communication, problem-solving, decision-making, client service, and cross-department collaboration skills.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills. Meet multiple external and internal deadlines.
• Proven ability to design and create new academic programming.
• Proven ability to create and track systems to report progress.
• History of effective collaboration with colleagues.
• Work effectively both with minimal supervision and as part of a work team.
• Understand the priorities and goals of the school.
• Proven ability to work discreetly with sensitive and confidential information.

Work Experience

Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Work Conditions

• This position is expected to work in the office.
• Work in person at the Becker Friedman Center on campus in Hyde Park.
• Work occasional evening and weekend hours.
• Hold Zoom meetings with stakeholders in the US and internationally.
• International and domestic travel.

Application Documents

Resume/CV (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 $120,000.00 - $135,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible Yes

• Benefits Eligible Yes

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.

University Information

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