Operations Architect for AI-Driven Research Lab

University of Chicago; United States; On-site; USD 86,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

University of Chicago’s Knowledge Lab seeks an experienced Assistant Director of Operations to modernize lab operations and automate processes. You will lead budgeting, reporting, and cross‑functional coordination to support researchers and staff.

The role emphasizes strategic planning, automation, and proactive problem solving, with collaboration across SSD and university partners to manage visas and post‑award activities for a diverse, international team.

Qualifications

• Education: college or university degree in related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years of related work experience.
• Master’s degree preferred; strong project management and administration background.

Responsibilities

• Design and refine operational systems, workflows, and dashboards.
• Monitor budgets, expenditures and ensure grant compliance.
• Coordinate onboarding, visas, and post-award processes with university offices.
• Produce real-time financial and HR reporting for lab leadership.
• Partner with SSD and university teams to support research operations.

Skills

Systems thinking

Strong communicator

Self-starter

Creative problem-solver

Team player

Discretion & reliability

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

AI-enabled systems

Workflow automation tools

Job description

University of Chicago’s Knowledge Lab seeks an experienced Assistant Director of Operations to modernize lab operations and automate processes. You will lead budgeting, reporting, and cross‑functional coordination to support researchers and staff.

The role emphasizes strategic planning, automation, and proactive problem solving, with collaboration across SSD and university partners to manage visas and post‑award activities for a diverse, international team.