Department

BSD MED - Center for Health and the Social Sciences - Administration

About the Department

The Center for Health and the Social Sciences (CHeSS) provides the infrastructure to advance interdisciplinary research and training in health and social sciences at the University of Chicago. Housed under the Dean of the Biological Sciences Division's office, the Center attracts participation from across the University, including the Biological Sciences Division and Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM), the Center for Healthcare Delivery Science and Innovation (HDSI) at UChicago Medicine, Social Sciences Division, Physical Sciences Division, Business School, Harris School of Public Policy, Law School, Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, National Opinion Research Center (NORC), and Argonne National Labs. The Center supports and promotes innovation and collaboration as well as excellence in research, scholarship, and training. With over 130 faculty associates from virtually all schools and divisions of the University, CHeSS serves as an incubator of ideas and supporter of research in health and the social sciences, sponsors seminars and workshops on campus, invites nationally-known scholars and policymakers to speak on a variety of topics, supports the writing and submission of grant applications and fundraising proposals, coordinates new research initiatives and projects, manages several training programs, and provides expert research methods consultation during formative and operational phases of investigations.

Job Summary

The Center for Health and the Social Sciences (CHeSS) is seeking an Associate Director of Research Training Programs and Communications. Reporting to the CHeSS Executive Director, the Associate Director will oversee a portfolio of CHeSS-sponsored programs with a high degree of independence and support the design, day-to-day administration, and quality improvement for new and existing initiatives, which include federally and privately funded research training programs that target trainees at the predoc, postdoc, and junior faculty levels. The Associate Director will collaborate with faculty and staff in the BSD and other University units to develop grant proposals, grant renewals, progress reports, and training program curricula; facilitate trainee-facing events; lead program evaluation efforts; and provide oversight for grant compliance. This role will also work with the Executive Director to lead the center’s communication strategy and may help manage research activities for CHeSS and its partners.

Responsibilities

Lead quality improvement for the recruitment, selection, appointment, and onboarding of trainees.

Track trainees’ progress and administer learning plans.

Manage day-to-day operations, including scheduling and staffing training events and advisory board meetings.

Recruit speakers for workshops and conferences.

Collaborate with faculty leaders on the development of didactic curricula and experiential training opportunities for training programs.

Lead the design and implementation of program evaluation efforts.

Develop strategies for and lead implementation of alumni tracking and engagement.

Collaborate with faculty and staff on the development, preparation, and submission of new training grant proposals, competitive renewals, and progress reports.

Monitor compliance of training grants and programs with respect to the relevant divisional, institutional, and state/federal policies.

Support health communication research activities.

Manage center wide communication efforts, including the Center website, social media, and newsletter.

Lead the recruitment of trainees and dissemination of research through CHeSS’ e-newsletter, website, social media, and other channels.

Ensure compliance of communications with University standards and policies.

Supervise part-time staff who support execution of CHeSS training programs and communications strategy.

Support development of CHeSS’ research capabilities in health communication and educational program evaluation.

Work with partners and stakeholders across campus to advance research, education, and communications at the intersection of health and the social sciences.

Collaborate with faculty to design and lead new and ongoing workshops and events such as the Collaborative for Innovation in Data and Measurement on Aging (CIDMA) Institute.

Manage and oversee research project(s) in collaboration with affiliated CHeSS faculty from the Pritzker School of Medicine and other departments across the University of Chicago, ensuring alignment with project goals and timelines.

Lead the development, implementation, and/or maintenance of standardized research databases such as REDCap and Qualtrics, including user training, data quality assurance, and troubleshooting.

Coordinate and ensure the timely completion of comprehensive annual NIH research reports (e.g., RPPR and RMR) in partnership with principal investigators, adhering to federal guidelines and institutional requirements.

Support data analysis to support research objectives, including data cleaning, statistical analysis, and interpretation of results, under the guidance of research PIs and analytical support.

Contribute to scholarly dissemination efforts, including drafting and editing manuscripts for peer-reviewed publications and preparing abstracts, posters, and presentations for academic conferences.

Coordinate and lead regular meetings among the research team, internal stakeholders, and external advisory boards, facilitating effective communication, progress updates, and strategic planning to advance research objectives.

Collaborates with internal and external professionals to create new programs and enhance existing ones. This job is also responsible for evaluating the program curriculum, policies, and procedures.

Typically review work of and serve as a resource to program support staff and program instructors.

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 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Advanced degree in a health, education, or social sciences related field.

Experience:

Experience in educational programming or research administration in a university setting.

Experience with grant or other forms of academic writing and grant compliance.

Experience with program design, implementation, and evaluation, project management, and curriculum development.

Experience in internal and external communications, including but not limited to marketing and recruitment. Programs and software used may include WordPress, MailChimp, Adobe, and CRM software.

Preferred Competencies

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Independent resourcefulness and ability to learn on the job.

Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet deadlines.

Ability to think creatively, problem solve, and proactively identify solutions.

Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders from various disciplines and knowledge bases.

Content expertise in health services or health sciences research and/or education.

Application Documents

Resume (required)

Cover Letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Academic Affairs

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

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$69,000.00 - $99,000.00

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

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, 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.

 

Staff 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.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

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.

 

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