Assistant Director, STAGE Initiatives and Operations

About the Department

The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) is the first school in the nation dedicated to molecular engineering, integrating 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, 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.

Devoted to collaborations among scientists and artists, STAGE (Scientists, Technologists and Artists Generating Exploration) is a Center within the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. The Center’s distinct research merges scientific and artistic inquiry, often through the creation and development of new film, theatre, games, and other artistic endeavors inspired by science and technology. STAGE harnesses the power of storytelling, emotional engagement, and entertainment to translate complex scientific ideas into relatable human experience, promoting understanding of the sciences in the public arena through new forms of artistic expression.

About the Role

The STAGE Center and its ambitious and dynamic endeavors are seeking an Assistant Director of STAGE Initiatives & Operations to help drive its next growth phase. Reporting to the Faculty Director of STAGE, the Assistant Director will serve as the key administrative leader, continuously developing, enhancing, and effectively steering and executing STAGE’s operations. This position offers the opportunity to work with a talented team of motivated professionals to drive a uniquely creative interdisciplinary endeavor that fuses science and art, and to interface with diverse scientists, technology experts, and multidisciplinary artists across academia, industry, and the professional arts world.

While the Faculty Director ultimately drives the strategic long-term vision, the Assistant Director will implement that vision from the ground up by taking a great deal of initiative; this may include defining delegatory structures, developing processes, and actively participating in executing operational tasks. The successful candidate will have a boots-on-the-ground approach, helping move STAGE’s ever-expanding portfolio of widely varying projects and initiatives forward while ensuring day-to-day operations run smoothly. They will facilitate the Center’s growth, including new strategic initiatives, grants, fundraising, building strong relationships with stakeholders, program and project management, and day-to-day operations.

Responsibilities

• Understand and implement STAGE’s vision, goals, and processes as a Center and as outlined by each endeavor’s creative director. Lead STAGE’s administrative and operational functions accordingly.
• Identify and fill existing gaps and new gaps as they arise during projects. Research and source people, places, things, etc., and generate solutions needed to fulfill the varying requirements of STAGE’s unique projects and endeavors, according to the vision of each.
• Help review and revise project timelines for projects and events.
• Research, identify, build, and maintain new and existing partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, science and art researchers, practitioners, institutions, funding agencies, foundations, and industry to support existing projects and foster new collaborations and initiatives.
• Research applicable grant opportunities, strategic and creative partners, and avenues for distribution of the Center’s work. Draft grant proposals, supporting materials, and other documentation as needed.
• Produce the Center’s events, on campus and off, nationally and internationally, in conjunction with the Center’s Program Manager, to bring them to successful fruition.
• Develop and implement metrics to measure programming and funding outcomes, particularly in terms of impact.
• Identify and implement new ways to engage PME, UChicago students of all levels and disciplines, and faculty from all disciplines, in STAGE’s projects.
• Conduct research and landscape analyses, with input from project creative directors and in line with STAGE’s vision, mission, and work processes, to provide input on strategic directions and find avenues to cultivate interest in and disseminate the Center’s work; translate findings into actionable items.
• Program and implement a yearly calendar of one-off activities with focused scopes, such as symposia, readings, and workshops, to take place 4-6 times per year, and curate appropriate marketing strategies to increase awareness of the Center’s work.
• Create slides, reports, presentations, and similar communications to disseminate information about the Center’s mission and identity; draft materials for key audiences, including funding agencies, sponsors, government officials, and University administration; cultivate opportunities for presenting such communications.
• Develop and administer project budgets, and recommend or make budgetary recommendations.
• Serve as a key resource for program information. Resolve problems or questions raised by program staff, University administrators, or other contingencies.
• Promote the organizational culture, fostering a commitment to STAGE’s mission, high standards, excellent work, and a collaborative, inclusive, interdisciplinary, and multicultural work environment.
• Work closely with campus partners and manage STAGE staff.
• Develop and communicate program priorities and performance standards and assess operations using these criteria. Plan and conduct quality assurance reviews and recommend changes as appropriate.
• Interact effectively with faculty, researchers, and staff for committee work or information.
• Perform other work as needed.

Requirements

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in a related field.
• Knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in the sciences, engineering, or technology. Master’s degree or PhD a plus.
• Working experience in a complex research university environment, national laboratory, medical center, or similar environment.
• Demonstrated administrative leadership experience, including a minimum of three years involving multidisciplinary efforts.
• Successful track record in grantsmanship and manuscript preparation.
• Prior experience in event management and planning for large- and small-scale productions/venues. Experience maintaining event details with an international team asynchronously and across varied time zones.
• Demonstrated track record of developing strong relationships with academic researchers, government entities, and/or external partners.
• Demonstrated record of working collaboratively and communicating effectively with a variety of constituencies.

Skills

• Proficiency utilizing collaborative software platforms, such as Microsoft Office suite, Adobe Creative Suite, Zoom, and Box. Prior experience in developing processes and filing systems that leverage the dynamic elements of these tools in project planning, budget-creation, etc.
• Skilled at learning new software systems, such as project management, financial, databases, website, and graphic design.
• Demonstrate a high degree of initiative and motivation as a self-starter and learner; work independently, take direction, and achieve consensus.
• Exceptional attention to detail, clarity, and refinement in communications and work products.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including grant writing, report writing, and presentations.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills; collaborative, enthusiastic, diplomatic, and flexible; high level of collegiality working with faculty, staff, and others at all levels of the organization.
• Manage uncertainty and develop effective solutions.
• Expertise in project planning and management, including crafting and adapting multiparty work plans. Skilled in tracking tasks and ensuring their completion.
• Effectively manage and prioritize multiple competing, high-impact tasks to optimal benefit during high-demand periods. Demonstrate agility and resilience when faced with unexpected changes in priorities.
• Anticipate and solve a range of complex problems; work assignments are broad and can be challenging in nature, requiring creativity, originality, and ingenuity.
• Proven record of accomplishment as a strong, strategic thinker who approaches challenges with thoughtfulness and drive, and urgency, when appropriate.
• Remain calm, courteous, and good-humored, and work productively and efficiently despite challenges and competing and/or changing priorities; must have a positive, can-do attitude.
• Manage people and work collaboratively and effectively within a team; lead administratively and organizationally, while also enjoying being the boots on the ground and executing.
• Respond promptly, directly, and effectively to internal and external inquiries and requests for service, while managing competing demands.
• Manage and forecast budgets responsibly.

Schedule

The position may involve an irregular work schedule. Evening and weekend work, and flexibility of work hours and availability is needed.

Pay

$95,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year.

Benefits

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.