Director, STAGE Center Initiatives and Strategy

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 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 STAGE Center is seeking a Director, STAGE Center Initiatives and Strategy to help drive its next phase of growth. Reporting to the Faculty Director of STAGE, 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. This role will interface with diverse scientists, technology experts, and multidisciplinary artists across academia, industry, and the professional arts world.

Responsibilities

• Designs, implements, and manages the STAGE Center’s overall growth strategy, advancing its goals, promoting innovation and research, and strengthening its global profile.
• Strengthens and expands STAGE’s existing core partnerships, including key relationships with the National Science Foundation, the Chicago Quantum Exchange, Argonne National Laboratory, and international partners in Japan, France, and Belgium.
• Builds and maintains new partnerships with internal and external, national and international, people and entities, such as faculty, researchers, practitioners, institutions, federal agencies, foundations, philanthropic and other sponsors, and industry, to amplify and support STAGE’s work and cultivate new collaborations and initiatives.
• Directly supervises the Multimedia Specialist and Program Administrator and the STAGE Center Program Manager, setting clear goals, defining responsibilities, and ensuring strong alignment with the Center’s strategic priorities, programmatic needs, and operational objectives.
• Provides ongoing coaching, mentorship, and professional development for supervised staff, fostering growth in leadership, project execution, communications, and administrative effectiveness within a highly collaborative interdisciplinary environment.
• Oversees staff workflow, performance, and capacity across programmatic, operational, and communications functions; delegates responsibilities effectively, monitors progress on deliverables, and supports high-quality execution of multiple concurrent initiatives and events.
• Buys and sustains a collaborative, accountable, and inclusive team culture by conducting regular check-ins, facilitating cross-functional coordination, managing performance issues as needed, and creating opportunities for staff to contribute ideas and expand their roles in support of STAGE’s growth.
• Conducts research and landscape analyses to inform strategic direction, and identify opportunities to cultivate interest in and disseminate the Center’s work; then translates findings into actionable recommendations.
• Explores and identifies applicable grant and funding opportunities for growth and distribution of the Center’s work.
• Writes grant proposals, supporting materials, and other documentation as needed. Develops and administers project budgets, and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
• Manages and executes the Center’s high-profile events, on campus and off, nationally and internationally, in conjunction with the Center’s Program Manager and other staff, to bring them to successful fruition.
• Identifies and sources people, resources, venues, and materials needed to support STAGE’s unique projects and initiatives, and develops tailored solutions aligned with the vision and requirements of each.
• Develops and implements metrics to measure programming and funding outcomes, particularly in terms of impact.
• Identifies and implements new pathways to engage and recruit students of all levels and disciplines, and faculty from all disciplines, in STAGE’s projects.
• Designs and implements a yearly calendar of one-off activities with more focused scopes, such as symposia, readings, workshops, etc., to take place 4-6 times per year and curate appropriate marketing strategies to increase awareness of the Center’s work.
• Creates slides, reports, presentations, and similar communications to disseminate information about the Center’s mission and identity to key audiences, including funding agencies, sponsors, government officials, University administration, etc.; cultivates opportunities for presenting such communications.
• Works closely with campus partners and manages STAGE staff.
• Manages program operations and administrative functions which may include planning and scheduling, program evaluation, policy implementation, personnel administration, budget, marketing, fundraising and proposal development.
• Contributes to design of program content, policies and strategic planning efforts.
• Performs other work as needed.

Education

• Minimum Qualifications: 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in the sciences, engineering, or technology. Master’s degree or PhD a plus.
• Experience: Work experience in a multi-faceted research university environment, national laboratory, medical center, or similar environment. Demonstrated administrative leadership, including a minimum of three years experience involving multidisciplinary efforts. Proven track record in grantsmanship, including identifying funding opportunities, drafting proposals, and managing grants from foundations, federal agencies, or other funders. Prior experience producing large- and small-scale events, nationally and/or internationally, including coordinating with distributed teams across time zones. Demonstrated track record of developing strong relationships with academic researchers, government entities, and/or external partners. Managing staff and fostering high-performing, collaborative teams. Familiarity with art-science-technology intersections or interdisciplinary research is a strong plus.

Technical Skills Or Knowledge

• Proficiency utilizing a variety of 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, finance, databases, website, and graphic design.

Preferred Competencies

• Self-motivated and proactive, to work independently, take direction, build consensus, and maintain high standards of quality and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience with grant writing, reports, presentations, and polished work products. Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, to collaborate effectively, manage people, and work collegially with faculty, staff, and partners at all levels. Strategic, creative, and resourceful thinker who can navigate ambiguity, anticipate challenges, and develop effective solutions to complex problems. Adaptable, resilient, and professional under pressure, with a positive attitude and the ability to manage competing or changing priorities effectively. High cultural awareness and experience working across disciplines, sectors, and international contexts, with responsiveness to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.