Assistant Director for Research Collaboration and Public Engagement

University of Illinois Chicago•Chicago, IL

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director for Research Collaboration and Public Engagement advances the mission of the Great Cities Institute (GCI) at the University of Illinois Chicago by strengthening collaboration, research dissemination, and institutional coordination across academic, civic, and community partners. Under the direction of Institute leadership, this role supports initiatives connecting applied research with policy, practice, and public engagement, and helps build collaborative research capacity across academic units, government agencies, and community organizations. The position supports collaborative research initiatives and partnerships; conducts and co-leads applied qualitative and quantitative research; leads dissemination of GCI research through reports, policy briefs, multimedia storytelling, digital platforms, and public events; and translates complex research into accessible formats. It also develops faculty engagement programming, coordinates cross-campus collaborations and interdisciplinary working groups, and leads a two-way Collaborative Exchange between GCI and UIC units. The role strengthens university-community partnerships and may perform other related duties or participate in special projects as assigned.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Public Administration, Sociology, or a closely related field.
At least three years of experience in applied research, community-engaged scholarship, program coordination, or partnership development within academic, nonprofit, government, or policy research environments.
Experience designing and conducting qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods research, including data analysis and preparation of applied research reports, policy briefs, or scholarly publications.
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral-level training in Social Work, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Sociology, or a related field.
Demonstrated research expertise in interorganizational collaboration, collaborative governance, or cross-sector partnerships, particularly in urban policy, community development, or public-sector contexts.
Demonstrated experience translating research into accessible public-facing formats, including reports, digital media, visual communication, multimedia storytelling, or community-oriented knowledge dissemination.
Experience in interdisciplinary research environments or university-based research institutes, collaborating with faculty, community organizations, and public-sector partners on applied research initiatives.

Responsibilities

Support the design, implementation, and evaluation of collaborative research initiatives aligned with GCI program areas and research clusters.
Conduct and co-lead applied qualitative and quantitative research related to interorganizational collaboration, participatory governance, and community partnerships.
Facilitate and sustain collaborative relationships among university researchers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community-based partners.
Contribute to research partnerships, grant proposals, and funding strategies that strengthen collaborative research capacity.
Lead dissemination of GCI research through reports, policy briefs, multimedia storytelling, digital platforms, and public events.
Translate research findings, datasets, and policy analyses into accessible formats for policymakers, practitioners, community partners, and the public.
Coordinate visual, digital, and narrative communication strategies to enhance the reach and impact of GCI research initiatives.
Support development of public-facing research outputs highlighting GCI’s contributions to urban policy, community development, and regional planning.
Develop the Institute’s faculty engagement program.
Coordinate and mediate cross-campus collaborations, connecting UIC faculty with GCI initiatives, lecture series, collaborative research projects, and community-engaged scholarship opportunities.
Establish and facilitate interdisciplinary faculty working groups aligned with GCI research clusters.
Design and lead a bi-directional Collaborative Exchange between GCI and UIC units, integrating GCI researchers into campus centers, initiatives, and academic programs and connecting UIC faculty and partners to GCI projects and research clusters.
Strengthen university-community partnerships through institutional engagement strategies and support the development, alignment, and sustainability of collaborations between UIC units and external partners.
Position GCI as a central hub for relationship-building, communication, and project coordination.
Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.