Associate Director - AI for Weather

University of Chicago•Chicago, IL

70d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Data Science Institute's AI for Climate (AICE) research initiative seeks an Associate Director to support and advance the operational, programmatic, and people-management functions of the initiative. Reporting to the Director of AI for Weather, the Associate Director serves as a key operational leader responsible for the day-to-day execution of the initiative's research and administrative programs, team coordination, stakeholder engagement, and budget oversight. This role works closely with the Director to translate initiative-level strategy into concrete program plans and ensures that researchers, postdoctoral scholars, and administrative staff are well-supported in their work. The Associate Director exercises significant independent judgment and serves as a senior point of continuity for the initiative in the Director's absence. The role oversees program strategy, stakeholder engagement, and cross-institutional convening for one or more lead project efforts, while overseeing communications and providing higher-level continuity across the broader HCWF/AICE portfolio.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

PhD in a scientific, environmental, policy, or related field.
Progressive experience in program or research administration, science management, or a closely related field.
Experience in climate science, atmospheric science, AI/ML research, or adjacent scientific domains.
Demonstrated experience coordinating multi-institutional or interagency stakeholders, including funders, government partners, and/or collaborators.
Experience managing or contributing to program or project budgets.
Prior experience in an Associate Director or senior manager-level role in an academic, research, or science-policy environment.
Experience with international program coordination or cross-sector (academia–government–industry) partnership management.
Familiarity with the grant lifecycle, from proposal development through reporting and closeout.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives independently in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience drafting reports, briefings, or proposals for varied audiences.
High degree of professionalism and emotional intelligence; ability to build trust and collaborate across faculty, staff, and external partners.
Self-starter who can operate with significant independence in a complex administrative environment.
Strong analytical and organizational skills; attention to detail balanced with capacity for big-picture thinking.
Ability to manage multiple high-priority tasks simultaneously and under tight deadlines.
Commitment to an inclusive team culture and equitable people-management practices.
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with utmost discretion.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with project and grants management tools.

Responsibilities

Collaborates with the Director of AI for Weather to coordinate and execute the initiative's daily operations and program portfolio, translating strategic goals into actionable work plans.
Performs ongoing assessment of program organization and function; identifies operational gaps, recommends improvements, and implements solutions.
Leads and manages special projects or functions related to the research of the initiative, as assigned by the Director.
Oversees the initiative's communications and ensures senior-level continuity on administrative matters directly tied to active program work.
Assists the Director in overseeing hiring, performance evaluation, and professional development for initiative staff, in coordination with DSI HR and administrative leadership.
Supports and coordinates engagement with initiative sponsors, government partners, foundations, and international collaborators; serves as a programmatic point of contact for active projects.
Acts as a liaison between the AI for Climate initiative and other University departments, the Physical Sciences Division, and relevant compliance and sponsored research offices.
Monitors the AI for Climate initiative budget; provides the Director with regular financial updates, ensures spending is within approved limits, and makes budgetary recommendations.
Supports proposal development for grants and contracts; assists in preparing reports for funders and tracks grant deliverable timelines.
Coordinates action items and participants for scientific meetings; develops sufficient technical fluency in AI and climate topics to communicate effectively with researchers and external partners.
Develops and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria.
Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.
Has a deep understanding when interacting with faculty, researchers and staff for committee work or information.
Performs other related work as needed.