Executive Director

University of Chicago • Austin, TX

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The job manages a broad range of business operations and academic activities. Develops and implements office procedures and policies and ensures compliance. Prepares and monitors the budget for a unit. The Chicago Center for Computational Social Science (C3S2) — informally known as "the Cube" — is a new strategic initiative within UChicago's Division of the Social Sciences. C3S2 consolidates the University's diverse CSS programs (MACSS, the CSS Ph.D. certificate, the undergraduate CSS minor, CSDS, and the CSS Workshop) into a single hub spanning 20+ departments and labs, organized around three core arms: Research, Education, and Engagement. Its dual mission is to advance social science through computation and to examine AI and computation as social phenomena in their own right. More information and Cube website. The Executive Director (ED) is responsible for all operational aspects of C3S2, translating an ambitious intellectual vision into institutional reality. The ED is charged with generating and overseeing a diversified financial portfolio — external grants (donors, philanthropic foundations, NSF, NIH, DoD/DoE), industry partnerships, and indirect cost recovery — with a five-year goal of full self-sufficiency. Working closely with Faculty Co-Directors James Evans (Knowledge Lab) and Marc Berman (Environmental Neuroscience Lab), the Executive Committee, and an External Advisory Board, the ED serves as the Center's primary operational strategist, fundraiser, external liaison, and community builder across the social sciences and other divisions and units. The Executive Director will also be subject to oversight and maintain a reporting relationship with the Dean’s Office through the Chief of Staff/Associate Dean.

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

• Master's or Ph.D. in a social science, computational field, or related area strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with the intellectual landscape of computational social science — including AI, large-scale data methods, and their intersection with social theory — is a significant advantage.
• Five years in research administration, center management, or academic program leadership of comparable scope and complexity, with demonstrated experience in sponsored program administration (federal and private foundation grants).
• Track record in fundraising and partnership development with industry, government agencies, or foundations.
• Three years of supervisory experience.
• Background working in or alongside interdisciplinary research environments spanning social and computational sciences.
• Facility with research administration systems and computational environments.
• Strategic thinker who can translate bold intellectual vision into concrete plans and measurable outcomes.
• Exceptional communicator — equally fluent with faculty, foundation officers, government partners, and students.
• Strong independent judgment and comfort with ambiguity.
• Genuine curiosity about computation, social science, and the questions at their intersection.

Responsibilities

• Leads and implements fundraising strategy with donors, philanthropic foundations, and public funders (e.g. NSF, NIH, DoD/DoE).
• Partners with faculty and MACSS co-directors on developing annual priorities and a three-year implementation roadmap.
• Develops industry and civic partnerships through sponsored research agreements, data-sharing MOUs, and fellows-in-residence programs.
• Advises Social Science Division leadership on computational needs of affiliates.
• Manages C3S2's signature events — colloquia and workshop series, a summer institute (with SISRM and SICSS), open house, and annual capstone activities related to AI.
• Manages cross-disciplinary research initiatives and co-mentored student projects.
• Supports MACSS professors in the launch of the new undergraduate CSS major, expanded MACSS tracks, doctoral CSS certificate, GIScience Minor, and possible partial or complete overseas (e.g. Hong Kong, Beijing) versions of UChicago degrees.
• Oversees financial management across all revenue streams.
• Builds a unified C3S2 identity through a coordinated web portal, online engagement with digital and AI tools, events calendar, and a new newsletter and working-paper series.
• Manages communications for C3S2 and elevates news of affiliates.
• Manages C3S2’s daily operations.
• Facilitates leadership review by the Advisory Committee.
• Coordinates the External Advisory Board.
• Uses best practices to develop and execute organization's operational and overall strategic plan.
• Develops and implements relevant policies and procedures and ensures compliance.
• Works with minimal guidance in space, facilities, and equipment, including renovations, moves, maintenance and ongoing facilities operations.
• Performs other related work as needed.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees