Sr. Research Specialist - Teaching & Learning

University of Chicago • Chicago, IL

30d • $80,000 - $120,000

About The Position

The Senior Research Specialist Team Lead manages the design and delivery of effective educational experiences. This role collaborates closely with other teams to align curriculum, training methods, and learner needs. By combining instructional design expertise with people-centered leadership ensures that teaching and learning practices are engaging, effective, and accessible.

Requirements

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and coaching abilities.
• Strategic thinker who can balance innovation with consistency.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and LMS platforms.
• Prior supervisory or leadership experience.
• Organizational skills.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree.
• Expertise in instructional design, pedagogy, and adult learning.
• Knowledge in computational methods and statistical tools for the analysis of large-scale neural data.
• Knowledge of research regulatory policies and procedures.
• Instructional design, pedagogy, and adult learning.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and support for the Teaching & Learning Specialists.
• Develop and maintain SOPs for the team, reviewing and updating them regularly.
• Coach and train staff to strengthen instructional practices and professional growth.
• Collaborate with Training & Certification and IDEA teams to align curriculum and ensure consistency across learning initiatives.
• Work with the Technology & User Support Team to ensure course design aligns with technical delivery.
• Review and refine training content, applying adult learning principles and best practices.
• Resolve escalated issues related to training content or delivery.
• Provide updates and recommendations to leadership on teaching and learning strategies.
• Contribute to cross-team and organizational projects beyond core duties, including event logistics and process improvements.
• Experience leading jurisdiction-based training systems, supervising trainers, and supporting statewide adoption.
• Provides expertise to researchers on compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates.
• Provides expertise to researchers and research support staff. Oversees activities related to data collection and analysis.
• Leads the establishment of new laboratories and provides assistance with purchasing new laboratory equipment; ensuring efficient operation of laboratory, including overseeing maintenance and repair of laboratory equipment.
• Improves financial, personnel, planning, compliance and other administrative aspects of research project. Collaborates with other researchers on long-range plans for research projects. Leads, investigates, modifies and applies new procedures, techniques or applications of technology. Establishes goals and operating procedures, practices, and guidelines.
• 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: Mid Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees