University of Chicago was looking for a Director for Outlier Research & Evaluation

Department PSD Data Science: Research Cadre About the Department The Data Science Collaborative at the University of Chicago was established to bolster emerging initiatives in computational research across the institution. The team within the Data Science Collaborative supports the academic community's shared vision and foundational principles that distinguish the University as a premier intellectual environment. Collaborating with academic leadership, the Data Science Collaborative provides opportunities, infrastructure, and resources that empower scholars to pursue exceptional research. Job Summary The Data Science Collaborative (DSC) is recruiting an exceptionally qualified Research Director for Innovative Assessment to spearhead the organization's computational education research and evaluation portfolio. Reporting to the Senior Director of Research Strategy, the Research Director will supervise a team of research professionals who collaboratively design, execute, and disseminate high-caliber computational education research and evaluation initiatives. Responsibilities encompass developing and managing grant programs, cultivating institutional and external research partnerships, and expanding the national influence of DSC's educational research endeavors. The role focuses on positioning the DSC as a premier computational education research center by securing substantial external funding, establishing robust university-wide collaborations, and enhancing visibility through targeted research programs. This performance-based position is entirely funded through renewable contractual grants, with employment contingent upon continued funding and satisfactory performance. Responsibilities • Provide strategic intellectual leadership for innovative research and evaluation in computational education • Lead rigorous research studies as principal or co-investigator, contributing actively to study design, analysis, and communication • Manage and supervise research professionals involved in project planning, implementation, monitoring, and compliance • Ensure research adheres to human subjects research protocols, managing IRB compliance, data protection, and ethical practices • Develop and maintain strong relationships with faculty, research partners, and stakeholders • Collaborate with faculty and staff to create evaluation and research proposals for grant acquisition • Identify and prioritize opportunities to expand research impact • Recruit and manage staff to achieve research objectives • Oversee administrative, financial, and reporting activities ensuring institutional and sponsor compliance • Secure external research funding • Review and potentially conduct specialized research • Edit and approve academic articles, reports, and manuscripts • Present research findings at professional conferences • Manage research processes in various settings • Utilize computational tools for data storage, processing, and analysis • Execute additional related tasks as required Minimum Qualifications Education: University degree in relevant field Work Experience: 7+ years of professional experience in related discipline Preferred Qualifications Education: PhD or equivalent degree Experience: • 10+ years progressively responsible research experience • 3+ years specialized computational education research • Principal investigator experience on externally funded projects • Program evaluation leadership • Demonstrated grant acquisition and manuscript preparation expertise Preferred Competencies • Leadership of interdisciplinary research teams • Strong analytical and organizational capabilities • Exceptional time management skills • Superior written and verbal communication • Analytical problem-solving expertise • Diplomatic interaction with diverse partners • Intellectual leadership in educational research • Comprehensive understanding of research methodologies and ethical practices Application Documents • Resume/CV (required) • Cover Letter (required) Job Family: Research Role Impact: People Manager Weekly Hours: 37.5 Pay Range: $117,000 - $135,000 Benefits Eligible: Yes Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diverse and inclusive hiring practices.