Assistant Director of Operations

About the Department Department SSD Knowledge Lab Knowledge Lab (KLab) is an interdisciplinary research lab in the Social Science Division (SSD) of the University of Chicago working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, complex systems, computational science, and an emerging science of ideas and innovation. KLab collaborates with researchers globally and regularly publishes in Nature, Science, PNAS, NeurIPS, ICLR, ICML, and other leading venues. It is directed by Prof. James Evans, Max Palevsky Professor of Sociology and Data Science at UChicago. The lab cultivates a culture of curiosity, creative exploration, and improbable discovery. For instance, a current initiative – Chorus – is an AI Assistant for the lab that the Assistant Director could integrate with operational information and dashboards to address queries by all team members, onboard new staff, and help project managers keep track of finances and deliverables. Job Summary The role manages a broad range of business operations and academic activities. It develops and implements office procedures and policies, ensures compliance, prepares and monitors the budget for a unit, and serves as the operational backbone of the lab. The Assistant Director brings genuine enthusiasm for KLab’s research mission and organizational ambitions, and the creativity and judgment to take operational and administrative systems to a new level – automating what can be automated, solving problems that seem unsolvable, leveraging technology, and building new systems that enable the lab to move at the speed of discovery. The Assistant Director reports to and works most closely with the Director of Strategic Research & Lab Initiatives and supervises a part-time administrative assistant. Responsibilities Design organizational systems that are ideally invisible, partially automated, and continuously improving (e.g., building on KLab’s AI Virtual Assistant (Chorus) to automatically answer questions about lab operations and research). Take a systems perspective to operations: identify patterns in individual needs, develop organization-wide solutions, and create processes that get things done efficiently without generating unnecessary bureaucracy. Own the pipeline from needs to fast solutions, including keeping operational tickets organized and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Dig into operational challenges where others give up – using experience, good judgment and skill to identify institutional solutions to complex problems. Anticipate operational needs before they become problems, and develop proactive solutions without waiting for direction. Identify and implement automation opportunities for routine administrative tasks – including potential integration with KLab’s AI system (Chorus) – freeing researchers to focus more on discovery. Design and maintain automated financial reporting systems that provide real‑time visibility across multiple, complex grants to support daily resource allocation and staffing decisions. Monitor budgets, manage expenditures, and ensure compliance with grant and institutional requirements. Conduct basic analysis and visualization of operational and financial data to surface insights and drive continuous improvement. Partner with SSD offices to coordinate fast-paced onboarding of postdoctoral researchers, staff, students, and visiting scholars – navigating university systems and changing national immigration requirements proactively to compress timelines and ensure new members integrate smoothly. Maintain real‑time HR dashboards of people, contract renewal dates, visas, and onboarding/offboarding status, so the lab can act proactively and staff have foresight. Serve as the lab’s primary liaison to work with university partners on visa sponsorship, immigration issues, and support for the lab’s substantial international community. Serve as the lab’s primary operational point of contact for research proposals, coordinating across KLab researchers, department administrators, and the university’s pre‑ and post‑award offices for submissions that are complete and on time. Develop and maintain internal systems (e.g., integrated with Chorus) to give the team a real‑time overview of the lab’s grants: what’s in preparation, under review, awarded, and closing out. Manage post‑award operations in close collaboration with project managers: track spending against budgets, prepare financial reports, and flag issues before they become problems. Assist in communicating KLab’s research, teaching and service achievements internally and externally, including collaborating with the communications teams of SSD and the university. Draft and coordinate internal lab announcements and other communications that reflect KLab’s culture and voice. Provide operational supervision and support for KLab events and special initiatives (e.g., conferences, summer institutes, workshops). Manage the design of KLab’s Chorus AI Assistant from an operational perspective, e.g., by linking HR and financial dashboard information to Chorus and helping it answer administrative questions. Use best practices to develop and execute the organization’s operational and overall strategic plan. Develop and implement relevant policies and procedures and ensure compliance. Plan, develop, analyze and manage budget, including multi-year budget forecasts. May oversee the preparation and management of grant and contract proposals, ensuring compliance with all University, federal and private foundation guidelines and regulations. Develop financial reports and assist with seeking funding for grants. Work with minimal guidance in space, facilities, and equipment, including renovations, moves, maintenance and ongoing facilities operations. Perform other related work as needed. Minimum Qualifications Education: a college or university degree in a related field. Work Experience: 5–7 years of experience in a related job discipline. Preferred Qualifications Education: Master’s degree. Experience: 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in business, research, or academic operations and administration. Knowledge of operational and administrative processes related to finance, HR and planning. Facility with spreadsheets, reporting tools, and data visualization for operational decision support. Comfort learning and using new technologies, including AI‑enabled systems and workflow automation tools. Managerial experience. Excellent judgment in balancing creativity, compliance, and practicality. Preferred Competencies Systems thinker and designer: Takes a systems perspective and sees connections across people, processes, timelines, and resources. Self‑starter with top‑tier self‑organization: Demonstrates strong ownership, urgency, and follow‑through. Creative problem‑solver: Solves problems resourcefully and moves work forward in situations that may be ambiguous or evolving. Good communicator: Communicates clearly and professionally with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. Team player: Works independently while also contributing positively to a highly collaborative team. Builds trust through discretion, reliability, humility, and responsiveness. Embodies a research culture that values curiosity, experimentation, and continuous improvement. Benefits Eligible for benefits. Equal Opportunity Employer Statement The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination. Accommodation for Reasonable Accommodation Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call View phone number on click.appcast.io or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. #J-18808-Ljbffr University of Chicago (UC)