Assistant Director, Mindworks

Department

Booth CDR: Operations - Kwong

About the Department

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the U.S. and second to none when it comes to influencing business education and business practices. Since 1898, the school has produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Their rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education transforms students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges.

Chicago Booth has the finest set of facilities of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and one in Hong Kong) reflects the architectural traditions of its environs while offering a state-of-the-art learning environment.

Chicago Booth is proud to claim:
-an unmatched faculty.
-degree and open enrollment programs offered on three continents.
-a global body of nearly 56,000 accomplished alumni.
-strong and growing corporate relationships that provide a wealth of lifelong career opportunities.

As part of the world-renowned University of Chicago, Chicago Booth shares the University's core values that shape the distinctive intellectual culture. At Booth, they constantly question and test ideas, and seek proof. This extraordinarily effective approach to business leads to new ideas and innovative solutions. Seven of the Booth faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for these ideas - the first business school to achieve this accomplishment. For more information about the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, please visit:

Job Summary

The Assistant Director of Mindworks supports its Director in supervising operations and team management of the RFCDR Mindworks Labs, including management of Research Professionals / Lab Managers and Research Assistants who carry out research operations in the Mindworks Labs, and providing supervision of the operations, systems, and facilities that support research to be conducted in the lab by RFCDR-affiliated faculty, graduate students, and postdocs. The Assistant Director also creates and manages initiatives to support general operations, visitor engagement, outreach, and recruitment. This individual serves as a subject matter expert for behavioral science and has regular weekend duties.

Responsibilities

• Oversees, schedules, hires, and trains research assistants and research professionals who will conduct research with participants in the Mindworks lab.  Serves as a managerial point of contact for CDR lab staff.  Supports lab staff members' professional development, including managing check-ins with lab managers and research assistants, and assisting with training and development events for the CDR Labs team.
• Directs daily lab operations, including oversight of participant intake/consent procedures, organization and scheduling of daily studies conducted in the lab, maintenance of proper record-keeping of participant data and research management, as well as payment and incentives provided for participation.
• Directs the project management procedures for studies conducted in Mindworks by CDR-affiliated faculty, graduate students, and postdocs, ensuring the full scope of work for each managed study is carried out appropriately by research professionals and research assistants. Maintains excellent, timely communication regarding research operations with CDR faculty, students, postdocs, and staff.
• Serves as a subject matter expert for behavioral science to Mindworks visitors, and organizes and leads group visits.  Leads exhibit tours, and trains and oversees research assistants' engagement with visitors to the exhibits.  Schedules and organizes group visits to Mindworks. 
• Provides consulting for faculty, postdocs, and graduate students on their study designs, on issues including technical requirements, recruitment considerations, and ethics-related issues, to help optimize and troubleshoot research studies to be carried out in the CDR Labs. 
• Oversees the design and management of recruitment methods for specific demographic and population needs, engineering creative solutions to recruit participants into Mindworks as necessary, in coordination with the CDR Communications team and CDR lab managers.  Assists with recruitment and management of the CDR Virtual Lab, especially with regards to engagement of Mindworks visitors in the CDR Virtual Lab. 
• Keeps up to date with Institutional Review Board policy and ethical guidelines in human subjects' research, as well as state-of-the art methods and tools in behavioral science research.  Provides support and best-practice recommendations to CDR researchers related to these guidelines and policies.  Assists in updating the Mindworks operations IRB protocol as needed.
• Assists with procurement and reconciles research expenses using UChicago ePayment and GEMS online systems as necessary.
• Participates in CDR staff meetings to report, review, and discuss operational procedures and outcomes.  Assists in organizing and staffing CDR-sponsored events (Think Better lecture series, etc.) and other Center initiatives as needed.
• Develops and maintains productive relationships with organizational partners in support of the labs.  Maintains communications with partners, including all necessary reporting to partner organizations.
• Applies research principles and relevant subject matter knowledge relevant to administer a research project. With a moderate level of direction, manages lab and/or research-related duties and tasks. Helps develop, design and conduct research projects according to plan.
• Supports data collection and analytical needs of research projects. Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports and manuscripts. Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in the area of psychology, organizational behavior, or marketing.
• Master's degree.

Experience:

• Previous experience in managing research teams and research projects.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Familiarity with behavioral science research methods and at least two years of experience in conducting computer, web-based, and interpersonal interaction-based experiments.
• Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

Preferred Competencies

• Outstanding verbal, written, and presentation skills, as well as organizational skills.
• Work independently with little supervision; possess a self-motivated disposition; identify opportunities for improvement and recommend effective changes, all while achieving key objectives resulting in desired outcomes.
• Excellent strategic planning, critical thinking, analytical, and persuasion skills.
• Handle multiple detailed tasks/projects simultaneously and meet strict deadlines with frequent interruptions.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and diplomatically with colleagues, as well as with students, faculty and corporate contacts in a multitude of communication methods, including in person, email, and phone.
• Professional demeanor, including tact, discretion, and a customer service-oriented approach.

Working Conditions

• This position is currently expected to work in the office.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$58, $63,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

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.

Posting 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, or 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.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at:  Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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