Director, Research Development
University of Chicago
Department
Climate Systems Engineering Research Initiatives
About the Department
Job Summary
Responsibilities
- Manages CSEi-funded research projects at UChicago. Develops relationships and communication strategies to encourage proposal submission; structures proposal review; monitors project budgets; engages in frequent substantive coordination between CSEi leadership and researchers with the goal of improving applied research outputs with midcourse adjustment of research plans; assists researchers in managing complex external contracts; supports researchers in raising external funding; develops synergies among projects and helps researchers to develop external collaborations. Most current projects listed here: https://climateengineering.uchicago.edu/research/.
- Manages grant/funding applications. Coordinates CSEi grant application preparation and submission, including developing timelines, organizing documentation, and ensuring compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements. Collaborates with Institute Senior Grants and Contracts Manager on budget preparation, sub awards, budget monitoring and updates. Advises CSEi leadership on adapting plans and priorities to address resource and operational challenges over the grant lifecycle; prepares reports to sponsors.
- Initiates and manages a variety of complex research contracts with engineering firms and vendors. Manages in-house engineers and research staff, is accountable for their performance and results, and develops plans for the team, guided by resource availability and CSEi objectives.
- Coordinates with researchers across UChicago to maximize the practical benefit of CSEi's funding for on-campus research.
- Manages the production of articles, reports and manuscripts. Presents research findings at meetings and/or conference.
- Collaborates with the communications team to disseminate research findings for public audiences and reports to donors.
- Works with external stakeholders in the climate engineering world to advance the field.
- Provides mentoring and support for students interested in applied research in climate systems engineering.
- Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates.
- Manages research professionals and support staff involved with planning, monitoring, and compliance aspects of research projects. Advises other researchers on long-range plans for research projects.
- Develops goals and operating procedures, practices, and guidelines for research activity based on department strategy.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience:
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualification
Education:
- PhD in climate science, engineering, or a related field.
Experience:
- Knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience, ideally research experience managing engineering and applied research tasks in an environment that mixes public (university or public research center) research with private (contractor or for-profit) research.
Preferred Competencies
- Lead complex, interdisciplinary research programs at the intersection of climate science, engineering, policy, and governance.
- Formulate long-term research strategies aligned with institutional and societal priorities in climate systems and emerging technologies.
- Demonstrated success in building and managing research programs, including supervising multidisciplinary teams, mentoring students, overseeing budgets, and setting clear goals and deliverables.
- Deep knowledge of climate and engineering, modeling, risk assessment, and/or climate intervention technologies, such as carbon removal, SRM, glacial interventions.
- Strong understanding of climate governance and the policy landscape surrounding climate intervention technologies.
- Capacity to navigate uncertainty and drive innovation in a rapidly evolving scientific and policy landscape.
- Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills, with an ability to synthesize complex technical topics for academic, policy, and public audiences.
- Facilitate collaboration across engineering, natural and social sciences, and humanities.
- Demonstrated sensitivity to the ethical, legal, and social implications of emerging climate technologies.
- Experience with and a commitment to stakeholder engagement in a research setting, especially regarding outdoor experiments.
- Track record of securing and managing research grants from public and/or private sources, identifying new funding opportunities, and cultivating partnerships to advance the mission of CSEi.
- Strong commitment to scientific rigor, transparency, reproducibility, and high standards of academic and professional ethics.
- Excellent management skills.
- Excellent computer skills.
- Excellent writing and communication skills.
Working Conditions
- In-person, office-based role on Hyde Park campus.
- Eligible for a partially remote work schedule.
Application Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter (required)
- Three Professional References Contact Information (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
Role Impact
Scheduled Weekly Hours
Drug Test Required
Health Screen Required
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
Pay Rate Type
FLSA Status
Pay Range
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
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 773-702-5800 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.
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