Director, Strategic Research and Innovation Partnerships and Chief of Staff

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) seeks a strategic, collaborative and highly organized leader to serve as Director, Strategic Research and Innovation Partnerships and Chief of Staff to the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR).

Reporting directly to the VCR, this senior leadership role helps drive the vision, priorities and institutional impact of the research enterprise. Acting on behalf of the VCR, the Director provides strategic leadership and operational coordination across the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR), ensuring alignment and execution of high-priority initiatives that advance research growth, innovation, entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Director serves as a trusted advisor and key integrator across the university’s research ecosystem, facilitating partnerships and initiatives that strengthen institutional competitiveness and elevate the university’s national and global research profile.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Salary: The budgeted salary range for the position is $150,000 - $175,000. The final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications and budget constraints.

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Enterprise Execution

• Partner with the VCR and OVCR leadership to shape and advance strategic priorities that strengthen the university’s research and innovation enterprise through coordination of different office and staff within OVCR.
• Drive external partnerships for the execution of high-impact initiatives aligned with institutional goals, research growth and innovation priorities.
• Drive programs within the university to unify, centralize, strengthen research and entrepreneurship across campus.
• Monitor progress and outcomes, ensuring accountability and measurable impact.

Operational & Organizational Effectiveness

• Lead cross-functional coordination of OVCR initiatives, ensuring alignment, efficiency and timely delivery of strategic objectives.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and enhance service delivery across research, innovation and entrepreneurship support functions.

Executive Communications & Strategic Messaging

• Coordinate Research Communication Director in the development of high-impact internal and external communications on behalf of the VCR, including presentations, reports, briefing materials and external messaging.
• Coordinate Research Communication Director to ensure consistent, strategic messaging that elevates institutional research and innovation priorities and accomplishments.

Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent the OVCR in high-level partnerships across campus and with external stakeholders, including academic units, research centers, government agencies, corporate/industry partners, national laboratories and peer institutions, national and international.
• Facilitate collaboration that expands research capacity, funding opportunities and interdisciplinary initiatives.

Decision Support & Strategic Analysis

• Synthesize complex data, trends and policy developments to inform executive decision-making.
• Provide strategic insights on research funding landscapes, institutional positioning, and emerging opportunities.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in a biomedical or STEM discipline or closely related field with strong scientific literacy.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in strategic planning, operations or research administration within a research-intensive environment.
• Exceptional organizational, project management, scientific and proposal writing and executive communication skills.
• Proven ability to navigate complex organizations and build high-impact partnerships.
• Experience preparing executive-level communications, presentations, and reports.
• Ability to lead through influence and collaborate across diverse stakeholders, including the engagement of university students in the missions of research, entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Familiarity with university-based workforce development programs to work with faculty and learners at all levels within the university student body.
• Ability to work collaboratively, with social skills and EQ.

Preferred Attributes

• Experience in higher education administration, scientific and proposal writing, research development or research enterprise leadership.
• Track record of leading enterprise-wide initiatives and strategic transformations.
• Strong analytical and systems-thinking skills with the ability to translate complexity into actionable strategy.
• Familiarity with federal research funding, compliance environments and interdisciplinary research and industry initiatives.