Director, STAGE Center Partnerships and Strategy

Location: Chicago, IL

Department

PME STAGE Lab

About the Department

The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) is the first school in the nation dedicated to molecular engineering, and integrates science and engineering to address global challenges from the molecular level up. UChicago PME’s rigorous academic and research programs are enhanced through the University of Chicago’s unique partnership with Argonne and Fermi National Laboratories, and the broad excellence of scholarship and education on campus. In the next phase of growth as a School, PME will continue to expand its team of world-class faculty researchers and empower students from diverse backgrounds to collaborate with faculty in cutting-edge facilities. PME aims to bring solutions for urgent societal problems to the forefront, while training the next generation of scientific leaders and entrepreneurs.

Devoted to collaborations among scientists and artists, STAGE (Scientists, Technologists and Artists Generating Exploration) is a Center within the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. The Center’s distinct research merges scientific and artistic inquiry, often through the creation and development of new film, theatre, games, and other artistic endeavors inspired by science and technology. STAGE harnesses the power of storytelling, emotional engagement, and entertainment to translate complex scientific ideas into relatable human experience, promoting understanding of the sciences in the public arena through new forms of artistic expression.

Job Summary

The STAGE Center is seeking a Director, STAGE Center Initiatives and Strategy to help drive its next phase of growth. Reporting to the Faculty Director of STAGE, this position offers the opportunity to work with a talented team of motivated professionals to drive a uniquely creative interdisciplinary endeavor that fuses science and art. This role will interface with diverse scientists, technology experts, and multidisciplinary artists across academia, industry, and the professional arts world.

While STAGE leadership ultimately drives strategic long-term vision, the Director, STAGE Center Initiatives and Strategy, will execute strategic priorities and plans, develop and implement programmatic initiatives, and facilitate the Center’s growth and visibility. This includes, but is not limited to, cultivating new strategic initiatives, grants, and fundraising, and building strong relationships and partnerships with stakeholders, such as local and national leadership, faculty, and other internal and external partners.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with a great deal of initiative; they have a positive, proactive approach, and their goal will be to move STAGE’s ever-expanding portfolio of widely varying projects and initiatives, large and small, forward while ensuring that day-to-day operations run smoothly. They are accountable for the performance and results of STAGE staff through delegatory structures, with an equal willingness to personally take on tasks to make certain all are completed smoothly and to the highest standard. They will possess outstanding interpersonal skills and help foster a truly collaborative work environment.

Responsibilities

In alignment with STAGE’s Faculty Director, and grounded in a strong understanding of STAGE’s core methodologies, mission, and vision, designs, implements, and manages the STAGE Center’s overall growth strategy, advancing its goals, promoting innovation and research, and strengthening its global profile.

In collaboration with STAGE’s Faculty Director, strengthens and expands STAGE’s existing core partnerships, including key relationships with the National Science Foundation, the Chicago Quantum Exchange, Argonne National Laboratory, and international partners in Japan, France, and Belgium. Builds and maintains new partnerships with internal and external, national and international, people and entities, such as faculty, researchers, practitioners, institutions, federal agencies, foundations, philanthropic and other sponsors, and industry, to amplify and support STAGE’s work and cultivate new collaborations and initiatives.

Directly supervises the Multimedia Specialist and Program Administrator and the STAGE Center Program Manager, setting clear goals, defining responsibilities, and ensuring strong alignment with the Center’s strategic priorities, programmatic needs, and operational objectives.

Provides ongoing coaching, mentorship, and professional development for supervised staff, fostering growth in leadership, project execution, communications, and administrative effectiveness within a highly collaborative interdisciplinary environment.

Oversees staff workflow, performance, and capacity across programmatic, operational, and communications functions; delegates responsibilities effectively, monitors progress on deliverables, and supports high-quality execution of multiple concurrent initiatives and events.

Builds and sustains a collaborative, accountable, and inclusive team culture by conducting regular check-ins, facilitating cross-functional coordination, managing performance issues as needed, and creating opportunities for staff to contribute ideas and expand their roles in support of STAGE’s growth.

Conducts research and landscape analyses to 1) inform strategic direction, and 2) identify opportunities to cultivate interest in and disseminate the Center’s work; then translates findings into actionable recommendations.

Explores and identifies applicable grant and funding opportunities for growth and distribution of the Center’s work.

Writes grant proposals, supporting materials, and other documentation as needed. Develops and administers project budgets, and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.

Manages and executes the Center’s high-profile events, on campus and off, nationally and internationally, in conjunction with the Center’s Program Manager and other