Department

Harris International Partnerships & Executive Education

About the Department

Policy with real impact doesn’t evolve from ideology or intuition, or even experience. At the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy developing effective public policy is a science, based on data and measurable impact.

Addressing today’s interconnected, global challenges requires rigorous inquiry. It also requires innovative people who will face the facts, gather data, and understand why current policies exist to improve them.

For more than thirty years, the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy has been steadfastly committed to serving society by advancing analysis- and evidence-informed policy. Guided by this exacting mission, our community of 60 tenure-track scholars, more than 1,200 students, and more than 6,000 alumni from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors are taking on the world’s most important problems by using the latest tools of social science.

The second-largest professional school at the University of Chicago and home to one of its largest undergraduate majors, Harris Public Policy offers a full range of degree and executive education programs that empower serious-minded and aspiring leaders from more than 40 countries each year. Harris is the academic home to 20 research centers, institutes, and labs that study and engage with the public on areas such as conflict, democracy and effective government, economic and political development, education, energy and environment, health, municipal finance, public safety, social policy, and urban policy.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director of Partnerships and Credential Programs, the Assistant Director of Custom Programs supports faculty-led initiatives, develops and implements credential and custom programs, and contributes to the strategic goals of Harris School’s non-degree portfolio. This role requires strong analytical, coordination, and communication skills. The ideal candidate brings solid professional experience in stakeholder engagement, program development and operations with experience in academic and executive education settings. Depending on the program needs, the person may manage a group of student workers and teaching assistants as well.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key point of coordination for Harris faculty, particularly the Faculty Director for Strategic Initiatives. Provide administrative and project support, including scheduling meetings, organizing travel, and managing faculty calendars.
• Attend meetings with faculty leadership; document key discussion points, synthesize information, and draft proposals, action plans, and follow-up communications.
• Prepare and edit high-quality materials such as presentations, reports, and briefing documents for internal and external use.
• Conduct market research on trends and best practices in adult learning, executive education, and credential programs to inform program design and business development efforts.
• Support the design of new programs by drafting concept notes, developing module structures, and compiling relevant data and benchmarking information.
• Collaborate with UChicago faculty, clients, and vendors to design learner-centered programs delivered in various formats (in-person, online, hybrid).
• Assist in building and maintaining external relationships with partners in Asia and the Middle East—including government entities, foundations, and universities—by preparing outreach materials, tracking engagements, and supporting follow-up communications.
• Coordinate logistics and implementation of credential and custom programs, including program planning, scheduling, and stakeholder communication.
• Support budget tracking and reporting, working with finance partners to monitor expenses, revenue, and forecasts.
• Manage the participant and faculty experience, including orientation, course scheduling, Canvas site setup, TA/student worker oversight, and feedback collection.
• Analyzes program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
• Has moderate/high levels of interactions with faculty, researchers and staff for committee work or information.
• 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:

• Master Degree from Harris Public Policy strongly preferred.

Experience:

• Related program management experience in an educational setting.

• Experience with the University of Chicago or other peer institutions, and/or student-facing experiences strongly preferred.

• Experience within one or more of the functions such as program design, partnership development, marketing, student advising, curriculum design strongly preferred.

• Experience within one or more of the sectors in China such as non-profit, for-profit, academia, government strongly preferred.

Preferred Competencies

• Result-driven mindset and workstyle.

• Great attention-to-detail level and multi-tasking ability.

• Strong self-management and accountability.

• Strong student service mentality.

• Agile communication style and active listening skills to work with different stakeholders.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

Job Family

Administration & Management

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

$65,000.00 - $71,500.00

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 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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