Program Director Jobs in Chicago, IL

Department

SIP Polsky Exchange - Administration

About the Department

The Polsky Center’s mission is to advance innovative ideas and technologies from the University of Chicago ecosystem to the world. Through education, resources, and programs, the Polsky Center commercializes discoveries, partners with companies, and attracts venture capital. The Polsky Center runs a top-ranked business accelerator, the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge; operates a multi-disciplinary co-working space called the Polsky Exchange; and manages the George Shultz Innovation Fund that invests in early-stage ventures. Finally, the Polsky Center houses the University of Chicago’s technology transfer unit, which manages all University-based intellectual property originating from faculty research and discoveries that can be licensed to industry partners and investors.

The Polsky Exchange is a 21,000 square-foot, multi-disciplinary co-working space and small business incubator. Through the Polsky Exchange and the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Polsky Exchange, local business owners gain access to experienced advisors, educational programs, and a network of resources designed to strengthen operations, expand opportunities, and build long-term success. Members include business owners and innovators in the community, as well as UChicago students, faculty, and staff who are actively working on entrepreneurial ventures or involved in Polsky Center programs. The Polsky Exchange is located on Hyde Park’s vibrant 53rd Street corridor and open for member co-working and programming five days a week.

Job Summary

This role manages academic, research, clinical or administrative programs.

Responsibilities

• Directly advises and trains small business clients, assisting businesses in developing growth strategies, performing financial reviews, making recommendations using organizational tools/templates for business plans, developing sales and marketing strategies, and other business functions.
• Hires and manages a team of 2-10 SBDC advisors, depending on available funding.
• Assists small businesses in solving problems in all areas that support small business growth and expansion, innovation, and increased productivity.
• Identifies high-impact client prospects to initiate and complete advising and achieve metrics required by the grant, including facilitating access to capital, supporting new business starts, job creation and retention, and other key performance indicators determined by the State of Illinois.
• Manages CRM activity, including but not limited to, creating client profiles, organizing client files, ensuring advisors enter advising hours accurately, outreach to inactive members, and reporting on metrics to the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, following standard reporting procedures and meeting monthly goal.
• Plans and coordinates programs and activities consistent with the goals and objectives of the Illinois Small Business Development Center.
• Cultivates and maintains relationships with community groups, agencies, educational institutions, and businesses, especially other SBDCs in the network.
• Attends events and advisory board meetings that create action plans, resolve issues, share best practices, and solicit feedback.
• Plans, organizes, coordinates the day-to-day operations of the Small Business Development Center at the Polsky Exchange.
• Works closely with the Executive Director on any issues regarding SBDC accreditation, programming, and pertinent updates and requirements of state and federal agencies.
• Creates tools and processes to ensure contractually required metrics, reports, and timelines are met.
• Monitors program activities to ensure goals are aligned and compliant.
• Reviews, improves and develops advanced reporting tools.
• Maintains an effective local Board of Advisors that reflects the Center's market sector focus.
• Develops internal and external resources to accomplish program objectives, including actively seeking additional funding resources.
• Supervises Center personnel, both consultants and clerical.
• Manages the Center's operational budget.
• Maintains a current reference library and database as required by the SBDC program.
• Establishes linkages and working relationships with other Centers or small businesses that may provide additional resources to the Center.
• Maintains current data on private sector consultants for referral to members of the small business community.
• Maintains client control records and management information system.
• Provides timely and accurate reports to the SBDC.
• Maintains and analyzes data on program effectiveness.
• Promotes the SBDC and the needs of the small business community.
• Establishes a marketing plan that will allow for high visibility of the services offered to the region.
• Coordinates and cultivates a relationship with other SBA resource partners, local chambers of commerce, professional associations, and economic development groups.
• Develops and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria. Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.
• Manages program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
• 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 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

-

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• B.A. or B.S. degree in business, economics, or another relevant field.
• Advanced degree in business, economics, or another relevant field.

Experience:

• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through five (5) years of work experience in a related job discipline, with small business management or business consulting experience.
• Budget and program management experience
• Strong marketing and sales orientation.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in program management, community engagement, external relations, and grant administration.
• Background with and/or exposure to small business training and issues across industries, including business formation, finance and accounting, human resources, and operations strongly preferred.
• Tracking outcomes and creating key performance indicator reports and dashboards.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent communications skills, including public speaking.
• Work effectively with a variety of constituents, including local business owners, State of Illinois administrators, corporate executives, students, and entrepreneurs
• Resourcefulness, creativity, detail-orientation, and work independently.
• Effectively multi-task under deadlines.
• Outstanding professional/interpersonal/customer service skills.
• Proven ability to seek out, coordinate, and appropriately disseminate information.
• Work well with staff at all levels of the organization as well as vendors, service providers, and other external constituents.

Application Documents

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

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

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

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

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$75,000.00 - $95,000.00

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 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.

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: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.