The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago (https://www.czbiohub.org/chi) is an independent nonprofit research institute that brings together three powerhouse universities - Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - into a single collaborative technology and discovery engine. CZ Biohub itself supports some of the brightest, boldest engineers, data scientists, and biomedical researchers to make breakthroughs in medicine and develop new technologies, frequently in collaboration with our partner universities. We are guided by our values of scholarly excellence; disruptive innovation; hands-on engineering/hacking/building; partnership and collaboration; open communication and respect; inclusiveness; and opportunity for all.
Our Vision
- We pursue large scientific challenges that cannot be pursued in conventional environments
- We enable individual investigators to pursue their riskiest and most innovative ideas
- The technologies developed at CZ Biohub Chicago facilitate research by scientists and clinicians at our home institutions and beyond
Diversity of thought, ideas, and perspectives are at the heart of CZ Biohub Network and enable disruptive innovation and scholarly excellence. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive organization where all colleagues feel inspired and know their work makes an important contribution.
The Opportunity
The Chan Zuckerberg Chicago seeks a highly motivated and experienced Associate Director, Intramural Programs to lead the strategy for and manage the execution and coordination of Biohub’s intramural research programs. Reporting to the President, this role will play a key role in ensuring CZ Biohub Chicago achieves our aspirational scientific goals in an interdisciplinary environment, with opportunities to work at the forefront of technology development and application in genomics, immunology, and AI-driven discovery.
The ideal candidate will possess a strong scientific background, exceptional project management and writing skills, and the ability to work and collaborate effectively with our scientific team, funding agencies, and institutional leadership. The position also involves developing and implementing IP strategies for intramural projects, identifying and preparing grant proposals to secure external funding, managing research programs to align with institutional priorities, and providing comprehensive reporting on our scientific progress for leadership and other key stakeholders.
What You'll Do
- Strategy Development: In collaboration with the scientific leadership team, lead strategy development for intramural science programs that align with CZ Biohub’s long-term mission to develop instrumented tissues to better understand inflammation.
- Program Development & Management: Collaborating with the scientific team, design, implement, and oversee internal research programs to ensure alignment with CZ Biohub Chicago’s goals and priorities.
- Internal Collaboration: Facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations and coordinate research activities across different groups within CZ Biohub Chicago and the broader CZI network.
- Monitoring & Evaluation: Track the progress of internal scientific programs, assess outcomes, and provide strategic recommendations for program improvements.
- Grant & Funding Management: Assist the scientific team in identifying funding opportunities, developing grant proposals, and ensuring compliance with funding agency requirements.
- Intellectual Property Strategy: Assist the scientific team in formulating IP strategies for intramural projects in alignment with organization policies.
- Leadership and Stakeholder Materials: Develop materials outlining CZ Biohub Chicago’s intramural strategy and program progress toward our defined goals for leadership and key stakeholders, including for both CZ Biohub Chicago’s and CZI’s Scientific Advisory Boards.
- Leadership Reporting: Assemble quarterly updates on intramural science for the Board of Directors; Assemble monthly updates on intramural science for CZI leadership reporting
What You'll Bring
- Ph.D. or equivalent degree in a relevant scientific field
- At least 5 years of experience in research program management, grant administration, or a related role within an academic or research setting
- Strong understanding of research funding mechanisms, grant writing, and budget management
- Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills
- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including researchers, administrators, and funding agencies
Nice to Have
- Prior experience managing large, multi-institutional research programs.
- Knowledge of funding agencies, including philanthropic organizations including foundations and other relevant funding sources
- Familiarity with data management and scientific publishing workflows.
- Supervisory or mentoring experience
Compensation
The Chicago, IL base pay range for this role is $140,000.00 - $150,000.00. New hires are typically hired into the lower portion of the range, enabling employee growth in the range over time. Actual placement in range is based on job-related skills and experience, as evaluated throughout the interview process.
What We Provide
- Resources to disrupt and innovate at the frontiers of our knowledge of biology and disease
- A collegial and collaborative environment consisting of diverse expertise
- Access to collaborators, resources and facilities at our three partner universities (Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) and at partner organizations in Chicagoland and beyond
- Competitive compensation and benefits commensurate with the experience
If you’re interested in a role but your previous experience doesn’t perfectly align with each qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply as you may be the perfect fit for this or another role.
Benefits
We offer a robust benefits program that enables the important work Biohubbers do everyday. Our benefits include healthcare coverage, life and disability insurance, commuter subsidies, family planning services with fertility care, childcare stipend, 401(k) match, flexible time off and a generous parental leave policy. In addition, we honor our commitment to career development and our value of scholarly excellence through regular onsite opportunities to learn from the world's leading scientists.
The CZ Biohub Network is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity of thought, ideas and perspectives. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive organization where all Biohubbers feel inspired and know their work makes an important contribution. Therefore, we provide employment opportunities without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.
Headhunters and recruitment agencies may not submit resumes/CVs through this website or directly to managers. The CZ Biohub Network does not accept unsolicited headhunter and agency resumes. The CZ Biohub Network will not pay fees to any third-party agency or company that does not have a signed agreement with the CZ Biohub Network.
What We Do
The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network is a group of nonprofit research institutes that bring together physicians, scientists, and engineers with the goal of pursuing grand scientific challenges on 10- to 15-year time horizons. These institutes partner with Chan Zuckerberg Science in its goal to understand the mysteries of the cell and how cells interact within systems. This collaboration will bring us closer to our mission to cure, prevent, or manage all disease by the end of the century.
CZ Biohub San Francisco — which was the inaugural Biohub and launched in 2016 — focuses on infectious disease, quantitative cell science, and technology platforms. It also has an investigator program supporting early-stage, risky research of scientists at Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and UCSF.
CZ Biohub Chicago, which launched in 2023, focuses on engineering technologies to make precise, molecular-level measurements of biological processes within human tissues, with an ultimate goal of understanding and treating the inflammatory states that underlie many diseases. It is a collaboration between the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
