Senior Associate Director, COMPASS Accelerator

Department
 

Booth Polsky Center: Innovation Programs

About the Department
 

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the U.S. and second to none when it comes to influencing business education and business practices. Since 1898, the school has produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Their rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education transforms students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges. Chicago Booth has the finest set of facilities of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and one in Hong Kong) reflects the architectural traditions of its environs while offering a state-of-the-art learning environment. Chicago Booth is proud to claim: -an unmatched faculty. -degree and open enrollment programs offered on three continents. -a global body of nearly 54,000 accomplished alumni. – strong and growing corporate relationships that provide a wealth of lifelong career opportunities. As part of the world-renowned University of Chicago, Chicago Booth shares the University’s core values that shape the distinctive intellectual culture. At Booth, they constantly question and test ideas, and seek proof. This extraordinarily effective approach to business leads to new ideas and innovative solutions. Seven of the Booth faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for these ideas – the first business school to achieve this accomplishment. For more information about the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, please visit: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/.

Job Summary
 

The Senior Associate Director of the COMPASS Accelerator position oversees a deep tech accelerator program for early-stage startups and technologies. Participants gain access to world-class resources, including business expertise from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and the Polsky Center, which has 25 years of experience in support the launch of new ventures. In addition, researchers will have access to a full staff of experts in everything from venture creation to top-tier business liaisons to legal support for intellectual property. The goal of the program is to address the combination of market risk and technology risk in an effort to create investible ventures derived from faculty research. The COMPASS runs for 6 months twice a year.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and manages the Polsky Center’s COMPASS Accelerator, which serves multiple UChicago constituencies including faculty across the campus, MBA students, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers.
• Develops and engages deep tech venture network to connect to startups.
• Oversees and supervises .5 FTE who will provide program support for the accelerator operations.
• Supports the day-to-day operations of the Compass program including scheduling training sessions, scheduling team meetings, overseeing mentor meeting regularity; space reservations and catering needs (as appropriate); assistance with program administration; and post-program evaluation.
• Works together with Polsky Science Ventures team, plans and manages events and educational programming including panel events, guest speakers, demo days, science commercialization advisory meetings, venture showcases, and other events.
• Strategically plans and develops new programming based on careful evaluation and understanding of constituent needs and in collaboration with other deep tech accelerators and programs.
• Oversees startups, Business Development Fellows program, Business Liaison program and coaches/mentors affiliated with the program.
• Manages program budget in coordination with the Executive Director.
• Manages and monitors communication with all accelerator constituents, including business liaisons, coaches, mentors, student interns, sponsors, and others involved with the program.
• Develops relationships with faculty and students across the University to facilitate team development and support internal efforts in innovation and entrepreneurship. Coordinates internally with Polsky Center team members to ensure cohesive and excellent customer service as it relates to programming.
• Maintains strategic partnerships with internal and external partners and organizations in order to provide constituents with best-in-class entrepreneurial opportunities and resources.
• Identifies and addresses student, alumni, and other constituent needs in order to develop impactful programming.
• Evaluates program success through collecting and tracking of specific metrics; ensures programming decisions are data-driven.
• Works together with the Polsky Center marketing team on the content for all print and web materials, such as slide decks, email campaigns, posters, flyers, and web pages.
• Attends events as a representative of the Polsky Center and the Compass program to build and maintain relationships, stay up to date on entrepreneurial initiatives and accelerator programs, and participate in programming hosted by external partners as they relate to the goals and purpose of the Compass accelerator.
• Uses specialized depth knowledge and breadth of experience to recommend concepts for programming to leaders of various organizations and programs.
• Markets student activities programming throughout the year. Develops and implements protocols for evaluating the effectiveness of programs.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• MBA.

Experience:

• At least six years of relevant experience.
• Working in a University or academic setting.
• Developing and planning special projects, strategy, growth initiatives, etc.
• Working with diverse audiences, moving groups to consensus, and driving forward projects.

Preferred Competencies

• Demonstrated passion and interest in the mission of the Polsky Center.
• Excellent and professional verbal, written, and presentation skills, as well as organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proven ability to handle multiple projects concurrently.
• Work with minimal supervision.
• Proven ability to work effectively and diplomatically with colleagues, as well as with students, faculty and corporate contacts.
• Proven ability to seek out, coordinate and appropriately disseminate information.
• Work successfully with frequent interruptions.
• Familiarity and knowledge of the University of Chicago, its systems, and its constituents.

Working Conditions

• This position is currently expected to work a minimum three days per week in the office.
• Travel frequently between Hyde Park campus and Polsky Exchange, and other local destinations (technology incubators, etc.).
• Flexibility to occasionally work late or start early for events.

Application Documents

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

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

Job Family
 

Student Affairs & Services

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Requires Compliance with University Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff 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.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

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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