Career Center

Department: MED-NU-CATS Institute
Salary/Grade: EXS/9

Job Summary:

The Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute is part of the Feinberg School of Medicine. NUCATS’ mission is to accelerate innovative and inclusive clinical research discoveries to improve human health for all, and for all communities. Our dynamic team is composed of faculty and staff colleagues with expertise in a wide variety of domains, including: clinical research infrastructure (e.g., regulatory, budget/finance), bioinformatics & data science, biostatistics, community-engaged research, education & career development, team science, etc.

This position – Assistant Director– is part of the NUCATS Institute’s Center for Education & Career Development. This position will interact with students, faculty, and NUCATS staff members. Strong interpersonal communication skills along with strong writing and organization skills are necessary to being successful in this position.

Under minimal direction from the NUCATS Institute’s Executive Director and the faculty co-directors for the Center for Education & Career Development (CECD), this senior administrative position is responsible for the administrative, financial, grants and contracts, human resource, evaluative, and project management functions of the Center. The position oversees one graduate program, two NIH training grants, mentor development programs, junior faculty career development programs, clinical research staff training programs, and other programs and projects contributing to translational workforce development. This position serves as the primary point of contact for all matters related to the Center both internally and externally with the NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program.

The NUCATS Institute is committed to maintaining a culture that values and prioritizes professional growth and work-life balance and to sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all team members.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Oversee operations for CECD, including over 15 programs to support translational research workforce development.
• Provide strategic direction for CECD in cooperation with the faculty co-directors ensuring that NUCATS has an excellent translational workforce development program that continues to expand and align with the CTSA and Feinberg School of Medicine (FSM) mission and vision.
• Manage the human resources recruitment, hiring, training, and evaluation for all Center staff and faculty providing direct supervision to the administrative staff.
• In collaboration with the associate center administrator and research administrator, oversee the financial management for the Center including responsibility for all operating budgets, subcontracts, financial reporting and monitoring, annual reports, internal tracking, reconciliation, and payroll.
• Lead and participate on cross-functional teams at the NUCATS Institute supporting the implementation of the aims of the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA).
• Represent the Center for Education & Career Development and the NUCATS Institute in collaborative project and partnerships both internally with other NUCATS Centers and NU departments and externally including with other academic institutions, CTSAs, vendors, and professional organizations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in education, business administration, or related field and 6 or more years management or administrative experience with progressive responsibility or equivalent combination of education, training and experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities can be acquired;
• 3-4 years in higher education administration
• Proven experience in programmatic evaluation, assessment, and continuous improvement

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Resourceful and creative problem-solver;
• Ability to multi-task, and display good judgment in decisions and recommendations;
• Prior experience managing budgets and complex financial reports;
• Knowledge of accounting and budgeting principles;
• Knowledge of a university research environment;
• Prior experience supervising and handling employee relations issues; setting clear expectations while advocating self-efficacy and staff ownership of programs, reviewing progress, making thoughtful contributions to professional development, providing feedback and guidance, holding people accountable; maintaining a sense of humor and empathetic approach to problem-solving;
• Strong organizational and quantitative skills;
• Ability to maintain excellent working relationships with faculty and staff, and working in a team;
• Ability and flexibility to learn new systems;
• Ability to work autonomously and with minimal direction;
• Demonstrated leadership skills;
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality;
• Ability to achieve a standard of excellence with work processes and outcomes, honoring University policies and all regulatory requirements;
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills; balancing listening and talking, speaking and writing clearly and accurately, influencing others, keeping others informed;
• Ability to be helpful, respectful, approachable and team-oriented, building strong working relationships and a positive work environment;

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five years or more business experience plus 3 or more years supervisory experience in an academic business environment;
• Proven record of program, staff, and/or financial management in a higher education setting;
• Familiarity with CTSAs and/or clinical research in a university environment
• Experience working in adult and graduate education.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern requires all staff and faculty to be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to limited exceptions. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 and Campus Updates website.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.
  

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