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Executive Director, Center for Health and the Social Sciences (CHeSS)

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · $130,000–$170,000 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 4, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

This role leads a research center with more than 130 faculty associates, reporting to the faculty director. Walk me through a research center or program you have run.

What they are checking: Whether they have run a research center at comparable scale, since leading 130 faculty associates requires proven organizational leadership.

How do you work with a faculty director whose priorities are academic while yours are operational?

What they are checking: Whether they can partner well with an academically focused director, turning research goals into workable operations while respecting faculty leadership.

You'd build a team of leaders and manage performance, resources and merit decisions. Tell me about developing someone into a leadership role.

What they are checking: Whether they have actually developed people into leaders, since a center grows stronger when its staff can take on more responsibility.

What would you do

You'd conceive and build new content, training and program areas and develop new partnerships. Where would you look for growth in a health and social sciences center?

What they are checking: Whether they can identify realistic growth areas in health and social science research, grounded in funding trends and faculty strengths.

Faculty associates come from across the University with their own agendas. How do you get collaboration from people who do not report to you?

What they are checking: Whether they can build collaboration through shared interests and trust, since faculty associates cooperate voluntarily rather than by obligation.

The posting names managing the interpretation and application of program policies and recommending exceptions. How do you decide when to make one?

What they are checking: Whether they make exceptions thoughtfully and consistently, with clear reasons, since unfair exceptions undermine trust in the center's policies.

About the work

You'd meet all programmatic, fiduciary and reporting responsibilities for the center. What does the fiduciary side of running a center involve?

What they are checking: Whether they understand fiduciary duties like budgets, grant compliance and reporting, since financial mistakes can endanger the center's funding.

You'd lead the center's methods core, including hiring, training staff and negotiating contracts. How do you price and negotiate a methods contract with an internal client?

What they are checking: Whether they can price methods work fairly to cover costs, since an underpriced core loses money and an overpriced one loses clients.

The posting says you would teach content in educational programs. What would you teach?

What they are checking: Whether they have real subject expertise worth teaching, since the role requires credible instruction rather than only administration.

The posting requires seven or more years of related experience and prefers a master's in public policy or health services research plus content expertise in health services research or health policy. Where do you sit?

What they are checking: Whether they assess honestly how their experience and education match the requirements, which helps both sides judge fit before moving forward.

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The full job description

As published by University of Chicago.

Department BSD MED - Center for Health and the Social Sciences About the Department The Center for Health and the Social Sciences (CHeSS) provides the infrastructure to advance interdisciplinary research and training in health and social sciences at the University of Chicago. Housed under the Dean of the Biological Sciences Division's office, the Center attracts participation from across the University, including the Biological Sciences Division and Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM), the Center for Healthcare Delivery Science and Innovation (HDSI) at UChicago Medicine, Social Sciences Division, Physical Sciences Division, Business School, Harris School of Public Policy, Law School, Social Science Administration, National Opinion Research Center (NORC), and Argonne National Labs. The Center houses the Center for Health Statistics, the Center on Healthy Aging Behaviors and Longitudinal Investigations (CHABLIS) and the Methods Core, a unit within CHeSS that offers general quantitative and qualitative research and consulting services and expertise in data identification, capture and analytical techniques. CHeSS supports and promotes innovation and collaboration as well as excellence in research, scholarship and training. With more than 130 faculty associates from virtually all schools and divisions of the University, CHeSS serves as an incubator of ideas and supporter of research in health and the social sciences, sponsors seminars and workshops on campus, invites nationally-known scholars and policymakers to speak on a variety of topics, supports the writing and submission of grant applications and fundraising proposals, coordinates new research initiatives and projects, manages several training programs and provides expert research methods consultation during formative and operational phases of investigations. Job Summary The Center for Health and the Social Sciences (CHeSS) is seeking an experienced administrator to serve as executive director, reporting directly to the Faculty Director, providing leadership for the many ongoing initiatives underway in the Centers currently and forging strategic goals for future growth. CHeSS comprises four functional areas: grants and administration, the Methods Core, training and communications and research program areas such as the P30 CHABLIS center and the Program in Oral and Systemic Health and Well-Being. The Executive Director oversees all functional areas, provides leadership to managers and professional staff and develops new collaborations across the division and University. Responsibilities • Leads all areas of CHeSS, including meeting all organizational programmatic, fiduciary and reporting responsibilities. • Represents the Center divisionally and within the University. • Oversees all hiring and appointments, management of financial, IT, strategic and other planning to accomplish overall entity goals. • Leads CHeSS Methods Core, including hiring and training of staff and negotiating of Methods Core contracts. • Teaches content in educational programs. • Conceives and builds new content, training and programmatic areas for CHeSS; develops new partnerships, and expands specialties as relevant. • Builds an effective team of leaders. • Manages employees by establishing annual performance goals, allocating resources, assessing annual performance, and determining individual merit, incentive and/or promotional increases. • Manages the dissemination, interpretation and application of program policies and recommends or makes exceptions. • 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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline. Certifications: --- Preferred Qualifications Education: • Masters in public policy, health services research, or a related field. Experience: • Background in health services research or university administration. • Content and analytic expertise in health services research, health policy, health outcomes. • Collaborating on NIH funded projects. • Managing a recharge center. Preferred Competencies • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal are essential. • Facilitate group decision-making processes and foster an environment of health team debate and collaboration. • Communicate effectively with stakeholders from various disciplines and knowledge bases. • Prioritize multiple projects and center priorities. • D e m o n s t r a t e d a b ili t y t o p ro v i d e s e n i or m e n t or s h i p t o h i g h l y t a l e n t e d a n d m o t i v a t e d staff and trainees. • E x c e ll e n t i n t e r p e r s o n a l and m a n a g e m e n t s k ill s. • Work independently and as part of a team. • Motivated to explore and apply new technologies to problems. • Work simultaneously with multiple investigators, to prioritize competing objectives, and to identify opportunities to more efficiently accomplish programming tasks through appropriate division of labor with other programmers. 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 People Manager Scheduled Weekly Hours 40 Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required No Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Rate Type Salary ​ FLSA Status Exempt ​ Pay Range $130,000.00 - $170,000.00 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.

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