Executive Director, The Bike Shop At The University Of Chicago

Department

University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy

About the Department

The Bike Shop seeks to solve society's most pressing challenges by designing and scaling advanced algorithms-particularly AI-that enhance human capacity, not simply automate tasks. The center develops new behaviorally-informed AI technologies through foundational research, builds the tools and interventions that drive measurable social impact, and trains the next generation of scholars at the intersection of AI, behavioral science, and public policy. By translating advances into scalable, actionable solutions, the center empowers governments and institutions to achieve outcomes traditional approaches cannot.

Job Summary

The Executive Director is the organization's forward-thinking and strategic leader, driving the center's mission to harness AI for social good. Under the direction of the Academic Director, the Executive Director steers foundational research, operational excellence, talent development, and impactful external engagement. This role combines vision with hands-on execution-balancing high-level strategy, ethical leadership, and technical capability to move the center toward its ambitious goals. The candidate must bring tech expertise with some demonstrated expertise in AI, expertise in behavioral science, and the ability to guide efforts that generate scalable, real-world impact. The Executive Director will supervise senior managers, research leads, and operational staff.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Mission Stewardship:
• Co-develop and execute the center's long-term vision and strategy, specifically focused on advancing research and deploying algorithmic interventions with proven social impact.
• Provide strategic direction and oversight to senior managers, ensuring programmatic, research, and operational alignment with the central mission.
• Identify opportunities for foundational AI research, translational projects, and cross-sector partnerships that accelerate progress.
• Establish and optimize policies to keep the center at the forefront of innovative AI development and its applications for society.
• Serve as liaison to senior leadership at the Harris School, ensuring alignment between the center's strategy and the School's priorities. Provide regular updates, coordinate on strategic initiatives, and partner with leadership on planning, budgeting, and institutional engagement.
• AI & Algorithmic Innovation Through a Behavioral Lens:
• Guide efforts to develop novel AI technologies and machine learning interventions, making new algorithmic tools possible.
• Ensure AI and algorithmic innovation efforts focus on enhancing human capacity, incorporating learnings from behavioral science
• Lead and oversee operational infrastructure supporting high-impact AI research-including staffing, budget planning, resource allocation, and project management systems.
• Ensure responsible practices in the design and deployment of algorithmic solutions.
• Support and coordinate the Bike Shop's faculty affiliates in collaboration with the Academic Director, facilitating research initiatives, events, grant development, and cross-disciplinary engagement-ensuring affiliates are meaningfully integrated into the Bike Shop's activities and their work is elevated internally and externally.
• Talent Development:
• Coordinate and support programs that train and mentor the next generation of scholars and practitioners at the intersection of AI, public policy, and behavioral science.
• Foster an environment that encourages innovation, learning, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Social Impact & External Deployment:
• Translate AI research advances into scalable tools and interventions, enabling governments and institutions to deploy solutions at a scope and speed not achievable with traditional policy approaches.
• Work with the Associate Dean for Advancement to advance partnership development and external engagement, ensuring alignment with the School's broader development and philanthropic strategy.
• Act as the public face of the center.
• Operational Excellence:
• Oversee the center's operational framework-ensuring effective management of finances, grants, human resources, purchasing, and facilities.
• Set ambitious standards for program delivery, troubleshooting challenges, and maintaining momentum toward strategic objectives in complex, evolving environments.
• Provides strategic divisional leadership and direction through senior managers. Responsible for unit budgetary plan. Establishes policies and protocols to enhance the central pedagogical mission and operational goals of unit.
• Serves as high-level representative for a unit and structures the framework for partnership development with other academic, research, and administrative units within the unit and of the University.
• Provides leadership for and oversees all financial, purchasing, grant, facilities, human resources, and support services management activities for unit.
• 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:

• Master's degree in AI, computer science, data science, public policy, behavioral science, business administration, or a related field.

Experience:

• Significant supervisory experience, including hiring, training, and performance management.
• Extensive senior leadership experience, ideally in academic research centers, think tanks, or mission-driven AI organizations.
• Proven track record of translating research into scalable interventions with measurable social impact.
• Experience managing large-scale projects to successful completion, including oversight of large budgets, grant and fundraising operations, and overall fiscal health.
• Experience working effectively with a diverse workforce in a complex research environment.
• Experience leading new and evolving initiatives.

Technical Knowledge and Skills:

• Advanced subject matter expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and algorithm design and deployment.
• Advanced subject matter expertise in behavioral science.
• Familiarity with public policy and social impact evaluation.
• Experience with project management platforms, research administration, data analytics tools, and operational systems.
• Competence in budgeting, finance, grant management, and resource stewardship.
• Partnership cultivation and stakeholder engagement across sectors.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to diverse, non-technical and technical audiences.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong strategic planning, program management, and partnership development abilities.
• Exceptional oral and written communication and negotiation skills; comfortable engaging scholars, policymakers, technical experts, and public audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple large-scale projects and initiatives.
• Resourceful problem-solver and critical thinker; proactive in leveraging opportunities and anticipating and averting problems.
• Commitment to ethical practices, inclusivity, and collaborative innovation.

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

Administration & Management

Role Impact

People Manager

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

$225,000.00 - $275,000.00

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.

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