Director of Operations, NNCI

Department: Office of the Provost
Salary/Grade: EXS/12

The target hiring range for this position will be $120,000 - $140,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Job Summary:

Northwestern University's Network for Collaborative Intelligence (NNCI) is dedicated to the integration of data science and artificial intelligence (AI) across all aspects of research and education throughout the University. NNCI is hiring its first Director of Operations (DO), who will play a key role in establishing NNCI and promoting its mission and goals by leading the business management and tactical operations of the Network. Reporting to the NNCI Co-Directors, the DO develops, manages, and tracks progress on Network implementation plans; manages day-to-day business operations, administration, and communications for the Network; facilitates collaboration with partners across and beyond the University; leads NNCI program and event planning and execution; provides strategic and tactical support for fundraising; and facilitates effective engagement between NNCI leadership and the Executive Committee, Office of the Provost, advisory boards, and other key stakeholders. The DO supervises the work of the NNCI Program Coordinator.

Specific responsibilities include high-level administration, project management, budget and financial management (including development, monitoring, and implementation of budgets, forecasts, expenditures, payroll, and grant and contract execution), program deployment and evaluation, communications, reporting, fundraising support, communications, and proactive support for NNCI's faculty leadership in achieving the Network's strategic goals.

A cover letter is required to apply for this position.

*Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Specific Responsibilities:

Operations Management

• Develop, implement, and maintain infrastructure, operating plans, and processes to ensure efficient operations and compliance with University and external policies; coordinate activities across multiple schools, units, and departments.

Financial & Resource Oversight

• Manage capital and operating budgets, purchasing, payroll, reconciliations, and reporting; oversee space planning and resource deployment.

Staff Supervision

• Recruit, hire, train, and manage administrative staff; provide work direction and performance management.

Internal & External Relationship Management

• Serve as primary liaison among faculty leaders, University administration, advisory boards, external collaborators, and partner organizations; facilitate effective communication with stakeholders.

Strategic Planning & Program Management

• Implement strategic operational plans; oversee existing programs and develop new initiatives; coordinate outreach and track progress toward strategic goals.

Fundraising & Development Support

• Assist in creating and executing fundraising strategies; coordinate and track dispersed development efforts with internal and external partners.

Proposal & Award Administration

• Manage research proposal development, submission, and compliance in collaboration with faculty, University offices, and external partners; oversee a sponsored research portfolio and ensure sponsor reporting requirements are met.

Collaboration & Engagement

• Proactively connect with other University centers, institutes, departments, and schools to strengthen partnerships and align initiatives.

Reporting & Analysis

• Support faculty leaders in preparing reports, analyses, financial statements, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications (Education, Experience, Certifications, Skills)

• Identify the minimum qualifications required to successfully perform the job. Qualifications include education, experience, specialized knowledge, professional certification.
• Bachelor's in business, accounting, or a related field with 5 or more years' experience in administrative or supervisory capacity with exposure to a combination of project management, budgets, finance, grant administration, staff supervision, &/or human resources.
• 5+ year's management experience with progressively larger responsibilities.
• Interest in the business of higher education and research.
• Knowledge of Word, Excel and PowerPoint or similar packages; familiarity with web development.
• Proven communication, interpersonal, and analytic skills.
• Adept at project management. Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Strong organizational, time management, and resource management skills.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills, including the ability to draft complex communications for varied audiences, including faculty across schools and disciplines, school leaders, central administration, and others.
• Proactive, energetic, innovative.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work diplomatically and effectively in a participatory environment where teamwork is valued highly in the daily accomplishment of work.

Preferred Qualifications (Education, Experience, Certifications, Skills)

• Master's degree or a PhD in a relevant science, technology, or engineering discipline.
• Proven track record of advancing institution-wide initiatives in a university environment and/or driving progress within a complex, matrixed organization.
• Experience in fundraising in an academic setting, including through research grants (proposal development, award, management, and close-out), contracts, and raising funds from other sources.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; flexibility; and the ability to work with faculty, staff, school dean's offices, central units, and university centers and programs.
• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to take initiative, work with little direct supervision, supervise administrative staff, and to develop and execute plans.
• Working knowledge of northwestern university systems such as NUfinancials, Cognos, Infoed, financial forecasting.

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 University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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