The University of Chicago

Department

AI RISC

About the Department

Foster Insights helps state agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) harness data to better meet the needs of the youth and families they serve. Informed by the latest academic research and policy, we work alongside partners responsible for the well-being of thousands of youth and families to improve programmatic practice through actionable and impactful data analysis. Our collaborative efforts empower leaders and practitioners with data to inform practice and policy, ensuring that youth impacted by the child welfare system remain connected to their families, schools, and communities.

Job Summary

As the Associate Director, Data and Partnerships at Foster Insights, you will co-lead a dynamic team toward the mission of improving child welfare. In this role, you will be the primary contact for external partners, meeting with executive leadership and program staff at state agencies and NGOs to build trust, manage relationships, understand key business problems, and identify new collaborations. You will set a strategic vision to maximize impact and identify and pursue philanthropic and contractual funding pathways to materialize that vision. You will be responsible for facilitating negotiations between external partners and University Research Administration (URA), IT, and other internal University partners to bring in data and contracts.

Additionally, the Associate Director, Data and Partnerships will oversee the receipt and cleaning of data for team use in analysis and dashboards. You will work closely with the team’s software engineers, data scientists, and the Associate Director, Product and Operations to transform complex datasets into the needed elements and structures for analysis and dashboards. As needed, you will conduct in-depth data analysis using R and other programming languages to extract insights from large datasets.

You will need to have experience in data analysis and the ability to effectively communicate findings to non-technical audiences. In addition to conducting your own analysis, you will direct the analysis of the entire team by setting research agendas, reviewing code, and drawing findings. As an internal expert on data received, you will oversee technical documentation for code and data elements, field team questions about data elements, and ensure that analyses correctly use those elements.

Responsibilities

• Leads and manages a cross-functional team of data scientists and software developers to deliver high-impact data analysis to external child welfare system leadership, including state directors of child welfare, executive leadership of NGOs, and child welfare program staff. Ensures effective team collaboration and mentors team members to develop and grow their skills.
• Sets strategic vision and goals for the team, establishing metrics and evaluating performance to ensure continuous improvement. Delivers compelling presentations and reports that showcase the impact of your work on child welfare.
• Identifies and pursues new opportunities for collaboration and funding. Regularly pitches funders, working groups, and external executive leadership on the work of Foster Insights.
• Builds and nurtures strategic partnerships with child welfare agencies, NGOs, and philanthropic partners. Represents Foster Insights in meetings with external executive leadership, fostering strong relationships and mutual collaboration.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for stakeholders, ensuring collaboration and alignment of work products to partner objectives.
• Collaborates with URA, IT Services, and other internal partners to execute and comply with all incoming data sharing agreements, contracts, grants, and Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). Ensures data integrity and compliance with relevant regulations.
• Transforms complex datasets from raw, messy data into formats needed for analysis. Works with data scientists and software developers to write documentation and meet internal data needs for performing analysis and creating dashboards.
• Utilizes software, including but not limited to R, Python, and Tableau, to conduct analysis and visualization of data to generate reports and presentations on a recurring and ad hoc basis, as requested by internal and external stakeholders.
• Effectively communicates complex data insights to non-technical audiences. Ensures all work products incorporate partner feedback, making data understandable and actionable.
• Ideates and explores new ways of using data to answer questions in the child welfare field. Advocates for data-driven approaches and contributes to the development of innovative solutions within child welfare systems.
• Develops and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria. Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.
• Manages program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
• Has a deep understanding when interacting with faculty, researchers and staff for committee work or information.
• 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 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in data science, computer science, economics, or similar field.

Experience:

• Managing high level external partnerships and client relationships.
• Project management experience.
• Background with data analytics, and/or experience with fundraising. Relevant industries and functions include child welfare, business development, fundraising, and/or data analytics.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficiency with R, Python, and data visualization software, such as Tableau.
• Familiarity with AWS GovCloud.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong leadership skills and proven track record of delivering large-scale projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of engaging both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong strategic thinking with ability to balance short-term deliverables and long-term goals.
• Strong interpersonal skills and proven record of effective relationship-building with internal and external constituents.
• Professional demeanor including tact, discretion, and a customer service oriented approach.
• Proven record of time management and organizational skills, as well as exceptional attention to detail.
• Proven ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines. Possess a self-motivated disposition.
• Demonstrated strong critical thinking skills through analyzing complex situations, identifying opportunities for improvement, and recommending effective changes to achieve key objectives.
• Strong data skills, including proven ability to produce impactful insights with little direction.
• Work both independently and successfully as a member of a team.

Application Documents

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

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

Individual Contributor

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

$95,000.00

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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