Assistant Director for Research Collaboration and Public Engagement
UIC Great Cities Institute
Summary
This position advances the mission of the Great Cities Institute (GCI) at the University of Illinois Chicago by strengthening collaboration, research dissemination, and institutional coordination across academic, civic, and community partners. Under the direction of Institute's leadership, the Assistant Director for Research Collaboration and Public Engagement will support initiatives that connect applied research with policy, practice, and public engagement. The position contributes to building collaborative research capacity across academic units, government agencies, and community organizations.
Job description
Position Summary
This position advances the mission of the Great Cities Institute (GCI) at the University of Illinois Chicago by strengthening collaboration, research dissemination, and institutional coordination across academic, civic, and community partners. Under the direction of Institute's leadership, the Assistant Director for Research Collaboration and Public Engagement will support initiatives that connect applied research with policy, practice, and public engagement. The position contributes to building collaborative research capacity across academic units, government agencies, and community organizations.
Duties & Responsibilities
Research Collaboration and Partnership Development
- Support the design, implementation, and evaluation of collaborative research initiatives aligned with GCI's program areas and research clusters.
- Conduct and co-lead applied qualitative and quantitative research related to interorganizational collaboration, participatory governance, and community partnerships.
- Facilitate and sustain collaborative relationships among university researchers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community-based partners.
- Contribute to the development of research partnerships, grant proposals, and funding strategies that strengthen collaborative research capacity.
Strategic Communication and Dissemination
- Lead the dissemination of GCI research through reports, policy briefs, multimedia storytelling, digital platforms, and public events.
- Translate complex research findings, datasets, and policy analyses into accessible formats for policymakers, practitioners, community partners, and the broader public.
- Coordinate visual, digital, and narrative communication strategies that enhance the reach and impact of GCI's research initiatives.
- Support the development of public-facing research outputs that highlight GCI's contributions to urban policy, community development, and regional planning.
Institutional Engagement
- Develop Institute's faculty engagement program.
- Coordinate and mediate cross-campus collaborations by connecting UIC faculty with GCI initiatives, including the development of topical lecture series, collaborative research projects, and community-engaged scholarship opportunities.
- Establish and facilitate interdisciplinary faculty working groups aligned with GCI's research clusters to advance urban policy dialogue, generate collaborative outputs, and strengthen sustained academic engagement.
- Design and lead a bi-directional "Collaborative Exchange" model between GCI and UIC units, coordinating the integration of GCI researchers into campus-based centers, initiatives, and academic programs, while also connecting UIC faculty and partners to GCI-led projects and research clusters.
- Strengthen university-community partnerships through coordinated institutional engagement strategies, supporting the development, alignment, and sustainability of collaborations between UIC units and external partners, and positioning GCI as a central hub for relationship-building, communication, and project coordination.
Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.
Requirements
- Master's degree in Social Work, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Public Administration, Sociology, or a closely related field
- At least three years experience in applied research, community-engaged scholarship, program coordination, or partnership development within academic, nonprofit, government, or policy research environments
- Experience designing and conducting qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods research, including data analysis and the preparation of applied research reports, policy briefs, or scholarly publications
- Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral-level training in Social Work, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Sociology, or a related field
- Demonstrated research expertise in interorganizational collaboration, collaborative governance, or cross-sector partnerships, particularly within urban policy, community development, or public-sector contexts
- Demonstrated experience translating research into accessible public-facing formats, including reports, digital media, visual communication, multimedia storytelling, or community-oriented knowledge dissemination
- Experience working within interdisciplinary research environments or university-based research institutes, including collaboration with faculty, community organizations, and public-sector partners on applied research initiatives
Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Retirement Plan
- Paid Time Off
- Tuition Waivers
Company overview
The UIC Great Cities Institute (GCI) is the flagship interdisciplinary research center of the University of Illinois Chicago, housed within the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. Established in 1995 as the centerpiece of UIC's "Great Cities Commitment," GCI serves as a research hub for scholars, policymakers, and community stakeholders exploring how cities and regions can become great places to live and work. Its work spans employment and economic development, local and regional governance, global mobility, energy and the environment, and community well-being. GCI conducts policy and impact analyses, provides data and technical assistance, produces neighborhood revitalization plans, and facilitates public engagement and capacity building. The institute is home to the UIC Neighborhoods Initiative and has produced influential research on youth joblessness, racial disparities, Latino neighborhoods, recidivism costs, and participatory budgeting. Through strategic partnerships that pair university intellectual capital with local knowledge, GCI advances equitable urban policy and improves quality of life across Chicago and cities worldwide.