Summary

The Executive Director of the Center for Municipal Finance at the Harris School of Public Policy will provide strategic and operational leadership to advance municipal finance research, education, and industry engagement. This role would involve managing the center’s operations, fostering key partnerships, and engaging in fundraising efforts to support its mission. The Executive Director will also build industry partnerships and manage a periodic academic research digest. This role involves close collaboration with other research centers and develops executive education offerings, including international programs. Additionally, the Executive Director will build and maintain the alumni network, create and maintain the center’s LinkedIn page, and lead efforts to create a digital archive for the municipal bond market, thereby enhancing the center’s outreach and value to the field of municipal finance. The Executive Director would also help guide research and policy projects on issues like budgeting, taxation, and public pensions, working closely with faculty, students, and external collaborators. Additionally, the director would expand educational offerings for students, policymakers, and practitioners, aiming to enhance public understanding and policy development in municipal finance.

Job description

Job Summary

The Executive Director of the Center for Municipal Finance at the Harris School of Public Policy will provide strategic and operational leadership to advance municipal finance research, education, and industry engagement. This role would involve managing the center’s operations, fostering key partnerships, and engaging in fundraising efforts to support its mission. The Executive Director will also build industry partnerships and manage a periodic academic research digest. This role involves close collaboration with other research centers and develops executive education offerings, including international programs. Additionally, the Executive Director will build and maintain the alumni network, create and maintain the center’s LinkedIn page, and lead efforts to create a digital archive for the municipal bond market, thereby enhancing the center’s outreach and value to the field of municipal finance. The Executive Director would also help guide research and policy projects on issues like budgeting, taxation, and public pensions, working closely with faculty, students, and external collaborators. Additionally, the director would expand educational offerings for students, policymakers, and practitioners, aiming to enhance public understanding and policy development in municipal finance.

Responsibilities

Implement and execute the center’s mission and strategic goals.
Oversee and support research initiatives, including coordinating faculty-led projects, managing research publications, and facilitating student involvement in research through fellowships, internships, and other programs.
Cultivate relationships with industry leaders, policymakers, academic peers, and other stakeholders.
Lead fundraising initiatives, including securing grants, managing budgets, and optimizing resource allocation.
Manage day-to-day operations, including team oversight, budgeting, and ensuring operational efficiency.
Develop and expand educational offerings, such as workshops, executive education programs, and public seminars.
Promote the center’s work through online platforms, publications, public events, and conferences.
Oversee the production of periodic publications such as research digests, and develop content resources like digital archives.
Define structure of the board and clarify roles and responsibilities of board members.
Works closely with faculty, students and other leaders across campus to foster experimentation and multi-disciplinary inquiry and teaching.
Thought leadership to help guide the direction of the center and provide strategic perspective and external outreach.
Oversees a communication strategy and marketing efforts aimed at increasing the visibility of the Center.
Collaborates with others to make the center a valuable resource to all students and contributes to the broad goals of creating a stronger campus community.
Develops and administers program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
Serves as a key resource for program information.
Resolves problems or questions referred by program staff, University administrators, or other contingencies.
Performs other related work as needed.

Requirements

College or university degree in related field
7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline
Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in finance or business (preferred)
Master’s degree in a related field (preferred)
Experience in financial services broadly, and municipal finance (preferred)
Extensive experience in financial management skills (preferred)
Highly proficient in financial and mathematical skills (preferred)
Proven track record of leading organizational economic performance (preferred)
Demonstrated understanding of federal regulations and sponsored program administration (preferred)
Demonstrated understanding of both FASB & GASB accounting principles (preferred)
Knowledge of research funding and appreciation for working in a research-intensive academic culture (preferred)
Highly effective in verbal and written communication skills (preferred)
Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative (preferred)
Outstanding critical thinking skills (preferred)
Meticulous attention to detail (preferred)
Ability to abide by confidentiality and privacy protocols (preferred)
Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet aggressive deadlines (preferred)
Results-oriented and committed to continuous improvement (preferred)
Diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships, motivate and balance internal and external stakeholders (preferred)

Benefits

Health insurance
Retirement plan
Paid time off

Company overview

The University of Chicago is a world-renowned private research university founded in 1890 and located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. As a premier academic institution, it operates one of the most comprehensive biomedical research enterprises in the United States through its Biological Sciences Division, which includes over 1,100 faculty members across 10 basic science and 14 clinical departments. The university manages extensive research infrastructure including the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, multiple specialized research institutes, and maintains affiliations with Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. With research funding exceeding $450 million annually and more than 3,300 patents filed since 1987, the institution is a global leader in scientific discovery and innovation. The Biological Sciences Division alone supports over 500 research-active faculty who secure an average of $588,000 in NIH funding per principal investigator, focusing on areas including cancer biology, immunology, microbiology, molecular metabolism, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology. The university's commitment to interdisciplinary research and its unique position as manager of national laboratories creates unparalleled opportunities for translational research and scientific advancement.