Project Manager

Department

Crown Research Epperson

About the Department

As one of the first schools of social work in the United States, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice has shaped the field for more than 100 years. As part of the University of Chicago, the Crown Family School shares the University's core values and distinctive intellectual culture. Crown Family School faculty, staff and students focus on identifying solutions to complex problems through the integration of research, training, and direct community engagement. Guided by an interdisciplinary tradition, Crown Family School scholars conduct innovative research to address interconnected social challenges such as educational inequality, health disparities, crime and violence, poverty, and child and family welfare—working at multiple scales, from individual to policy-level interventions.

More than 8,000 Crown Family School graduates in the US and globally hold leadership positions in academia, at nonprofits, and at governmental agencies The Crown Family School is the home of several academic centers. These include the Susan and Richard Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development, the Urban Education Institute (UEI), , the Center for Health Administration Studies, the Smart Decarceration Project, and the Employment Instability, Family Well-being, and Social Policy Network (EINet). More information may be found at
https://crownschool.uchicago.edu/.

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Project Manager for grant-funded research projects within the Smart Decarceration Project research lab. As the Project Manager, you will perform a variety of project management, research support and data management duties for a private foundation-funded research project. This position will be responsible for maintaining project databases and coordinating research efforts across four study sites.

The applicant must have outstanding organizational and communication skills, project management abilities, and data management and academic writing skills. The ideal candidate should possess a strong work ethic and be able to work collaboratively as well as independently. This position requires knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SPSS, and Stata.

The position is grant funded, with the term of the assignment continuing for the duration of the initial grant and subsequent grant renewals. While the standard working hours are 10/week, during data collection or high activity points in the project, additional hours may be required.

Responsibilities

• Financial & Administrative Oversight: Maintain accurate financial records, coordinate with grant administrators on expenditures, and prepare financial reports for funders. Manage office resources, including calendars, supplies, and electronic files. Supervise temporary staff and student workers as needed.

• Project Coordination & Reporting: Develop timelines, delegate responsibilities, and track progress toward research goals. Ensure timely submission of applications and reports, including IRB and funding agency correspondence.

• Research Implementation & Data Management: Oversee data-related tasks to ensure procedural consistency survey administration through data cleaning. Manage the compiling and analyses of data for reports for stakeholders as well as peer-reviewed publications. Coordinate with Principal Investigator and research leadership on IRB applications and compliance.

• Applies research principles and relevant subject matter knowledge relevant to administer a research project. With a moderate level of direction, manages lab and/or research-related duties and tasks. Helps develop, design and conduct research projects according to plan.

• Supports data collection and analytical needs of research projects. Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports and manuscripts. Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.

• Takes responsibility for the following non-laboratory duties: transcribing and coding data; developing data collection instruments; oral and written presentations of research findings.

• 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 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in a related field, with a strong preference for a PhD.

Experience:

• 2-5 years of experience with research project management, preferably in the field of criminal justice policy, decarceration, prosecutor-related work, or other applied disciplines.

• Prior experience with conducting research within criminal justice settings.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent organizational skills and keen attention to detail.

• Ability to balance and prioritize work tasks effectively and on time.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical editing skills.

• Ability to work with spreadsheets, statistical packages (e.g., SPSS, Stata), and survey platforms (e.g., Qualtrics).

• Maintain confidentiality and follow university policies regarding data security.

• Working knowledge of policy and practice innovations related to the criminal legal system, decarceration, and prosecutor-led diversion programs.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work schedule, with limited on-site at the Hyde Park campus in Chicago.

• Travel to external stakeholder sites as needed.

• During data collection or high activity points in the project, additional hours above 10/week may be required.

Application Documents

• Cover letter describing their research goals and training, including why their background and interests meet the requirements of the position (required)

• CV/Resume (required)

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

10

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

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FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

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Pay Range

$35.00 - $38.00

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

This position is not eligible for benefits.

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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