Assistant Director, Harris Social Impact Fellowship

Assistant Director, The Harris Social Impact Fellowship

Join to apply for the Assistant Director, The Harris Social Impact Fellowship role at University of Chicago
.

Base pay range: $65,000.00/yr - $75,000.00/yr
.

Harris International Partnerships & Executive Education Custom Programs Sub Group

Why policy? For a better world. Why Harris Public Policy? Because when it comes to better policy making, evidence matters. We work at the frontiers of data collection and analysis, using the latest technology and social science methods to design policies that work for society. We conduct rigorous inquiry in an environment of innovation and risk taking, fearlessly questioning the status quo.

We collaborate across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, adopting new methodologies to drive better solutions. We engage with our city, our world, and our leaders every day to evaluate and test our ideas. And we lead with our passion for driving social change, knowing that passion alone does not equal impact. With passion and precision, we figure out what’s best for society—and get it done.

This is Harris Public Policy:
Social impact, down to a science.

The Harris School of Public Policy seeks an organized, proactive, and mission-driven Assistant Director to support the launch and ongoing operations of the Harris Social Impact Fellowship. This year‑long program equips recent college graduates with skills, mentorship, and community to drive meaningful social impact through data analytics, policy, and leadership development. The inaugural cohort will launch in Summer 2026. Reporting to the Program Director, the Assistant Director will provide critical programmatic, operational, and logistical support to help drive the creation, development, and execution of the fellowship.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a new and innovative program at its inception, supporting fellows, faculty, and partners while helping shape a world‑class learning experience in public policy and social impact. This role requires strategic vision, operational excellence, and a passion for a rigorous approach to public policy and social impact.

• Works with the Program Director to develop and oversee a dynamic fellowship program emphasizing data analytics, policy tools, and leadership development.
• Designs and oversees implementation of the fellowship, ensuring alignment with the mission and goals.
• Supports development of partnerships with faculty and organizations.
• Executes a comprehensive recruitment strategy to attract high‑achieving applicants.
• Assists in the fellow selection process, including application review, interviews, and cohort formation.
• Organizes flagship events, including capstone presentations, alumni retreat, orientation, workshops, and site visits.
• Serves as primary point of contact for applicants and fellows, coordinating logistics.
• Collects and manages feedback from fellows to improve the program experience.
• Prepares materials for donors, advisory boards, and internal stakeholders.
• Supports collection and analysis of program data for reporting and evaluation.
• Administers delivery of services to program participants and/or beneficiaries.
• Sets and communicates program priorities and performance standards; conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes.
• Performs other related work as needed.

• College or university degree in a related field.
• 2–5 years of related work experience.

• Plan and execute complex, multi‑faced projects.
• Entrepreneurial attitude.
• Strong organizational and relationship building skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Familiarity with data analytics and public policy frameworks.
• Comfort managing multiple priorities and deadlines.

• This role is located in Chicago, at the University with a hybrid work arrangement.

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• References Contact Information (3) (required)

When applying, the document(s)
MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.