Program Associate, Civic Leadership Academy; CLA

Department

Harris School Civic Leadership Academy and Undergraduate Studies

Policy with real impact doesn't evolve from ideology or intuition, or even experience. At the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, developing effective public policy is a science, based on data and measurable impact. Addressing today's interconnected, global challenges requires rigorous inquiry. It also requires innovative people who will face the facts, gather data, and understand why current policies exist to improve them.

For more than 30 years, the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy has been steadfastly committed to serving society by advancing analysis‑and‑evidence‑informed policy. Guided by this exacting mission, our community of faculty, students, and alumni from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors are taking on the world's most important problems by using the latest tools of social science. Harris Public Policy offers a full range of degree and executive education programs and is the academic home to research centers, institutes, and labs that study and engage the public on areas such as conflict, democracy and effective government, economic and political development, education, energy and environment, health, municipal finance, public safety, social policy, and urban policy.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Program Associate will work in coordination with staff and faculty of the Civic Leadership Academy to provide administrative and project support. This role is a perfect fit for an early‑career professional who is a strong multi‑tasker with excellent communication and organizational skills.

Supports strategy and coordinates day‑to‑day activities of a portfolio of programmatic initiatives and acts as primary program coordinator for the University of Chicago Civic Leadership Academy. Civic Leadership Academy responsibilities include:

• Recruitment – create presentation materials, coordinate on‑site visits, and lead biweekly virtual and in‑person information sessions throughout summer.
• Cohort Selection – manage Slate files, create interview rubric, recruit alumni for interview panels, book space, manage catering.
• Cohort Onboarding – collect fellows' onboarding materials, manage financial assistance requests, plan agenda and speakers for December orientation.
• Curriculum support – liaising with guest faculty, course canvas, textbooks and class materials acquisition, prepare class agendas.
• Global Practicum planning and execution – manage all aspects of the Global Practicum trip, coordinate all the logistical aspects of the program with the UChicago satellite center(s) and partners abroad.
• Alumni Advisory Board – manage board's selection process, coordinate meetings, prepare agendas, support board activities and communications, maintain board‑related documentation and provide other assistance as needed.
• Signature Events – collaborate with the Harris School event team to manage all technical and logistical aspects of event planning, including venue bookings, speakers engagement, registration, catering, video/photography, printed materials, etc.
• Communication and marketing – serve as the primary point of contact for CLA fellows and alumni.
• Budget Management – prepare documentation for budget proposals, track expenses, process tuition payments.
• Supports CLA's engagement with a variety of external stakeholders, including but not limited to civic practitioners, faculty, journalists, funders, and students.
• Supports CLA's development activity, including grant‑writing and reporting.
• Executes the entry of CLA data into Salesforce, working with team members to ensure maximum utility of the system.
• Liaises with Harris Public Policy data partners regarding Salesforce and other data projects.
• Supports the Executive Director in the day‑to‑day management of the program, including finances, development, operations, communications, technological infrastructure, and supervision of student workers, if applicable.
• Ensures seamless coordination with Harris Public Policy and other key University and external partners.
• Processes and records financial…