Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Quantum Exchange

Department
PME Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE)

Job Summary
The CEO of the Chicago Quantum Exchange develops and executes strategic plans to build a discovery-to-deployment research, innovation and commercialization, and talent ecosystem across the CQE member community, an external network of companies, non-profits, and others. They will lead a team of skilled professionals and area managers to further CQE's mission and vision, including the CQE's Bloch Quantum EDA Tech Hub. Reporting to the CQE Faculty Director, this individual must be able to thrive in a fast-moving, decentralized environment. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader able to set a vision to drive change internally; they have a can do, positive attitude, and are passionate about selling a strategic vision to key stakeholders including local and national leadership, faculty, and other internal and external partners.

Responsibilities

• In alignment with the Faculty Director, designs, implements, and manages CQE's overall growth strategy, furthering its mission, enabling its vision, and fostering novel quantum research, education and workforce development, and innovation and commercialization initiatives throughout the Quantum Prairie of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
• Interacts with key stakeholders, internal leadership, external partners, and others to broker deals, continue to enhance CQE's position and reputation, and grow CQE's constellation of members and industry and other partnerships.
• Builds revenue-generating programming, such as dues-based memberships or partnerships and educational offerings, with an eye toward organizational sustainability.
• Understands the quantum marketplace and competitive dynamics and implications, including social and economic trends that impact CQE's position and goals for growth and revenue.
• Enables advantageous positioning for CQE in consultation with leadership and key stakeholders to promote prominence in quantum-related endeavors in the region.
• Pursues, through partnerships and direct reports, research collaborations, professional and other educational offerings and programs, and business development for the region.
• Through a diversified team of skilled professionals, drives awareness that aids in recruiting faculty, students, philanthropic and other sponsors, and industry partners.
• Establishes programs supported by federal and philanthropic funders, as well as the methodologies to measure, track and course-correct.
• Builds a global profile for the CQE, and ensures the identity, voice, and objectives are articulated broadly to advantageous effect.
• Anticipates and solves a range of complex problems; work assignments are difficult and broad in nature, usually requiring creativity, originality, and ingenuity.
• Creates and implements data-driven tools for measuring success and identifying opportunities for expansion in this emerging space.
• Provides strategic leadership for a Center with senior management and serves as a liaison to academic departments, professional organizations and administrative units of the University.
• Manages multiple related teams. Establishes department priorities, is responsible for the management of the center budget, allocates resources and executes strategic plans.
• 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 10+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in science, technology, business, marketing, communications, or a related field.
• MBA or advanced degree in the sciences.

Experience:

• Minimum of ten years of relevant, progressively responsible experience.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through five years of work experience in science, technology, business, marketing, communications or a related job discipline.
• A proven track record as a strong strategic thinker with a results orientation, who approaches any challenge with thoughtfulness, drive, data usage, and appropriate urgency.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling, and thoughtful messaging.
• Cultivating relationships and working with multiple stakeholders to build successful partnerships.
• Leading a data-driven team towards meeting organizational goals and objectives.
• Working with in an academic unit and/or complex research university environment.
• Background in a higher education setting is a plus.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Excellent computer skills evidenced by proficiency in Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat.
• Project management skills including budget management, KPI tracking.

Preferred Competencies

• A collaborative, diplomatic, and flexible hands-on team leader and player who builds strong relationships internally and externally, and works well under pressure, thriving under tight deadlines.
• A strategic leader who also enjoys getting your hands dirty in the execution.
• Attention to detail.
• Demonstrated excellent written and verbal presentation skills, coupled with excellent editing, proofreading and interviewing skills.
• High level of collegiality in working with faculty, staff, departmental and university administrators, including enthusiasm, energy, and creativity.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including outstanding judgment, discretion, a strong ethical approach to decision-making and a demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts fairly and diplomatically.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• High cultural awareness and experience working across sectors, including with industry and international partners.
• Work independently, take direction, and achieve consensus.
• Handle public contacts with courtesy, clarity, and diplomacy.
• Maintain calm and courteous demeanor to work productively and efficiently despite heavy workload, competing priorities, constant interruptions, complex problems, and tight deadlines.

Working Conditions

• Office environment, hybrid work schedule.
• Occasional extended work hours and some weekends.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

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

Job Family
Administration & Management

Role Impact
People Manager

Scheduled Weekly Hours
37.5

Drug Test Required
No

Health Screen Required
No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No

Pay Rate Type
Salary

FLSA Status
Exempt

Pay Range
$220,000.00 - $240,000.00
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
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.