Program Director

Program Director

The Program Director serves as the operational lead for Professor Ufuk Akcigit's research initiatives, including the Global Center for Economic Growth (GCEG) and the Growth Academya collaborative platform with The World Bank. Reporting directly to Professor Akcigit, the Program Director plays a pivotal role in shaping research direction, managing high-impact projects, and cultivating global partnerships. This role requires a dynamic leader to ensure operational excellence and amplify the global impact of the research portfolio.

Responsibilities include :

• Leading the design, planning, and execution of research initiatives aligned with long-term academic and policy goals.
• Shaping and implementing strategic priorities for the GCEG and Growth Academy.
• Fostering successful collaborations with external institutions, funders, and industry partners to support research growth, policy engagement, and strategic initiatives.
• Identifying emerging research opportunities and developing new initiatives in collaboration with global partners.
• Overseeing complex, multi-institutional projects, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality outcomes and tracking milestones.
• Managing project lifecycles, including budgeting, compliance, procurement, and reporting.
• Collaborating with HR, Grants, URA, and Procurement to ensure seamless operations.
• Overseeing visiting student programs and ensuring enriching educational experiences.
• Leading cross-functional teams, including research staff, students, and external collaborators.
• Facilitating weekly team meetings, ensuring tasks and responsibilities are clearly defined and research goals are met.
• Organizing events and conferences in collaboration with executive administrative support.
• Remaining current on University financial systems and policies through regular training and implementation of best practices.
• Conducting quality assurance reviews and recommending operational improvements as needed.
• Collaborating with the Communication teams to maintain and update website content.
• Setting program priorities and performance benchmarks; assessing and reporting on operational effectiveness.
• Managing the ART lab and allocation of workstations.
• Reviewing and approving employee time in Workday.
• Handling complex problems, identifying and implementing innovative solutions.
• Serving as the primary liaison to academic institutions, policymakers, donors, and industry leaders.
• Traveling and representing the program at international conferences, donor meetings, and strategic forums.
• Cultivating and sustaining partnerships to support research dissemination and policy influence.
• Leading grant writing, proposal development, and donor stewardship.
• Monitoring financial performance and coordinating with the Grants Manager on fund utilization.
• Developing compelling fundraising materials and strategic communications.
• Reviewing and approving GEMS reports in SAP / Concur.
• Reviewing and reporting monthly on program accounts, collaborating with finance partners.
• Processing payroll expense cost corrections (PECCs), journal entries, and correcting documents as needed.
• Troubleshooting and reconciling financial discrepancies in collaboration with the finance and HR teams.
• Handling invoices, reimbursement requests, funding transfers, and non-payroll payments to individuals, corporations, and suppliers / vendors.
• Serving as a key resource for program information. Resolving problems or questions referred to by program staff, University administrators, or other contingencies.
• Providing specialized professional expertise in program management. Implementing plans for educational programs and initiatives and acting as a liaison between the program and program participants.
• Planning and developing program objectives and / or content. Researching and identifying trends and needs and establishing program directions accordingly.
• Performing other related work as needed.

Minimum qualifications include a college or university degree in a related field and 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline. Preferred qualifications include a bachelor's degree in a related field, working knowledge in research and evaluation of international development, and proven project management skills.

Working conditions include an office setting, in-person, on campus, some international travel, a fast-paced environment, and working some evenings and weekends.

Application documents required include a resume / CV, cover letter, and professional references contact information (3).

The job family is Administration & Management, and the role impact is an individual contributor with 37.5 weekly hours. The pay rate type is salary, with a pay range of $120,000.00 - $135,000.00. Benefits are eligible, and the job is contingent upon a background check.