Assistant Director, Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program

Company: University of Chicago
Location: Chicago
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

Department Booth Rustandy Center: Social Entrepreneurship Programs About the Department The Rustandy Center’s mission is to advance research, promote innovation, and develop the people and practices to accelerate solving the social problems confronting our world. This position focuses on supporting the Rustandy Center’s program goals to 1) equip Booth students and alumni to increase their social impact by applying their business and management skills, knowledge, and experience; and 2) be the leading university-based launchpad and knowledge center for the next generation of social entrepreneurs and the people who fund them. The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the U.S. and second to none when it comes to influencing business education and business practices. Since 1898, the school has produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Their rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education transforms students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges. Chicago Booth has the finest set of facilities of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and one in Hong Kong) reflects the architectural traditions of its environs while offering a state-of-the-art learning environment. Chicago Booth is proud to claim: -an unmatched faculty. -degree and open enrollment programs offered on three continents. -a global body of nearly 56,000 accomplished alumni. -strong and growing corporate relationships that provide a wealth of lifelong career opportunities. As part of the world-renowned University of Chicago, Chicago Booth shares the University's core values that shape the distinctive intellectual culture. At Booth, they constantly question and test ideas, and seek proof. This extraordinarily effective approach to business leads to new ideas and innovative solutions. Seven of the Booth faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for these ideas - the first business school to achieve this accomplishment. For more information about the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, please visit: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/. Job Summary The Assistant Director, Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program (ESEP), manages the planning and execution of multiple Rustandy Center programs and activities in the social entrepreneurship domains. Responsibilities include event execution, program administration, research, and stakeholder engagement for the marquee John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC) competition, Tarrson Social Venture Fellows program, faculty commercialization, and other new and existing programs. It is based in the Hyde Park campus with occasional events and meetings in downtown Chicago (primarily around the Gleacher Center campus). Responsibilities Provides program administration and execution support for the suite of social entrepreneurship programs within the Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program (ESEP), which is part of the broader Business and Society Team at the Rustandy Center. Administers the John Edwardson, ’72, Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC) program that takes place throughout the academic year and supports social venture creation. Responsibilities include providing key course support for the New Social Venture class; overseeing all SNVC-related events including info sessions, pitch workshops, and classroom-based events; coordinating application review and applicant communications; coordinating three rounds of judge invites and logistics; serving as the SNVC programmatic liaison with the Polsky Center; and significantly, serving as the key organizer for the Edwardson SNVC Finals to ensure successful execution and follow-up of the day and working closely with the Rustandy Center event manager, marketing team, and operations team to do so. Manages and executes events associated with key milestones such as anniversaries, as well as ad-hoc events, including coordinating with speakers, setting up registration, staffing events, and coordinating with the Rustandy Center event manager and marketing team. Assists with continued venture support programs for students and alumni working on ESEP-supported ventures. Manages the program planning, application process, and execution of the Tarrson Social Venture Fellows program which provides mentorship and critical runway funding to help graduating students launch and grow their social enterprises. Manages the twice-annual alumni social venture support awards process, including application review, and works with the operations team on awards process. Manages relationships with select Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, working with them on relevant programs and workshops and supporting office hours with students. Assists with all aspects of the Rustandy Center’s faculty commercialization program, which supports UChicago faculty in turning innovative research into commercially viable and impactful social ventures. Responsibilities include assisting with the application and project scoping process for faculty, coordinating training sessions, developing relationships across campus to identify promising leads, and helping to schedule meetings and presentations as needed Liaise and develops relationships with student group leaders at Chicago Booth, including the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital club, Net Impact, the Government and Policy club, and more, and at other units (Harris Finance Group, Harris Ventures). Fosters alumni communities and closer connections to the center for participants in ESEP programming, including SNVC alumni, Tarrson Fellows alumni, and our social entrepreneurship programs in general. Contributes to the evolution of the ESEP program by refining our programs, ensuring relevant linkage between social entrepreneurship and broader Business and Society programs such as impact investing and sustainability, tracking program developments at peer institutions, developing relationships with external organizations to build the pipeline of social entrepreneurs at the University of Chicago, and more. Helps develop and track metrics to assess the success of social entrepreneurship and impact initiatives. Provides program support to programs and events in the broader Business and Society portfolio. Advises, supports, and recommends concepts for programming to leaders of various organizations and programs Markets student activities programming throughout the year. Develops and implements protocols for evaluating the effectiveness of programs. 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: Preferred Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree. Experience: A minimum two years of experience in program or project management, event execution, and/or business administration. Technical Skills or Knowledge: Proficiency in MS Excel, Outlook, and MS Office. Willing to learn and gain comfort with new software. Proficiency with Airtable or other relational database or CRM software. Preferred Competencies Demonstrated organizational and time management skills with keen attention to detail. Creative and resourceful with strong problem-solving skills and willing to seek out, coordinate, and appropriately disseminate information to key stakeholders. Enjoys administrative work and event planning skills. Work with frequent interruptions and successfully manage concurrent projects and deadlines. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Passion for student engagement. Strong team player who is willing to occasionally take on tasks outside of their portfolio to support colleagues. Demonstrated experience and interest in social entrepreneurship and/or social impact. Working Conditions This position is currently expected to work a minimum three days per week in the office. Flexibility to travel locally and occasionally start early or work late to assist with Rustandy Center events. Application Documents Resume/CV (required) Cover Letter (required) When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application. Job Family Student Affairs & Services Role Impact Individual Contributor 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 $58,000.00 - $62,000.00 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 . 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. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

Keywords: University of Chicago, Chicago , Assistant Director, Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program, Administration, Clerical , Chicago, Illinois