Executive Director, Family Office Initiative

Job Summary

The Executive Director is responsible for leading the Family Office Initiative (FOI) programming within the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. In this inaugural role, the incumbent will design, develop, support, and direct family office activities that impact students at Booth and other constituents, mentor and advise MBA students, and collaborate with Booth leadership to integrate FOI activities into the broader academic experience.

Responsibilities

• Strategic thought leader and promoter of FOI activities, familiar with student‑, alumni‑, and faculty‑led initiatives.
• Develop and collaborate with the FOI team to implement the initiative’s overall strategy and operational plan.
• Contribute to fundraising activities for the FOI and Chicago Booth, coordinating with development teams, corporate relations, grant administration, and the FOI Council.
• Plan and execute work within an annual staff budget that supports Booth’s bottom line.
• Lead a team of professional and administrative staff, hiring, developing, and evaluating individuals to maintain a high‑performing team aligned with Booth’s values.
• Help develop and manage a portfolio of courses, including potential laboratory courses that provide practical family‑office experience.
• Lead co‑curricular programming for students, alumni, faculty, and the community, including executive education and executives in residence.
• Develop and oversee student internship programs that provide tailored family‑office experiences, collaborating with Career Services Offices.
• Initiate and grow partnerships with industry leaders, student groups, and others to build co‑curricular activities for Booth.
• Promote FOI by building and nurturing relationships with the FOI Council members.
• Ensure FOI activities align and coordinate with Booth’s broader initiatives.
• Identify new growth opportunities for the FOI.
• Collaborate with faculty, students, and campus leaders to foster multi‑disciplinary inquiry and teaching, coordinating workshops, conferences, colloquia, and training programs.
• Oversee communication and marketing strategies to increase the Center’s visibility and contribute to campus community goals.
• Perform additional related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• College or university degree in a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in a related discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
• Minimum ten years of demonstrated experience in most aspects of the family office industry.
• Background working in an academic setting.
• Proven leadership of a team and ability to drive results in a complex organization.
• Background working with graduate students.
• Fundraising knowledge and experience.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Preferred Competencies

• Strong communication skills, including coaching, facilitation, negotiation, and effective written communication.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision, self‑motivation, and initiative to recommend improvements.
• Excellent strategic planning, implementation, presentation, critical thinking, and persuasion skills.
• Capability to handle multiple detailed tasks/projects simultaneously and meet strict deadlines amid frequent interruptions.
• Professional demeanor with tact, discretion, and a customer‑service orientation.

Working Conditions

This position is expected to work a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Benefits

Eligible for the University’s benefit programs, including health, retirement, and paid time off.

Equal Opportunity and Compliance 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 identity, gender expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, disability status, veteran status, or any other protected class under the law. Job seekers needing a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should contact the University or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

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