Program Manager, Kovler Diabetes Center

Department

BSD MED - Endocrinology - Kovler Administration

About The Department

Established in July 2006, the Kovler Diabetes Center has had a significant impact in the diabetes community at the local, regional, and national levels. Together, Director, Louis Philipson, MD, PhD, FACP and Executive Director, Peggy Hasenauer, MS, RN have grown the Center’s staff and faculty to support ambitious clinical research and further expand the comprehensive care model at UChicago Medicine. The Kovler Diabetes Center, along with support of other faculty in the Section of Endocrinology, builds on more than a century of University of Chicago contributions to diabetes care and research by:

• Delivering state-of-the-art comprehensive care, tailored to the needs of individual patients of all ages.
• Conducting leading-edge research into the causes of diabetes and new breakthrough treatments.
• Partnering with underserved populations to offer new hope to the communities hardest hit by diabetes, specifically here on Chicago’s South Side.
• Disseminating the latest advances in diabetes care worldwide through intensive outreach and education.
  
  

Job Summary

The Program Manager provides Center Leadership with crucial strategic and administrative oversight in support of the research, clinical, and community outreach arms of Kovler Diabetes Center (KDC). They also oversee the execution of the Center’s communications strategy through digital marketing, event planning, and other strategic communication initiatives.

The ideal candidate will further the Center’s mission by operating within established procedures while also developing new processes to maximize efficiency. This role is a hybrid position that combines business administrative support with opportunities to execute community outreach initiatives under the direction of the Center’s Executive Director. The Program Manager is primarily responsible for the financial and administrative operations of KDC and must possess strong organizational skills, complemented by an interest in diabetes research, management, and care.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee strategic projects from inception through completion, ensuring efficient workflows, timely execution, and measurable impact.
• Develop and manage Center budgets in collaboration with Section of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, and BSD finance teams.
• Oversee financial operations of the KDC, including tracking expenses, paying vendors, processing staff reimbursements, and ensuring fiscal accountability.
• Provide executive support for the physician and professor who serves as the Director of the Kovler Diabetes Center including calendar management preparation of reports and presentations, and coordination of key meetings.
• Plan and execute internal events, meetings, and retreats to foster a strong office culture.
• Oversee daily office operations by receiving shipments, managing inventories, and acting as the primary administrative resource for KDC faculty and staff.
• Develop and execute an integrated communications strategy that furthers awareness of the Center’s distinct mission across digital and traditional platforms.
• Maintains the Center’s digital identity, including website updates, social media strategy, and email marketing campaigns.
• Create compelling content and oversee engagement analytics to inform outreach strategy.
• Represent Kovler at national and local diabetes conferences, managing real-time social media coverage and outreach.
• Develop/maintain a digital clinical recruitment strategy in partnership with Kovler Diabetes Center clinical research teams aimed to increase the total number of enrolled research participants.
• Trains and manages communications interns and/or other students to support the execution of communications strategy.
• Plan, manage and execute events and programming in alignment with Kovler’s four missional pillars: Clinical Care, Education, Community Outreach, and Research.
• Coordinate cross-campus and external partnerships to amplify Kovler’s presence in the broader diabetes community.
• Identify and facilitate opportunities to further Kovler Diabetes Center’s visibility to internal and external partners at national, regional, and local levels.
• Support University and UChicago Medicine events, assisting with programming, logistics, and strategic marketing initiatives.
• Craft post-event reports to evaluate impact and inform future engagement strategies.
• Resolves problems independently and develop process-centered solutions, conferring with Center leadership to resolve the most complex issues.
• Seek professional development opportunities, including webinars, seminars, and networking within the University and peer institutions.
• Assume additional responsibilities as assigned by the Kovler Diabetes Center Director and Executive Director.
• Uses moderate/solid understanding and experience to administer the delivery of services to program participants and/or beneficiaries.
• Analyzes program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
• Performs other related work as needed.
  
  

Education:

Minimum Qualifications

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 in Business Communications, Healthcare Administration or a related field.
  
  

Experience:

• Experience working within a large academic medical center.
  
  

Preferred Competencies

• Budget management and financial oversight.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Zoom, and meeting management tools (Google Forms, Rally, Doodle Polls strongly preferred).
• Ability to manage multiple projects, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Deep fluency in digital communications best practices, including accessibility, website management, social media, and email marketing.
• Capacity to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive situations professionally.
• Flexibility, creativity, and initiative.
• Experience managing and mentoring staff or interns.
• Experience with short-length video editing is a plus.
• Experience with graphic design is a plus.
  
  

Application Documents

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

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

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

$65,000.00 - $80,000.00

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.

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