Hiring: Associate Dean, Director Employer Engagement and Programming Company: School of the Art Institute of Chicago Location: Chicago, IL Job Posted Time: 2026-09-15 10:24:40 Employment Type: Full-time Target Skills & Keywords : Accessibility About the job Experience: •10 years of professional experience in employer relations, career services, partnership development, or a related field. An equivalent amount of training, education and experience will be considered Required Skills: •Develops and implements a strategic employer engagement plan that expands on-campus and virtual recruiting opportunities for students and alumni •Builds and maintains relationships with a wide range of employers across creative, nonprofit, corporate, and emerging sectors •Designs and manages a robust programming series featuring diverse professionals and thought leaders in art, design, and interdisciplinary fields •Creates structured pipelines for internships, freelance work, residencies, and full-time employment opportunities •Collaborates with academic departments to develop and integrate external partnerships into classroom experiences, including sponsored projects and industry collaborations •Identifies, cultivates, and sustains long-term partnerships that align with institutional priorities such as equity, innovation, and global engagement •Establishes systems and processes for tracking employer engagement, student participation, and employment outcomes •Leads outreach efforts to increase employer participation in recruiting events, portfolio reviews, and networking opportunities Qualifications: •Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree (MFA, MA, or related field) preferred •Minimum of 7–10 years of professional experience in employer relations, career services, partnership development, or a related field. An equivalent amount of training, education and experience will be considered •Demonstrated experience building and managing employer partnerships or recruiting pipelines •Prior leadership or supervisory experience preferred •Strong strategic thinking and ability to develop long-term partnership initiatives •Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills across diverse audiences •Knowledge of current trends in creative industries and the evolving job market for artists and designers •Demonstrated capacity to design, implement, and evaluate programs that support career development and employer engagement •Strong communication skills, including public speaking and professional writing •Demonstrated capacity to collaborate effectively across departments and with external partners Compensation: •Competitive benefits and rewards package Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!