Associate Dean, Director Employer Engagement and Programming

School of the Art Institute of Chicago; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is seeking an Associate Dean, Director of Employer Engagement and Programming to lead a comprehensive employer engagement strategy. You will oversee staff, programs, and policies to expand internships, employment opportunities, and career pathways for students and alumni within art, design, and related industries.

The role emphasizes data-informed leadership, strategic relationship-building, and partnership development to strengthen employer networks

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree; MFA, MA, or related field preferred.
• 7–10 years of experience in employer relations, career services, partnerships, or related field (equivalent training considered).
• Experience building and managing employer partnerships or recruiting pipelines.
• Experience in creative industries such as art, design, media, or cultural organizations.
• Higher education experience or academic collaboration preferred.
• Leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
• Strong strategic thinking and long-term partnership development.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement across diverse audiences.
• Data-informed decision-making and tracking outcomes.
• Ability to collaborate across departments and with external partners.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements a strategic employer engagement plan expanding on-campus and virtual recruiting opportunities.
• Builds and maintains relationships with employers across creative, nonprofit, corporate, and emerging sectors.
• Designs and manages a robust programming series featuring diverse professionals and thought leaders.
• Creates structured pipelines for internships, freelance work, residencies, and full-time employment opportunities.
• Collaborates with academic departments to integrate external partnerships into classroom experiences.
• Identifies, cultivates, and sustains long‑term partnerships aligned with equity, innovation, and global engagement.
• Establishes systems and processes for tracking employer engagement, student participation, and outcomes.
• Leads outreach to increase employer participation in events, portfolio reviews, and networking.
• Supervises staff and resources dedicated to employer relations and programming, including internship program.
• Represents the institution externally with employers and professional networks.
• Analyzes data and trends to inform strategic decisions and improve programming.

Skills

Relationship-building

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Public speaking

Data-driven decisions

Communication

Collaboration across departments

Education

Bachelor’s degree; MFA/MA or related field preferred

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Associate Dean, Director Employer Engagement and Programming

Job Category: Student Affairs

Requisition Number: ASSOC002916

• Posted : August 24, 2026


• Full-Time


• Hybrid

Locations

Showing 1 location

Sullivan Center
36 S Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL 60603, USA

Sullivan Center
36 S Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL 60603, USA

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

About the Department

SAIC is reimagining how we support students across the full arc of their academic and professional journey. Through the restructuring of Academic Advising, Career and Professional Experience, and Student Success, three interconnected functional areas of First Year Student Success, Academic & Career Coaching, and Employer Partnerships & Internships will create a more integrated, intentional, and forward-looking approach to student success.

Employer Partnerships & Internships strengthens the connection between the SAIC experience and the professional communities our students and graduates enter. The area leads strategic employer engagement, the Internship Program, and career readiness programming and resources, expanding opportunities for students and alumni to build career knowledge, skills, networks, and experiences while creating stronger pathways to internships and employment across art, design, and related industries.

Position Summary

The Associate Dean, Director of Employer Engagement and Programming provides strategic leadership in the development and execution of a comprehensive employer engagement strategy that connects SAIC students and alumni with career opportunities across art, design, and related industries. The position oversees staff, programs, and policies that advance strategic partnerships with employers and professional communities to expand access to internships, employment opportunities, and career pathways. Through data-informed leadership and strategic relationship‑building and programming, the position strengthens employer partnerships and equips students and alumni with the knowledge, skills, networks, and experiences needed to confidently pursue their career goals.

Responsibilities

• 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


• Supervises staff and manages resources dedicated to employer relations and programming initiatives, including the internship program.


• Represents the institution externally with employers, industry organizations, and professional networks


• Analyzes data and trends to inform strategic decisions and continuously improve programming and engagement efforts


• Exercises a high level of independent judgment in developing partnerships, setting priorities, and executing initiatives aligned with institutional goals

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


• Experience working within or closely with creative industries such as art, design, media, or cultural organizations


• Experience in higher education or academic collaboration is strongly preferred


• 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


• Ability to design, implement, and evaluate programs that support career development and employer engagement


• Strong communication skills, including public speaking and professional writing


• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and with external partners


• Data‑informed decision‑making skills, including the ability to track and assess outcomes


• Demonstrated leadership and team management capabilities


• High level of initiative, adaptability, and independent judgment


• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in employer engagement and student opportunity access

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications and other job‑related reasons.

Accessibility

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following page:

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals compliant with federal and state laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at [e-mail] .

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal and state laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at [e-mail] .