Associate Director, Student Experience

uchicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago seeks an Associate Director, Student Experience for Chicago Booth's Specialized Masters Programs. You’ll manage events, systems, budgeting, and the student communications ecosystem, plus 1:1 career coaching and employer relations.

Hybrid schedule with in-person presence in Hyde Park and downtown Chicago. 5–7 years of related experience and a bachelor’s degree are preferred, with supervision of student services and career programming.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5-7 years of related work experience.
• Experience in higher education preferred.
• Coaching, advising, or mentoring students; employer relations or recruiting coordination experience.
• Managing budgets, expense reconciliation, and vendor relationships.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day operations for SMP events, including logistics and vendor contracting.
• Develop knowledge of early career functions and target industries for coaching and programming.
• Provide 1:1 career coaching and build employer relations.
• Coordinate employer sessions and manage job postings.
• Maintain the program master calendar across academics, careers, and student life.
• Manage team inbox and schedule coaching appointments and drop-ins.
• Oversee student-facing communications ecosystems (newsletters, websites, LMS, platforms).
• Build relationships with employers and alumni to support employer engagement.
• Complete special projects and duties for the SMPs.
• Deliver large lectures, workshops, and coaching sessions; direct students to career resources.

Skills

Career coaching

Employer relations

Budgeting

Vendor management

Event logistics

Communication

Calendar management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

12Twenty

Canvas

Campus Groups

Slate

Workday

Job description

Job Summary

The Associate Director, Student Experience owns day-to-day operations for Chicago Booth's Specialized Masters Programs (Master in Management and Master in Finance), including event logistics, systems administration, budgeting, and the team's communications infrastructure. This role also provides direct support for the student experience, including 1:1 career coaching, and developing employer relations, growing into deeper coaching and employer engagement responsibilities over time. The Associate Director is also responsible for scheduling and tracking coaching appointments and communications; administering career and research databases; and managing student access to physical and virtual resources.

This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.

Responsibilities

• Assists and owns part of the day-to-day operations execution and logistics for signature SMP events (orientation, BoothCamp, and other events), including vendor selection, contracting, and on-site logistics.


• Continually develops and maintains knowledge of early career functions and industries that target early career students for recruiting. Analyzes markets and trends as they relate to the early career job search and incorporates tips/advice into coaching students, and in developing career programming.


• Employer outreach and eventually coaches and advises students 1:1 on career, academic, and student life topics, supporting both short-term decision-making and long-term development.


• Partners with senior team members to learn and apply best practices in career coaching, employer outreach and program delivery


• Supports student life programming, including community-building events, wellness initiatives, and other student experience programming.


• Maintains and administers the program's master calendar day-to-day, ensuring accuracy and enforcing calendar policies across academics, careers, and student life.


• Manages the team's shared inbox, and schedules and manages student coaching appointments and drop-in visits across the team's SMEs, escalating and tracking as needed.


• Owns the operational end of the student-facing communications ecosystem and systems, such as newsletters, website updates, Canvas, Campus Groups, and career platforms, including troubleshooting and data integrity.


• Builds and maintains relationships with employers and alumni, providing backend and direct support for employer relations, including coordinating logistics for employer information sessions and recruiting events and managing job postings.


• Completes special projects and performs additional duties for the Specialized Masters Programs as assigned.


• Conducts job search and career management related large lectures, hands-on workshops, special events, training programs, and one-on-one career coaching sessions. Acts as a resource for and directs students to other career resources as needed.


• Analyzes markets and trends as they relate to job searches. Assesses student feedback and evaluations and collaborates with other career services staff members, student organizations, or other staff to determine program offerings and innovations.


• 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 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications: ---

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.


• Background with program management, operations, or student support.


• Prior experience within higher education.


• Coaching, advising, or mentoring students, and/or experience with employer relations or recruiting coordination.


• Managing budgets, expense reconciliation, and vendor relationships.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficient using 12Twenty, learning management, or student information systems, such as Canvas, Campus Groups, Slate, and Workday.

Preferred Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to independently own and manage operational processes with minimal oversight.


• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong follow-through on both routine and complex tasks.


• Strong written communication skills, including newsletters, web content, and stakeholder communications.


• Work effectively in a highly entrepreneurial environment, with little structure, meet strict deadlines and handle multiple detailed tasks/projects simultaneously, with frequent interruptions.


• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and diplomatically in an interdependent, matrixed team environment specifically with colleagues, students, faculty, and corporate contacts.

Working Conditions

• This position is currently expected to work hybrid schedule, with a minimum of three days per week in person, and more during peak weeks throughout the year.


• Work flexible hours, sometimes early mornings, late evenings, and weekend days; campus presence in Hyde Park and downtown Chicago.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)


• Cover Letter (required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

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

$75,000.00 - $90,000.00

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.

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: securityreport.uchicago.edu