Director, Employer Partnerships & Career Programming

The Art Institute of Chicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Art Institute of Chicago is recruiting an Associate Dean, Director of Employer Engagement and Programming to lead the development and execution of a comprehensive employer engagement strategy for students and alumni across art, design, and related industries.

The role oversees staff, programs, and partnerships to expand internships, residencies, and employment opportunities, while driving equity, innovation, and career readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher; MFA/MA or related field preferred.
• 7–10 years of professional experience in employer relations, career services, partnership development, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience building and managing employer partnerships or recruiting pipelines.
• Experience in higher education or academic collaboration is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develops a strategic employer engagement plan to expand on‑campus and virtual recruiting for students and alumni.
• Builds and maintains relationships with employers across creative, nonprofit, corporate, and emerging sectors.
• Designs and manages 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 opportunities.
• Collaborates with academic departments to integrate external partnerships into classroom experiences.
• Identifies and sustains long‑term partnerships aligned with equity, innovation, and global engagement.
• Establishes systems to track engagement, participation, and employment outcomes.
• Leads outreach to increase employer participation in recruiting events and portfolio reviews.
• Supervises staff and manages resources dedicated to employer relations and programming.
• Represents the institution externally with employers and professional networks.
• Analyzes data and trends to inform strategic decisions and improve programming.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Relationship building

Public speaking

Professional writing

Data-informed decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree preferred

Job description

The Art Institute of Chicago is recruiting an Associate Dean, Director of Employer Engagement and Programming to lead the development and execution of a comprehensive employer engagement strategy for students and alumni across art, design, and related industries.

The role oversees staff, programs, and partnerships to expand internships, residencies, and employment opportunities, while driving equity, innovation, and career readiness.