Head of Employer Partnerships & Co-op Growth

DePaul University; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 56,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Tuition waivers for employees

Retirement plan with 8% match

Generous paid time off

Job summary

DePaul University seeks an Associate Director of Employer Partnership - Co-op to lead strategic development of employer relationships and MOUs for paid co-ops. You will supervise a small team, drive engagement events, and expand partnerships beyond co-ops into hiring and sponsored programs.

Strong sales, relationship management, and data analytics skills are required, with deep ties to the Chicagoland business community. This role is on-campus in Chicago and involves Travel across Chicagoland.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required; advanced degrees preferred.
• Minimum 6 years in employer relations, partnerships, sales, or business development.
• 3+ years of supervisory or leadership experience managing staff.
• Experience with CRM systems, job postings platforms, and Office suite.
• Strong data-driven strategy and communication skills.
• Experience negotiating contracts or MOUs and building partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and management of strategic employer partnerships and MOUs.
• Supervise 2–3 assistant directors, providing coaching and feedback.
• Design employer engagement events and partnerships across Chicagoland.
• Use CRM data to track KPIs and inform strategy and reporting.
• Collaborate with faculty and university leadership to align goals.
• Travel within Chicagoland for employer meetings and events; occasional evenings/weekends.

Skills

Strategic partnerships

Sales & relationships

Leadership & mentoring

Data analytics

Communication & negotiation

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or related master’s degree

Tools

Salesforce

Handshake

Microsoft Office

Job description

DePaul University seeks an Associate Director of Employer Partnership - Co-op to lead strategic development of employer relationships and MOUs for paid co-ops. You will supervise a small team, drive engagement events, and expand partnerships beyond co-ops into hiring and sponsored programs.

Strong sales, relationship management, and data analytics skills are required, with deep ties to the Chicagoland business community. This role is on-campus in Chicago and involves Travel across Chicagoland.