University of Chicago

Associate Director, Student Experience

University of Chicago • $75K — $90K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a related field preferred.
  • 5-7 years of experience in program management, operations, or student support.
  • Background in higher education strongly preferred.
  • Experience in coaching, advising, or mentoring students, with some familiarity in employer relations or recruiting.
  • Proficiency in learning management or student information systems like Canvas or Workday.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee everyday operations and logistics for specialized master's events, including vendor management and on-site coordination.
  • Develop knowledge of early career functions for comprehensive student coaching and career programming.
  • Engage in direct coaching and advising sessions on career, academic, and student life issues.
  • Collaborate with senior team members for best practices in coaching and programming.
  • Support community-building and student wellness initiatives through dedicated programming.
  • Manage the master calendar to ensure scheduling accuracy for academics and student activities.
  • Handle team communications and manage coaching appointment logistics.

Benefits

  • Health insurance plans for comprehensive medical coverage.
  • Retirement plans, including options for contributions that support future savings.
  • Paid time off to promote work-life balance and personal well-being.
  • Access to various professional development programs and resources.
Full Job Description
Department
Booth Specialized Master's Program

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:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:
  • Bachelor's degree.


Experience:
  • 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.

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