Associate Director of Partnerships and Outreach

Who We Are:

National Louis is a 135+ year old university that has been grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity from its inception. As an institution, we believe in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community that is committed to continuous improvement and superior student service.  We believe that through education we are able to empower change and build healthy communities. Our hard-working community is based on collaboration and respect for all team members and students.

What You Will Do:

The Associate Director of Partnerships and Outreach plays a key role in expanding the university’s reach and impact through strategic collaborations and community engagement. This position connects education and opportunity—building relationships that support student success and institutional growth.

In this role, you will work across departments—including Enrollment, Marketing, Academic Affairs, and Career Services—to create and manage partnership strategies that advance the university’s mission and goals. We’re seeking a professional who is both mission-driven and results-oriented—someone who thrives on relationship-building, collaboration, and measurable impact.

• Lead the development, management, and evaluation of strategic partnerships across PK–12 schools, nonprofits, corporations, and community organizations.

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to identify and expand partnerships that drive enrollment, outreach, and visibility.

• Oversee partnership agreements, data-sharing efforts, and internal service-level commitments.

• Produce data-driven insights and reports to inform strategy and leadership decisions.

• Represent the university at community, professional, and industry events to promote programs and partnership opportunities.

• Partner with marketing teams to align outreach initiatives with brand and communication goals.

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.

• 5+ years of professional experience in higher education, partnerships, outreach, business development, or a related area.

• Experience working with CRMs (i.e. Salesforce), strongly preferred.

• Proven ability to cultivate and sustain strategic relationships with diverse stakeholders.

• Strong communication, presentation, and analytical skills.

• A collaborative, adaptable approach and comfort working across departments to achieve shared goals.

NLU Inclusion Statement:

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued.  We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us: they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, Health Insurance benefits, Retirement benefits, Paid Time Off and Educational Opportunities. Additional information regarding full-time staff benefits can be found here.

The salary range of the grade for this position is $65,187 to $94,520 annually.  Compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.  Offers are based on multiple factors permitted by law, including but not limited to: budgetary considerations, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, market considerations, tenure and standing with the university (applicable to current employees), and internal equity. 

Please Include the following along with your application:

• Resume (Required)
• Cover Letter (Optional)
• Current NLU employees please also submit an Internal Posting Form