Associate Director, Evanston Program Success and Workforce Partnerships

For 140 years, National Louis University has been driven by one core belief: education changes lives. Since our founding, we've stayed grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity, and we've never wavered from the idea that education is the greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community built on continuous improvement and a genuine commitment to serving those we teach. Through education, we empower change and build stronger, healthier communities. Our hard-working team runs on collaboration and mutual respect, for one another and for every student we serve.

The Associate Director, Evanston Program Success and Workforce Partnerships will serve as the primary point of contact and driver of Accelerate U's expansion in Evanston, IL. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Workforce Pathways - Accelerate U, the Associate Director will build and manage community partnerships, lead learner recruitment, oversee program operations, and represent Accelerate U in the broader Evanston community. 

This is the right role for you if:

• →You are committed to equity, access, and building economic mobility. You know the power of a great education - one that catapults a learner into new, choice-filled opportunities. You also know that too many talented, high-potential people get left out, overlooked, or skipped over when it comes to opportunities. You want to break down those barriers, destroy those misconceptions, and work with mission-aligned employers to construct creative pathways to work and college degrees. 

• →You are driven to succeed in an entrepreneurial environment. You are passionate about opening doors for others. You want to take everything you know about operations, systems-building, higher education, and working with a variety of stakeholders to achieve a goal and use it to develop exceptional operations at Accelerate U. You love start-up and making a path when there isn’t one.  You’re agile, flexible, and ready to work hard.

• →You are relentless. We’re creating something that doesn’t exist.  This is problem-solving, process creation, and rapid learning wrapped into one job. You embrace the “and,” working with those around you to figure out a path forward.  You have high expectations for yourself and others.  And you never, ever give up. 

• →You love planning and building systems. You are excited to transform the chaos into systems that we can grow.  You love looking and making sense of data and you’re always on the hunt for better, more efficient, more thoughtful ways to do things.  You can build systems on your own, but you also love working with others to help improve their approach, too.

• Establish clear targets and goals for Evanston and develop and execute a strategic plan to achieve them.
• Build and manage partnerships with key Evanston organizations including ETHS, Youth Job Center, The Trade Collective, Cradle 2 Careers, Evanston Scholars, Oakton Community College, City of Evanston and others.
• Lead new learner recruitment efforts in partnership with the NLU Marketing and Outreach team, including hosting information sessions, creating and distributing recruitment materials, supporting applicants through enrollment, and facilitating campus visits to meet agreed upon recruitment goals and targets.
• Lead stakeholder engagement for AU in Evanston - including hosting/facilitating an agreed-upon number of cross-community gatherings of Evanston residents/families, community connectors/leaders, elected officials, ETHS representatives, peer career pathway organizations, and others to make Accelerate U an integral part of the Evanston education ecosystem.
• Oversee day-to-day program operations, including managing training and office space (as needed), coordinating supplies, maintaining a contact list, and managing data sharing agreements.
• Build and implement the “AU at ETHS” strategy including working closely with ETHS staff and teachers, engaging students and alum directly, and being a regular presence (to be determined with the VP of Workforce Pathways) at ETHS. 
• Represent Accelerate U in key community conversations and identify opportunities to align with existing initiatives and deploy grant funds strategically.
• Build a strong partnership with and serve as the primary point of contact for Northwestern University, including collaborating with the NU Community Workforce Development Specialist and participating in regular meetings and convenings with the Ryan Field Workforce Development Initiative team.
• Partner with the Northwestern and NLU teams to develop and execute a public communications strategy, including press releases, social media, and community events.
• Work closely with NLU administrative staff including Marketing, Enrollment/Admissions, Financial Aid, Student Support and others to ensure strong execution of Accelerate U in Evanston.
• Serve as the primary problem-solver for Accelerate U in Evanston, responding quickly to challenges and opportunities as they arise.

• Work with the VP of Workforce Pathways and the Director of Employer Engagement to develop and grow employer partnerships across Accelerate U's markets to increase job placements for program completers.
• Support the Director of Employer Engagement to cultivate relationships with key employer partners, including organizations such as Northwestern Medicine, Endeavor North Shore, and Erie Community Health, and leverage those relationships to strengthen Accelerate U program delivery and outcomes.
• Host employer events on campus or in the community to showcase Accelerate U, build employer awareness, and create direct connections between employers and learners.
• In partnership with the Director of Employer Engagement build and maintain partnerships with key employer partner collectives including P33, SDI Presence/XChange, the Civic Committee, World Business Chicago, and the Corporate Coalition and participate in sector-specific (healthcare and tech) councils.
• Contribute to broader Accelerate U partner engagement strategy and support cross-market initiatives as assigned.

• Bachelor’s Degree OR equivalent mix of experience and education (High School Diploma or GED and 5 yrs experience OR Associate’s Degree and 3yrs of experience directly related to the duties responsibilities
• Five (5+) years experience in program management, preferably in education or workforce development
• Five (5+) years track record in managing educational programs and leading teams toward excellent outcomes
• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

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.

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