Employer Partnerships Manager, Chicago

COOP • Chicago, IL

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

COOP Careers is hiring an Employer Partnerships Manager to build and strengthen relationships with employer partners in Chicago. The Employer Partnerships Manager is an individual contributor role focused on executing partnership activities and supporting organizational partnership goals. This person will manage assigned employer partnerships, steward new and existing partner relationships, support engagement efforts, and implement partnership activities in alignment with COOP’s mission, vision, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Strong communication, relationship-building, and organizational skills are essential, along with a passion for supporting impactful collaborations.

Requirements

• 2–3 years of professional work experience, with 1–2 years in sales, account management, customer success, or comparable experience in a fast-paced, people-facing role (education, program coordination, or operations)
• Ability to work outside of normal business hours as needed, this role will require you to be on-site for partner events
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to engage key stakeholders and navigate complex corporate structures
• Excellent organizational, multitasking, and project management skills with a focus on follow-through and customer service
• Demonstrates the ability to take initiative and manage responsibilities independently while collaborating with others.
• Effective communicator across interpersonal, verbal, public speaking, and written formats
• Comfortable with learning new technologies and self-teaching solutions to challenges
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Nice To Haves

• Experience or familiarity with Salesforce or other CRM systems is a plus

Responsibilities

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with hiring teams and leaders at partner companies, positioning COOP as a reliable talent pipeline for their hiring needs, in alignment with established partnership goals
• Keep partners consistently engaged by scheduling meetings at the start of each semester using established outreach and engagement practices
• Gather job opportunities from employer partners and share them with the COOP community, identifying and referring qualified candidates from the COOP alumni network
• Oversee all communications with employer partners, ensuring a responsive, high-quality service experience with guidance from leadership as needed
• Collaborate with the marketing team to promote partner events and highlight the successes of both partners and COOP alumni
• Develop and nurture relationships with Chicago-based partners to enhance engagement and create opportunities for active cohorts and alumni
• Proactively identify and engage potential new partners using established outreach strategies and messaging
• Lead introductory calls with potential partners and guide them through the partnership lifecycle
• Support the execution of a targeted market outreach plan to reach potential partners in the region
• Attend industry events to network and establish connections with key industry leaders
• Plan, coordinate, and execute employer engagement programs, including volunteer opportunities, mentorships, mock interviews, and technical workshops in collaboration with cross-functional teams
• Manage fellow participation and collaborate with the Program Team to ensure full engagement in opportunities by troubleshooting logistical issues as they arise
• Develop and distribute event surveys to gather feedback for ongoing improvement and to better meet employer goals using standard evaluation tools
• Maintain an accurate record of partnerships and opportunities pipeline in Salesforce and create ad hoc reports for stakeholders
• Track and maintain records of KPIs for each managed partner account, including but not limited to the number of COOPers hired, the number of attendees at each partner event, and other data points of interest to each partner

Benefits

• Base Annual Salary: $ $60,000 - $65,000
• A generous and flexible vacation policy, including holidays and office closures for Wellness Weeks the last week of December and first week of July
• 100% employer-funded comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you (80% employer-funded coverage for dependents)
• Flexible spending account benefits (healthcare, dependent care, and commuter)
• 401(K) retirement plan and 4% employer match - eligibility to participate after one year of service

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level