PARTNERSHIP SOLUTIONS DESIGN ASSOCIATE

Chicago Bears • Lake Forest, IL

10h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Development Program is a paid 12-month full-time (temporary) experience designed for early-career individuals or those beginning their professional careers. A bachelor’s degree, relevant certification, or a combination of related education and experience aligned with the responsibilities of the role are required. Relevant coursework, training, or equivalent experience is valued. The format allows for structured professional development and hands-on learning.

The Partnership Solutions Design Associate will assist with the creative vision and strategic storytelling behind corporate partnerships for the Chicago Bears. This role sits at the intersection of graphic design, corporate partnerships, revenue generation, branding, and storytelling. It will assist the Solutions team in the development of partnership pitch decks, new stadium asset development and imagery, sales narratives, and forward-thinking sponsorship concepts that elevate the club’s commercial revenue strategy.

This individual will partner closely with the overall Solutions, Sales, and Strategy teams to translate business objectives into compelling, insight-driven visual presentations that win deals and deepen long-term partner relationships. This role’s primary location will be hybrid between our downtown Chicago office, our Lake Forest office and remote work.

2026-27 Associate Development Program Dates:  July 2026 – Friday, May 21, 2027

Please Note: Applications must include a working link to an online portfolio to be considered. Please ensure the link is accessible and viewable without restrictions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field -Graphic Design ideal
• Proficiency in InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Strong storytelling mindset—ability to connect ideas into a clear, persuasive narrative
• Organized, proactive and detail oriented
• Ability to perform in a highly collaborative setting with multiple tasks at one time
• Ensure accuracy of all materials, including data, branding, and partner references
• Ability to take directions, learns quickly, and executes with consistency.
• Able to work non-traditional hours, in non-traditional settings, including weekends and evenings
• Ability to stand/walk for long periods of time in varying weather conditions, climb up/downstairs, lift heavy objects
• Reliable transportation is required for this role.

Nice To Haves

• Sports Marketing knowledge or education a plus

Responsibilities

• Assisting internal design leads with the creative development of partnership pitch decks and sales presentations.
• Help translate partner objectives and sales strategies into visually compelling, insight-led narratives.
• Transform complex partnership assets (media, IP, in-stadium, digital, experiential) into clear, visually engaging storytelling.
• Collaborate, brainstorm and craft ways to elevate the design and storytelling standards across all partnership materials.
• Ensure all decks maintain brand consistency, premium design standards, and a cohesive voice.
• Participate in brainstorms, client strategy sessions, and proposal planning meetings.
• Help shape partnership concepts early in the ideation phase.
• Assist with the continued evolution of creating best practices for partnership deck architecture, storytelling flow, and visual systems.
• Maintain and evolve templates, slide libraries, and visual assets for efficiency and consistency.
• Look for new visual technologies and presentation formats to enhance pitches (motion, immersive visuals, mock environments, etc.).
• Ensure creative consistency across all commercial materials.
• Learn and develop a deep knowledge of the Chicago Bears brand standards.
• Help ensure consistency across all partnership materials and storylines to align with Chicago Bears brand standards.

Benefits

• Optional medical coverage (employer paid premium + employee paid deductible)
• Up to 2 days a week of remote work (role dependent)
• 5 days of paid vacation time
• 3 paid sick/mental health days
• 10 paid holidays
• paid time off to volunteer
• complimentary pre-season tickets for one game
• ability to buy additional tickets for home & away games
• FREE breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks
• access to onsite fitness facilities and Bears Fit
• complimentary Calm app access
• Social events for staff and their families
• Employee Resource Groups
• complimentary LinkedIn Learning access
• professional development sessions
• guest speakers
• mentorship

What This Job Offers

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