Director, Entrepreneurial Coaching and Engagement (Chicago)

Department

Booth Polsky Center: Entrepreneurship Programs

About the Department

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the U.S. and second to none when it comes to influencing business education and business practices. Since 1898, the school has produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Their rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education transforms students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges.
Chicago Booth has the finest set of facilities of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and one in Hong Kong) reflects the architectural traditions of its environs while offering a state-of-the-art learning environment.
Chicago Booth is proud to claim:
-an unmatched faculty.
-degree and open enrollment programs offered on three continents.
-a global body of nearly 56,000 accomplished alumni.
-strong and growing corporate relationships that provide a wealth of lifelong career opportunities.
As part of the world-renowned University of Chicago, Chicago Booth shares the University's core values that shape the distinctive intellectual culture. At Booth, they constantly question and test ideas, and seek proof. This extraordinarily effective approach to business leads to new ideas and innovative solutions. Seven of the Booth faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for these ideas - the first business school to achieve this accomplishment.
For more information about the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, please visit: Summary

The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation aims to advance innovative ideas and technologies from the University of Chicago ecosystem to the world. It creates entrepreneurial leaders through a broad range of experiences, including classroom learning, experiential learning, leading-edge research, and community outreach.
The Director, Entrepreneurial Coaching and Engagement is a multifaceted role with leadership across coaching, programming, cross-campus collaboration, and alumni engagement, with a strong emphasis on operational and small business entrepreneurship. This position leads and grows existing entrepreneurship and small business programs; provides tailored coaching across student, alumni, and community populations; and deepens cross-campus and ecosystem collaborations, ensuring the Polsky Center continues to serve as the central hub for entrepreneurship education and venture support.

Responsibilities

• Leads a portfolio of educational and experiential programming related to small business, family enterprise, and entrepreneurial operations.
• Oversees and provides coaching for student startups and small businesses, including training and managing additional coaches to ensure high-quality support across all venture stages.
• Serves as a liaison to internal and external partners, developing collaborative initiatives across the University of Chicago and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Acts as the primary Polsky Center contact for Chicago Booth's Master in Management and Master in Finance Programs, creating tailored entrepreneurship offerings and serving these student communities.
• Directs Polsky’s alumni engagement strategy, including programs and events, educational content, and network building.
• Expands support for family-owned and closely held businesses by identifying stakeholder needs and launching strategic initiatives.
• Pilots and scales new operational programs in partnership with the Executive Director; defines success metrics and evaluates impact.
• Mentors and advises students interested in small business and entrepreneurship careers, guiding them toward relevant programs and experiences.
• Supports fundraising efforts through proposal development, donor engagement, and collaboration with advancement teams.
• Works with the Polsky marketing team to amplify awareness of the Center’s initiatives and impact.
• Represents the Polsky Center at internal and external events; foster strategic partnerships with internal and external organizations.
• Manages campus efforts to strengthen student community and satisfaction with campus life for all undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students.
• Provides staff management, resources, and training to organizations that create meaningful co-curricular and/or community service experiences for students.
• 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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Master’s degree.

Experience:

• At least seven years of relevant experience, including leadership in entrepreneurship, coaching, university programming, or business operations.
• Demonstrated experience designing and scaling educational or venture-support programs.
• Strong relationship management abilities, with experience working across diverse stakeholder groups, including students, faculty, and alumni.

Preferred Competencies

• Professional demeanor, including tact, discretion, and a customer service-oriented approach.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and manage multiple priorities.
• Proven ability to work independently, build consensus, and collaborate across diverse teams.
• Familiarity with the University of Chicago ecosystem and entrepreneurial community.

Working Conditions

• This position is currently expected to work a minimum three days per week in the office.
• Travel between Hyde Park, downtown Chicago, and partner sites as needed.
• Flexibility to work occasional evening or weekend events.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

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

People Manager

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

$90,000.00 - $115,000.00

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 .

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: .Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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