Graduate Program Director Jobs in Wilmette, IL (NOW HIRING)

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Graduate School of Business and Leadership (GSBL) at National Louis University seeks a dynamic, forward-thinking, student-centered leader as Program Director for its M.S. in Human Resources Management and Development and M.S. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and the corresponding dual degree. We seek a colleague who has had business experience, experience as faculty, and a fundamental understanding that HR professionals and leaders of tomorrow must be critical thinkers and problem solvers, able to lead change and navigate complex environments. The successful candidate will ensure that the curriculum is problem based and experiential, challenging students to tackle real world issues as the programs are geared toward working professionals looking to make an impact in their current roles and advance in their HR and business careers.

This is a 12-month open rank administrative Professional Practice faculty position. (non-tenured) Rank to be determined based on the successful candidate’s experience. This full-time administrative faculty position carries responsibilities related to program administration, teaching graduate courses in multiple modalities, staffing, curriculum development, assessment, and student support. The successful candidate will have program administration and service responsibilities in addition to direct instruction accountabilities.

The M.S. in Human Resource Management and Development is a well-established program receiving the prestigious SHRM alignment status. Our primary mode of delivery is a fully online program. We also have the ability to offer the program in a blended modality. In this format classes are an amalgam of three campus-based sessions per course combined with online coursework. We have an NLU Student SHRM chapter, and the Program Director will assume the role of faculty advisor for the chapter. We offer students a high quality, student focused program and are proud to have recently been named as one of the Best Online degrees in Human Resources as well as one of the most affordable HR master’s programs in the U.S. The program attracts human resource professionals seeking to advance their careers as well as those seeking to transition into the HR field (predominantly from other areas of business, social work and education).

The M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology launched in 2017 and consistently ranks as one of the Nation’s 25 best master’s online programs in I/O Psychology. The innovative, fully online program aligned with SIOP principles and competencies, attracts candidates from a wide variety of fields, including human resources, business, social work and psychology who are seeking to develop and/or broaden their HR, Psychology and/or consulting skillsets.

The Program Director will join a highly-engaged, change-forward and motivated Graduate School of Business and Leadership team. We are looking for an energetic, dedicated, empathic, and student-centered colleague who will continue growing our community of Scholar-Practitioners and who will thrive in our high-energy, collaborative learning environment built around NLU’s ten-year strategic plan which is focused on becoming a strong, vibrant, multi-disciplinary institution steeped in the values of innovation, access, excellence and equity.

ABOUT THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP

The Graduate School of Business and Leadership at NLU currently offers nine Master’s Degree programs, the Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership and a Doctorate of Business Administration. The Graduate School of Business and Leadership will provide aspiring leaders access to high quality, culturally relevant business leadership and management education, with hands‑on experiences and personalized guidance to master business competencies.

As a private, not-for-profit institution, National Louis University is currently in its 140th anniversary, NLU believes in providing access to educational opportunity, because we view education as our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a professional learning community committed to continuous improvement and advocacy for all students. We believe that through education we can transform individuals, empower change, and build healthy communities.

Teaching:

• Delivery of master’s level courses in business, leadership and related topics. Teaching may be both in person and online.

Passion for Student Success:

• Student Advocate overseeing the timely resolution of student inquiries, contribution to continuous improvement of student outcomes in engagement, retention, graduation, and career advancement.
• Active involvement in the programs, tools and events that enable students to learn and experience more about the field while pursuing their degree.
• Student advising, including advising on academic progress and professional goals.
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Program and Course Assessment, Maintenance, and Development:

• Ongoing development and revision of program curriculum and learning experiences.
• Continuous Improvement through course updates to the master course templates as necessary.
• Leadership and participation in programmatic and student learning outcome assessment process.
• Completion of annual program reviews and a five‑year comprehensive program review. Maintenance of program quality (Quality Matters).

Program Leadership:

• In collaboration with the GSBL Dean, the program director will lead and monitor the success of the HRMD and IOP programs, including supporting enrollment and retention goals, programmatic assessment and accreditation goals, course scheduling, monitoring the quality of instruction, hiring talented adjuncts, and mentoring and supporting full‑time and part‑time faculty.
• The program director is a key leader in the GSBL working in collaboration with the enrollment and outreach team to support current and future partners.
• Serves as the program representative to internal and external constituents.
• Membership and active involvement in the field will be key in growing the prestige of the NLU HRMD and IOP programs.

• Earned doctorate in Human Resource, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Organizational Development, Business, Leadership or closely related field required.
• SHRM-SCP or SHRM-CP preferred. Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate experience both in teaching and in practice, with a minimum of:
  • five years of full‑time professional practice experience in administrative, managerial, and/or executive positions.
  • research experience in one of the above (or related) disciplines as evidenced by publications in journals, books, book chapters, white papers, or presentations to corporate, academic, or professional communities.
• Record of effective teaching in higher education.
• Record of effective teaching in online and hybrid/blended format.
• Professionalism in and demonstrated commitment to working with diverse populations.
• Commitment to student success, student professional growth, and effective professional advising.
• Experience in learning outcome assessment.
• Experience using technology and AI in teaching and course development.
• Appropriate professional memberships in Human Resources and/or Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

ABOUT NLU

National Louis University (NLU) is looking to honor its past while defining a bold new future as a contemporary, comprehensive university that prepares diverse students for sustained professional success with a deep commitment to Access, Excellence, Innovation and Equity. We are a pioneering community that uses innovation to improve outcomes. NLU questions the status quo and strives to adapt and evolve with the changing needs of its students. We are a community that cares about each other and our students and we work collaboratively, tirelessly, and quickly to advance change in the service of students. We have a long venerable history, but we are not typical. We seek to solve intractable social issues through education; we believe we have not succeeded until graduates achieve sustainable career‑related employment; and we foster a culture that promotes failing fast so that we may constantly improve our work.

Founded in 1886, National Louis University is a private not‑for‑profit university offering over 70 programs from short‑term certificate through the doctoral level across its five colleges. The University serves over 10,000 students per year and has experienced unprecedented growth over the last several years. Most students are from Illinois, but the University also attracts students from throughout the U.S. and from around the world who take advantage of campus‑based, blended and online programming.

NLU is located in the center of Chicago’s downtown loop, across the street from the Art Institute, in an area which has been recognized as America’s largest campus with over 25 institutions and 50,000 students attending a college across the city. In addition, the University has two suburban locations and a Florida regional campus.

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 faculty benefits can be found here.

NLU Faculty salaries are based on rank within each college. The ranges for each rank for the Graduate School of Business and Leadership are listed below.

2025 GSBL 10-Month Faculty Salary Ranges

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, current/previous faculty rank, market considerations, tenure and standing with the university (applicable to current employees), and internal equity.

Directions

Please address in your cover letter how your prior experiences prepared you to be successful in the duties included in the position portfolio. Please submit scans of official transcripts for all graduate degrees held with the application.

Please include the following with your application:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Transcripts (Official or Unofficial)

Optional Additional Attachments:

• Teaching Philosophy
• Sample Syllabus
• Additional Licenses/Certifications
• Course Evaluations
• Letters of Recommendation

Please note: Upon hire, official transcripts are required and must be sent from the institution(s) directly to the HR Department.