COMMUNITY RELATIONS ASSOCIATE

Title:Community Relations Associate

Department:Community Relations

Reports To: Community Engagement Strategist

How to Apply: www.chicagobears.com/jobs

About the Role

The Associate Development Program is a paid 12-month full-time (temporary) experience designed for new or recent graduates who are looking to grow their professional sports experience. The format allows for structured professional development and hands-on learning.

The Community Relations Associate is responsible for managing the donation and care package process, supporting the staff and fan volunteer program, implementing youth football programming, assisting with community events, appearances, as well as administrative duties. The Community Relations department focuses on education, military, health and wellness, social justice, and youth football and high school football initiatives. This role works out of our headquarters, Halas Hall, located in Lake Forest, IL plus Soldier Field for home games with the ability for some remote work.

2025 Associate Development Program Dates: Monday, June 2, 2025 - Friday, May 22, 2026

Who We Are

As one of the founding franchises of the NFL, family is the core of who we are. We believe every person matters and we can collectively achieve success through our values of respect, championship mindset, community, and perseverance. We're different from other companies, as our vision is to be "one of one". We strive to be a championship football organization that consistently performs at a level of excellence on and off the field. Our people represent a vast array of cultural backgrounds, human experiences and perspectives and we believe they, collectively and as authentic individuals, are our greatest resource. Our working environment is one where your talent and contributions are valued by the organization and the community.

Responsibilities

• Administer the Chicago Bears DonationXchange system. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
  • Review, process, and respond to all donation requests made online
  • Pack, label and ship all outgoing donation items
  • Log and track all donations made to charitable organizations
• Monitor donation items and maintain an accurate inventory
• Respond to all donation request received via USPS by either e-mailing the charity the proper online procedure or sending them a postcard describing the proper procedure
• Coordinate staff and fan volunteer program (Bears Huddle), including assisting with webpage support, communication development, and event execution
• Manage the Hello To Our Heroes military care package & Thank You Fans program activation
• Fulfill requests for Bears items from schools, hospitals, and other charitable organizations
• Assist girls flag football initiatives and events
• Assist in scheduling and growing awareness for the Mini Monsters (youth football) along with execution on-site clinics
• Assist with community events and player relations at Community Tuesday events, Friday group practice visits and Bears home games
• Prepare gift bags for visiting groups.
• Assist in the development of the Bears annual Community publication
• Assist with managing content for @BearsOutreach social media account
• Research new ideas for community programs
• Provide administrative support to the CR team including organizing storage areas, ordering supplies, filing, data entry, mailings, copying, etc.
• Assist Bears Care with events and initiatives as needed
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned

Qualifications

• Passion for working with youth and the community at large
• Must be organized, detail oriented and able to use good judgment
• College degree preferred but not required
• Strong computer skills including Windows based applications and Microsoft programs
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to work with and develop relationships with diverse groups
• Must be dependable, flexible and able to adapt to a variety of situations
• Must be able to effectively work in a fast-paced environment
• 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

What We Offer

We remain committed to upholding the standard of being a first-class organization and employer of choice. Our goal is to provide quality support and a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for our most important resource, our people.

Competitive Industry Pay

The Brand Creative Associate is a full-time temporary position. This position is an hourly role. The expected hourly rate for this is role is $19 per hour. Please note, due to job function, regular over-time (paid as time-and-a-half) is expected.

Benefits & Perks

Our Associate offerings include but are not limited to:

• Core Coverage: Optional medical coverage (employer paid premium + employee paid deductible)
• Flexible Work Location: Up to 2 days a week of remote work (role dependent)
• Time to Recharge: 5 days of paid vacation time, 3 paid sick/mental health days plus 10 paid holidays, paid time off to volunteer
• Experiences: complimentary preseason tickets for one game, ability to buy additional tickets for home & away games
• Gear: yearly Bears gear package plus 50% off at the Bears Pro Shop
• Wellness: FREE breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks, access to onsite fitness facilities and BearsFit, complimentary Calm app access
• Connection: Social events for staff and their families, Employee Resource Groups, and more
• Professional Development: complimentary LinkedIn Learning access, professional development sessions, guest speakers, mentorship

Additional information on employee benefits can be found by visiting www.ChicagoBears.com/jobs.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Chicago Bears organization continues to deepen its commitment to establishing an inclusive, equitable work environment that reflects the diversity within our communities and fan base. We value, respect, and appreciate diversity at all levels, on and off the field, and are guided by a vision of success that includes integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into our club's DNA and culture. The Chicago Bears seek to attract, retain and develop top talent, regardless of personal characteristics, and we invite and encourage all individuals to apply for positions of interest.

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job. Chicago Bears Football Club, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.