"Student Affairs Operations and Communications Manager"

Job Details

About Oakton College :

Educate. Empower. Transform

At Oakton College, we know education changes lives - and that starts with the people who make it happen. For more than 50 years, we've built a welcoming and inclusive community where students from all backgrounds and experiences thrive.

We're looking for passionate educators, professionals and leaders to join our team. Whether in the classroom, student support, or behind the scenes, your talents and expertise will make a difference and shape the future.

We provide dynamic learning environments that empower students and employees alike with campuses in Des Plaines and Skokie and a Health Careers Education Center in Evanston.

As a proud institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Oakton is more than a college - it's a place where innovation, equity and lifelong learning drive everything we do. We value diverse perspectives and embrace new ideas and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and student-centered culture.

Job Description:

Basic Function and Responsibility:

The Student Affairs Operations and Communications Manager provides administrative, operational, and project management support to the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA). This role oversees the day-to-day operations of the divisional office while leading strategic initiatives that enhance operational efficiency, standardize Student Affairs practices, and support student success. The position serves as a key liaison across the College, coordinating cross-functional teams and ensuring student-facing communications are accurate, timely, and executive approved.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide comprehensive administrative support to the VPSA, managing complex calendars, travel logistics, and high-priority correspondence with discretion and independent judgment.
• Direct daily administrative operations, including the supervision and performance evaluation of clerical staff and student workers.
• Monitor departmental operating budgets and grant-funded programs, ensuring fiscal compliance, accurate expense coding, and proactive notification of discrepancies.
• Collect and synthesize monthly data to produce official reports for the Board of Trustees, the President's Office, and the College community.
• Organize and manage the compilation of data and maintenance of confidential files, ensuring secure and efficient information dissemination for the divisional office.
• Manage the end-to-end student communications workflow; maintain a centralized communications calendar to ensure message consistency and obtain VPSA approval for all outgoing student outreach.
• Plan and coordinate special projects and large-scale events that standardize and strengthen Student Affairs practices across the institution. Meet established timelines, budgets, and performance goals. Continuously monitor project performance, proactively identifying and resolving risks or issues that may impact project plans, timelines, or institutional reputation.
• Assess content, assign courses appropriately, and manage the vendor relationship for the online student training module system, ensuring institutional compliance with federal and state regulations and college-specific needs.
• Serve as a high-level strategic partner in the management of sensitive data; design and maintain secure protocols for personnel records and executive-level communications to ensure privacy and compliance. Regularly has access to information pertaining to labor relations and collective bargaining agreement policies.
• Orchestrate the end-to-end preparation, quality control, and distribution of briefing materials for Divisional and Senior Leadership meetings, ensuring alignment with the VPSA's strategic objectives.
• Standardize and manage the bi-weekly divisional communication cycle, synthesizing college and community activities into cohesive updates to keep staff informed and engaged.
• Lead the design and execution of a comprehensive divisional onboarding program for new staff; coordinate and track professional development opportunities to enhance the core competencies of the team.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Supervision Received:

Administrative supervision received from the Vice President of Student Affairs (VPSA).

Supervision Exercised:

Administrative supervision is exercised over one full-time staff and student employees.

Requirements:

Qualifications and Working Conditions:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Communications, or related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible project management, and office/administrative support experience.
• One-year supervisory experience.
• Advanced proficiency in MS PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Google Suite.
• Demonstrated excellence in written, verbal, and electronic communication, including editing, proofreading, and composition skills. Ability to gather, analyze, and present information.
• Exercise discretion and independent judgment in determining the dissemination of sensitive material and/or information.
• In-depth knowledge of college policies, procedures, and practices.
• Strong organizational skills, with attention to detail, along with ability to make decisions, work independently, and handle multiple priorities required.
• Must be comfortable interacting with senior level executives.
• Accounting or bookkeeping aptitude and report compilation experience.
• Ability to interact professionally and tactfully with people of different levels of education, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences, and to exhibit an adequate level of respect to fellow employees and the College community at large.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.
• Two years supervisory experience.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands:

Light lifting up to 10 pounds and light carrying up to 10 pounds. Ability to reach above shoulder. Periods of time spent sitting, standing, walking, kneeling, bending, and stooping. Mobility to move from building to building on-Campus and to visit off-Campus entities. Work is performed in a general office environment. Little or no exposure to adverse working conditions.

Additional Information:

HOURS: 8:15 am - 5:00 pm

SALARY: $67,440

Based on the needs of the college and with Administrator approval, some positions at the college may have a hybrid schedule option available after 30 working days.

For information regarding employment eligibility, please visit our employment at Oakton web page.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Application Instructions:

Please be sure to have a current resume, cover letter, and list of, at least, three (3) professional references with contact information prepared to submit with your application.

Oakton College conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment. Convictions are not a bar to employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with state and federal law and in accordance with the Illinois Department of Human Rights Conviction Record Protection Act of March 2021.

Posted positions may be removed from the Oakton website without notice when it is determined that no additional applicants are required.

Oakton College does not utilize E-Verify for employment eligibility verification.