Campus Operations Manager

Job Description:

Job Description: Campus Operations Manager

ABOUT THE CHICAGO SCHOOL

The Chicago School educates the next generation of change-makers in innovative theory and culturally competent practice to strengthen the integrated health of individuals, organizations, and communities. We enroll over 6,000 students across 40+ academic programs culminating in a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree or a professional certificate, and our unique approach to impact-focused education has made us a leading nonprofit university for more than 40 years.

As an employee at The Chicago School, you can become a member of a university community committed to true inclusion and equity. At The Chicago School, we celebrate individuals of all backgrounds and identities for who they are and what they can contribute. We take pride in hiring and retaining the most dynamic, talented, and passionate professionals who will help us continue to innovate for decades to come.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Campus Operations Manager is a key operational role responsible for campus-wide room scheduling and space coordination across the Chicago campus. Reporting directly to the Campus Director, this position serves as the central owner of space utilization and scheduling for all classrooms, offices, study rooms, meeting rooms, event spaces, and special-use areas.

The primary responsibility of this role is to ensure that campus spaces are scheduled accurately, used appropriately, and governed consistently in alignment with academic priorities, operational needs, campus policies, and safety requirements. The Campus Operations Manager partners closely with academic departments, the Registrar, Student Services, Deans, Admissions, and operational teams to manage scheduling systems, resolve conflicts, and establish clear standards for space use.

In addition to its primary focus on space scheduling and governance, the role provides support to broader campus operations, serving as an operational resource and point of escalation as needed. This position is required to work on the Chicago campus.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES

Day-to-Day Operations Management:

• Serve as the primary operational owner of all campus room scheduling and space utilization, including classrooms, offices, study rooms, meeting rooms, event spaces, and shared or special-use areas.

• Coordinate with academic departments, the Registrar, Deans, Student Services, Admissions, and campus leadership to align space assignments with academic schedules and institutional priorities.

• Manage, maintain, and continuously improve room scheduling systems, calendars, and related tools to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability.

• Establish, document, and enforce campus-wide scheduling protocols, space-use standards, and prioritization rules for academic instruction, meetings, events, and special programs.

• Review, approve, and coordinate event and space requests to confirm availability, setup needs, technology requirements, security considerations, and policy compliance.

• Serve as the final point of escalation for space-related conflicts, overlaps, and scheduling disputes, resolving issues independently when appropriate.

• Develop and maintain campus space-use, scheduling, and event policies in coordination with campus leadership and applicable departments.

• Partner with Campus Operations, IT, Security, and other teams to ensure scheduled spaces are properly prepared, configured, and supported.

• Maintain working knowledge of day-to-day campus operations workflows (front desk, room readiness, access, issue escalation) to ensure scheduling decisions align with operational realities.

• Monitor space utilization trends and provide data-informed recommendations to campus leadership to improve efficiency, availability, and long-term planning.

Campus Facilities Management:

• Support the implementation and enforcement of university and campus operational policies under the direction of the Campus Director.

• Serve as an escalation and support resource for day-to-day campus operational needs as assigned by the Campus Director.

• Assist with Campus Operations coordination, including maintenance requests, repairs, minor renovations, and preventive maintenance tracking.

• Conduct periodic campus walkthroughs to identify space-use, safety, or operational issues and report findings to campus leadership.

• Coordinate with external vendors and contractors for space- and event-related services as directed.

• Assist with tracking campus work order request to ensure timely, safe, and cost-effective resolution

• Provide hands-on operational support as needed for classroom and space setup and breakdown, including furniture configuration, room resets, and preparation for academic instruction, events, and special programs.

• Support routine Campus Operations activities during peak periods, staffing gaps, or special initiatives, including space transitions, room changes, and operational setup needs as directed.

Compliance & Emergency Support

• Support compliance efforts related to building safety, emergency preparedness, and space-use policies.

• Assist with the preparation and coordination of federally mandated Annual Security Reports (ASRs) as needed.

• Support the maintenance and execution of campus emergency operations plans.

• Serve as an operational support resource during campus incidents, including coordinating space access and room control in alignment with first-responder direction and campus leadership.

Emergency Operations Planning:

• Assist with maintaining comprehensive emergency operations plans for the organization, including response procedures for various scenarios such as natural disasters, security incidents, or public health emergencies.

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and local authorities to ensure emergency preparedness and response plans align with best practices and regulatory requirements.

• Conduct regular drills and exercises to test the effectiveness of emergency response plans and identify areas for improvement.

• Coordinate with relevant departments to establish communication protocols, evacuation procedures, and crisis management strategies.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• An associate or bachelor’s degree with two years of related experience, or a high school diploma with four years of related experience.

• Demonstrated experience in campus operations, facilities support, space management, or building services in an educational or similarly complex environment.

• Experience working with scheduling systems, calendars, or space coordination processes.

• Valid U.S. Driver’s License.

• Availability to work a flexible schedule supporting campus operations, including evenings and weekends as needed.

• Ability to lift, push, and pull approximately 50 pounds.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in a higher education environment.

• Familiarity with academic scheduling, room booking systems, and event management platforms.

• Knowledge of space utilization planning, shared-space governance, and campus event coordination.

• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage competing scheduling priorities.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and scheduling or database tools.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

This opportunity is budgeted at $70,000-$75,000 base compensation. Additional compensation factors may impact on total compensation. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time-off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, click the link below.

DISCLAIMER

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Compensation Range

$70,000 to $75,000

Compensation & Benefits

This opportunity is budgeted at $$70,000 to $75,000 base compensation. Additional compensation factors may impact total compensation. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time-off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, click the link below.

https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/career-opportunities/

The Chicago School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please note: For the protection of faculty, staff, students, and all who enter our facilities, The Chicago School strongly recommends that all employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 per CDC guidance.