Career Center Operations Lead

Lake Forest College; Lake Forest (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Lake Forest College invites applications for a full-time Operations and Office Coordinator within the Gorter Family Career Advancement Center (CAC). The role provides strategic oversight of CAC office operations and front-line triage, leads the Career Ambassador student staff program, and manages the logistical execution of major career events.

The Operations and Office Coordinator reports to the Senior Associate Director for Communication, Operations, and Data, and will oversee a wide range of

Qualifications

• 3 years or more of administrative and office management experience and/or background in event planning or higher education preferred.
• Strong administrative and project management skills required. Must be attentive to detail and able to thrive in a fast-paced work environment while managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Outlook, required and previous experience with software Excel, CRM systems, and Smartsheet preferred.
• Ability to work within established systems and create new ones where needed.
• Excellent problem-solving and written/verbal communication skills.
• Team-orientation and ability to provide exceptional customer service.
• Demonstrated supervisory skills, able to provide effective mentoring for students and new staff.
• Interest in supporting students, alumni, faculty & staff, and employers with diverse backgrounds and identities and commitment to the College’s values of Curiosity, Accountability, Intellectual Inquiry and Engagement.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed for college events; valid driver’s license and willingness to travel occasionally within the Chicagoland area.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership for office management and scheduling, designing administrative workflows and supervising front‑desk coverage to ensure seamless daily operations.
• Supervise and coach student staff to help them provide excellent customer service and coordinate work assignments into CAC operations and standards of service.
• Assist with recruiting, training, and supervising student staff members.
• Provide leadership and direction for the student peer resume review program, including facilitating training and leading project management for student peer advisors, consulting with career advising staff where needed.
• Oversee main office and Forester Career Closet operations, forecasting resource needs and coordinating the acquisition and organization of supplies to ensure seamless support for CAC initiatives.
• Coordinate and execute transportation logistics for programs or events as needed.
• Support CAC leadership team with administrative duties.
• Lead event planning process for 100+ annual programs, manage deadlines and vendor relations, and optimize attendance reporting.

Skills

Office management

Project management

Event planning

Customer service

CRM experience

Microsoft Office

Tools

Smartsheet

Handshake

OneDrive

Slate

LinkedIn

Excel

Job description

Lake Forest College invites applications for a full-time Operations and Office Coordinator within the Gorter Family Career Advancement Center (CAC). The role provides strategic oversight of CAC office operations and front-line triage, leads the Career Ambassador student staff program, and manages the logistical execution of major career events.

The Operations and Office Coordinator reports to the Senior Associate Director for Communication, Operations, and Data, and will oversee a wide range of