DIRECTOR - SPECIAL PROJECTS (OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR)

City Colleges of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 73,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent health and welfare benefits

403(b) & 457(b) Plans

SURS pension plan

Generous vacation/holiday/personal/s;S

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

City Colleges of Chicago is seeking a Director- Special Projects (Office of the Chancellor) to lead high-priority initiatives and manage the full lifecycle of complex projects. You will coordinate executive stakeholders, oversee office operations, and provide strategic support to CCC leaders.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Institutional Health and Continuous Improvement, you will supervise office staff, manage data and reports in Salesforce/PeopleSoft, and ensure compliance with district

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in project management, executive operations, administration, or a related field, including experience leading cross-functional initiatives.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, SharePoint, Outlook and PowerPoint, and ability to use enterprise systems such as Salesforce and PeopleSoft to manage project information, analyze data, and prepare executive-level reports and presentations.
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with employees at all organizational levels, students, external stakeholders, and the general public.
• Demonstrated self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness, and relationship management skills (emotional intelligence).
• Excellent organizational and customer service skills; ability to work collaboratively across functions, levels and departments.
• Ability to work effectively within a culturally diverse work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise initiative, sound judgment, and independent decision-making in a high-profile executive environment.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information and sensitive matters with discretion, professionalism, and integrity.

Responsibilities

• Maintains Chancellor and EVC calendars and travel arrangements, providing organizational support for daily activities.
• Leads high-priority initiatives, coordinating executive stakeholders and oversight of office operations.
• Drafts and prepares correspondence for internal and external constituents and maintains documents and databases.
• Attends meetings and serves as liaison for assigned projects and committees.
• Oversees data management and reporting using Excel, SharePoint, Salesforce and PeopleSoft.
• Oversees budgets, contracts, and vendor relations within approved allocations.
• Coordinates pre- and post-employment activities for the Chancellor's Office.
• Ensures compliance with CCC policies and governance standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Decision making

Discretion

Cross-functional collaboration

Time management

Emotional intelligence

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce

PeopleSoft

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Excel

Job description

Since 1911, City Colleges of Chicago has been connecting studentsfrom across Chicago's neighborhoods to economic opportunity. Byoffering a quality education at an unprecedented value, CityColleges provides our students and alumni with a pathway to upwardmobility. City Colleges of Chicago is the city's most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility and racialequity-empowering its students to take part in building a strongerand more just city. As Illinois' largest community college system,City Colleges is comprised of seven colleges and five satellitesites across Chicago.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

Reporting to the Executive Director, Institutional Health and Continuous Improvement, the Director- Special Projects (Office of the Chancellor) leads complex, high-priority initiatives on behalf of the Chancellor's Office. The Director manages the full lifecycle of assigned projects, coordinates executive stakeholders, oversees office operations, and provides strategic and administrative support to the Chancellor, the Executive Vice Chancellor-Chief Institutional Advancement Officer and Chief of Staff (EVC), and other Officers of the District as assigned.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Executive Support

• Maintains the Chancellor and EVC's calendars and travelarrangements and provides organizational support for dailyactivities, including routine approvals and tasks.
• Facilitates communication with key internal and externalstakeholders on behalf of the Chancellor or EVC, as directed.
• Reviews, tracks and monitors all correspondence requiringChancellor and EVC approval or signature, ensuring timelyreview.
• Drafts and prepares correspondence for internal and externalconstituents; copies and distributes documents; maintainsspreadsheets and databases.
• Attends meetings as directed and serves on committees and as aliaison for assigned projects.
• Handles privileged attorney/client and sensitive work-productcommunications, including accessing and conveying privilegedcommunications to the Office of the General Counsel and InspectorGeneral.
• Reviews, researches, organizes, and analyzes information andmaterials and prepares related reports.
• Anticipates issues that could affect the successful execution ofthe Chancellor's or EVC's commitments; assesses potential impact,elevates concerns as appropriate, and develops options to resolveproblems or mitigate risk.
• Supports the CCC Foundation by facilitating preparation forpriority meetings, including board meetings, aligning keystakeholders, preparing executive leaders, and tracking follow-upactions.
• Leads the planning and execution of events hosted by theChancellor, EVC, or their direct reports, including executivetours, stakeholder visits, and both internal and external events.Coordinates participants, schedules space, prepares agendas andmaterials, documents decisions and action items, and arrangeslogistical support, as applicable.

Office Management

• Manages the day-to-day operations of the office, coordinatingwork activities with other support staff, organizing the workflow,relieving the Chancellor and EVC of administrative details andproviding an efficient and organized office environment.
• Oversees the development of processes and procedures to maintainefficient office management and administrative systems (e.g. filingsystems and forms, timesheet management and approval, telephones,office space, and the ordering of office equipment andsupplies).
• Responds to inquiries received in person, by phone, or by email,exercising discretion and sound judgment to resolve issues andconsulting appropriate staff when needed.
• Supervises and trains office support staff and work studystudents. Provides direction and coaching as needed.
• Serves as liaison to security and facilities teams at DistrictOffice (180 N. Wabash).

Project Management

• Coordinates high-priority projects and commitments involving theChancellor, EVC, and their direct reports; establishes clear scope, timelines, responsibilities, and stakeholder alignment; monitors progress; identifies risks; and recommends mitigation strategies tokeep work on schedule.
• Leads the full lifecycle of complex special projects, including defining scope, outcomes, timelines, governance, and resource requirements; developing and executing project plans; coordinating with project sponsors and internal stakeholders; and managing third-party contractors, as applicable.
• Manages data and prepares reports using Excel spreadsheets, SharePoint sites and other software including Salesforce and PeopleSoft.
• Maintains the Chancellor's and EVC's contacts in Salesforce and supports regular contact management in the system.
• Supports the Salesforce partnership organization list management to ensure accountability for system adoption, data quality, and compliance with established governance standards; monitors departmental responsibilities, identifies gaps, and coordinates follow-up and corrective actions as needed.
• Oversees assigned project and departmental budgets, purchase orders, vendor relationships, requisitions, contracts, and orders; monitors financial status and ensures expenditures remain within approved budget allocations.
• Coordinates pre- and post-employment activities for theChancellor's Office, including interview scheduling, onboarding, equipment and workspace assignments, and telephone and computer setup.
• Maintains a broad knowledge of policies, procedures, regulations, and rules governing CCC, to ensure compliance.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Reports To Executive Director, Institutional Health and Continuous Improvement

Direct Supervision Office Support Staff

Indirect Supervision Other employees may be assigned on aproject-by-project basis

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience inproject management, executive operations, administration, or arelated field, including experience leading cross-functionalinitiatives.
• An equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered at the discretion of management.
• Knowledge of office management and administrative processes andprocedures.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, SharePoint, Outlook and PowerPoint, and ability to use enterprise systems such as Salesforce and PeopleSoft to manage project information, analyze data, and prepare executive-level reports and presentations.
• Excellent verbal written and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with employees at all organizational levels, students, external stakeholders, and the general public..
• Demonstrated self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness, and relationship management skills (emotional intelligence).
• Excellent organizational and customer service skills. Demonstrated ability to interact at the most senior levels of anorganization and to work collaboratively across functions, levelsand departments to achieve shared objectives.
• Ability to work effectively within a culturally diverse workenvironment.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise initiative, sound judgment, and independent decision-making in a high-profile executiveenvironment.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information and sensitive matters with discretion, professionalism, and integrity.
• Ability to effectively resolve complex or challenging situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing assignments, and meet deadlines.

WE OFFER:

Excellent health and welfare benefit package and long-term savings and investment programs including 403(b) &457(b) Investment Plans and a pension plan with the State University Retirement System (SURS) Plan. Generous vacation,holiday, personal and sick days, and tuition reimbursement. For amore detailed overview of benefits, please visit the benefits pageof our website.

We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Chicago residency is required for all full-time employees within 6months of hire. Thank you for your interest in CCC!

Offered salary will be determined by the respective collective bargaining agreement and applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Benefits information is found at https://www.ccc.edu/departments/Benefits/

Salary Range Starting 80717