Operations Analyst

The Chicago School; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Medical and dental insurance

Retirement plan with employer contrib.

Paid time-off

Job summary

The Chicago School is seeking an Operations Analyst to join the Student Support Department in Chicago. You will connect student advising, support, and academic operations with data, analytics, and technology to drive informed decisions and improve student outcomes.

You will partner with advising, student services, and IT to develop dashboards, monitor KPIs, and standardize processes that enhance retention, persistence, and degree completion across programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in terms of formal education and training in a related field.
• Experience in operations analysis, project management, business analysis, process improvement, higher education administration, student services, or related areas.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to translate business or operational needs into practical solutions.
• Experience working with technology systems, data, reporting tools, or process automation.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Advising Operations, Student Advising, and Student Support teams to strengthen operational processes that support students’ academic progress, persistence, retention, and degree completion while identifying challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support the development and monitoring of academic success initiatives, interventions, and proactive outreach campaigns.
• Analyze student academic and engagement data to help identify trends, barriers, and opportunities for earlier and more effective student support.
• Collaborate with academic and student support stakeholders to define meaningful measures of student success and establish consistent approaches to monitoring outcomes.
• Support the integration and use of academic, advising, and student support data across systems and departments to create a more comprehensive view of the student experience and lifecycle.
• Develop and document workflows, business processes, and operational guidelines.
• Support initiatives designed to improve student engagement, retention, persistence, and overall student experience.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Independent work

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

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 Operations Analyst works within the Student Support Department to connect student advising, student support, academic support, operational strategy, data, project management, and technology. The position will help transform student and operational data into actionable insights, streamline processes that support academic success, and develop systems and reporting that enable staff and leadership to make informed decisions. The role serves as a key partner in initiatives designed to improve student experience, academic progress, persistence, and institutional effectiveness. The ideal candidate combines strong analytical and project management skills with a practical understanding of technology and a passion for improving student experience.

Key Responsibilities

Student Support & Advising Operations

• Partner with Advising Operations, Student Advising, and Student Support teams to strengthen operational processes that support students’ academic progress, persistence, retention, and degree completion while identifying challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support the development and monitoring of academic success initiatives, interventions, and proactive outreach campaigns.
• Analyze student academic and engagement data to help identify trends, barriers, and opportunities for earlier and more effective student support.
• Collaborate with academic and student support stakeholders to define meaningful measures of student success and establish consistent approaches to monitoring outcomes.
• Support the integration and use of academic, advising, and student support data across systems and departments to create a more comprehensive view of the student experience and lifecycle.
• Develop and document workflows, business processes, and operational guidelines.
• Support initiatives designed to improve student engagement, retention, persistence, and overall student experience.

Technology & Process Improvement

• Create/implement/maintain dashboard and data visualizations that provide faculty and staff with actionable insights into student support and academic outcomes.
• Analyze student-level and aggregate data to identify patterns, trends, gaps, and opportunities for intervention or process improvement to effectively support informed decision-making and student outcomes.
• Help translate academic and student success priorities into operational plans, workflows, technology requirements, and measurable outcomes.
• Ensure that reporting and operational processes support timely, accurate, and actionable information for frontline staff and department leadership.
• Develop user documentation, training resources, and communication materials for new or enhanced technology solutions.

Data & Business Analysis

• Collect, analyze, and interpret student support data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for department leaders and academic stakeholders.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators related to advising, student support, projects, and operational effectiveness.
• Ensure data and reporting processes are accurate, consistent, and aligned with departmental needs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or the equivalent in terms of formal education and training in a related field.
• Experience in operations analysis, project management, business analysis, process improvement, higher education administration, student services, or related areas.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to translate business or operational needs into practical solutions.
• Experience working with technology systems, data, reporting tools, or process automation.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Higher education experience.
• Experience with student information systems, CRM platforms, advising technologies, case-management systems, or other higher education technology.
• Experience with project management methodologies and change management.
• Experience developing dashboards, reports, or data visualizations.
• Experience with process mapping, workflow automation, or continuous improvement methodologies.

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 & Benefits

This opportunity is budgeted at $$26.67 to $30.77 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,

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.