OPERATIONS MANAGER

Compass Group USA; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

FSAs

Personal Leave

Job summary

Flik Hospitality Group in the Evanston area seeks an Operations Manager to lead the Program Assistant team supporting Kellogg programs, events, and campus operations. You will serve as liaison between Flik management, Kellogg Facilities leadership, Program Managers, and both front-of-house and back-of-house teams to ensure seamless program execution and outstanding customer service.

Reporting to the Assistant General Manager and General Manager, the role is primarily based at the Global Hub with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years of supervisory or management experience in hospitality, event operations, education services, or related field.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and event-proposal tools (25Live, Social Tables).

Responsibilities

• Act as primary day-to-day operational liaison with Kellogg Facilities team and PA leadership.
• Supervise, schedule, train, and develop the PA team.
• Provide operational support for executive education programs, conferences, and events.
• Manage staffing assignments and daily building schedule to ensure coverage.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and safety procedures.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Customer Service

Problem-Solving

Organizational Skills

Scheduling

Training & Coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

25Live

Social Tables

Job description

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What makes FLIK click? Our people. The decisions, actions and attitudes of our associates earn the trust and loyalty of our clients every day. We know how to pick them and we know how to grow them. It starts with hiring people who share our passion for food and hospitality. Once we find the right talent, we encourage, value and recognize their contributions.

We keep our people renewed, excited and engaged by providing hands-on training and educating them about the latest trends. We give them a stake in successfully raising the bar. Our people love what they do and they love sharing their passion. Join our team and see the FLIK difference. Where a job isn't merely a job but the start of a career where you can flourish.

Job Summary

As the Operations Manager, you will be responsible for leading and coordinating daily activities of the Program Assistant (PA) team in support of Kellogg programs, events, and campus operations. This role serves as a key liaison between Flik management, Kellogg Facilities leadership, Program Managers, front-of-house, and back-of-house teams to ensure seamless program execution while delivering exceptional customer service.

Reporting Structure: This position reports directly to the Assistant General Manager and the General Manager in addition to a direct path to Kellogg Facilities leadership.

Work Location: The position is primarily assigned at the Global Hub with some responsibilities at the Ann Drake Center.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary day-to-day operational liaison to the Kellogg Facilities team including the Associate Director and Senior Director of Facilities, ensuring all PA team activities, event setups, and furniture moves align seamlessly with broader building operations, capital projects, and scheduled maintenance.
• Participate in ongoing vendor performance management and operational evaluations - including end-of-month reviews - to collaborate with Kellogg leadership on continuous service improvements, operational adjustments, and staffing timelines.
• Supervise, schedule, train, and develop the PA team.
• Provide operational support for executive education programs, conferences, meetings, and special events.
• Manage staffing assignments, weekly staffing schedules, and daily building schedule to ensure adequate coverage based on program and event needs.
• Maintain a daily communication loop with Kellogg Facilities team to navigate logistical challenges, such as restricted hallway access during tunnel construction, debris mitigation during roof replacements, or strategic coordination during scheduled power shutdowns.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, safety procedures, and Company standards.
• Deliver exceptional customer service while supporting faculty, participants, clients, and internal stakeholders.
• Support administrative functions and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 3-5 years of supervisory or management experience in hospitality, event operations, education services, or related field.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Exceptional customer service, business etiquette, and relationship-building abilities.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain high operational standards.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across multiple departments.
• Experience coordinating multiple events and operational activities simultaneously.
• Strong leadership, organizational, scheduling, training, and coaching skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• We expect you to become proficient with the following proprietary software programs: 25Live and Social Tables.
• Flexible schedule, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays

Physical Demands: Regularly stands, walks, lifts, kneels, and crawls. Ability to move conference room tables, chairs, safely operate equipment, and lift 50 pounds as needed. This is a hands‑on job requiring both management skills and technical skills.

Associates at Flik Hospitality are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Flik maintains a drug‑free workplace.

Flik Hospitality Group

JEANNE M LANE

Nearest Major Market: Chicago
Job Segment: Event Planning, Hospitality