Operations Manager, Continuing Education

Highline Community College; Des Moines (WA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Highline College's Continuing Education division seeks an Operations Manager to lead day-to-day operations, fiscal management, and program support for non-credit and customized training offerings.

This on-site role reports to the Associate Director and emphasizes process improvement, staff supervision, and collaboration with internal departments to ensure compliant, sustainable programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 3+ years of related experience.
• Experience in operations/financial administration preferred.
• Supervisory experience with frontline staff.”

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations for Continuing Education.
• Manage budgets, payroll contracts, and financial administration.
• Oversee staffing, training, performance evaluations, and disciplinary action.
• Coordinate with internal departments to ensure policy compliance.
• Represent the college at internal and external meetings.

Skills

Strong interpersonal communication

Business writing

Oral communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Educational Administration, Communications, or related field

3+ years of progressive experience in operations management, project management, or higher education administration

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

Continuing Education is dedicated to enriching the community through personal and professional lifelong learning opportunities. The Operations Manager provides leadership and oversight for the day-to-day operations necessary to deliver high-quality education and corporate & customized training. This position is responsible for managing the fiscal and operational support needed to ensure smooth implementation and sustainability of non-credit/credit offerings. Continuing Education is a self-support department and continuation of employment is based on the ongoing revenue generated from Continuing Education classes and customized training opportunities. This position is fully on-site and requires regular presence on campus.

This position is a full-time, at-will overtime-eligible exempt position.

Reporting Structure:

This position reports to the Associate Director of Continuing Education.

Key Responsibilities

Fiscal and Program Operations

• Monitor, and manage program budgets, ensuring all deliverables are accomplished in accordance with grant expectations, institutional guidelines for self-support programs and state/federal regulations;
• Oversee fiscal-related processes, including billing, invoicing, tracking expenditures, and resolving discrepancies in student account records.;
• Contribute to long-term financial planning and budget monitoring while coordinating with internal departments to ensure compliance with institutional policies;
• Generate payroll contracts and stipends based on information provided in grants, contracts and open enrollment classes;
• Act as the primary approver for payroll and personnel actions;
• Managing quarterly academic and financial administration.

Operations and Process Improvement

• Develop, implement, and refine administrative and programmatic systems and procedures to enhance efficiency and service delivery;
• Create and maintain documentation, such as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), to support consistency and scalability;
• Analyze and review procedures within ctcLink and CampusCE software to ensure the effectiveness of programs and compliance with requirements;
• Plan infrastructure maintenance, procurement, and daily office workflow. Manage space utilization and compliance with institutional policies.

Supervision and Team Management

• Manage department employees by recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, and administering disciplinary and termination actions as appropriate;
• Establish and maintain workflows, service expectations, and operational consistency among staff;
• Provide immediate, clear, and direct performance feedback and ensure any behavioral or performance problems are corrected promptly;
• Schedule work assignments and hours in conjunction with frontline support staff and serve as a primary backup for front desk coverage when required;
• Partner with department directors to translate institutional goals into actionable day-to-day processes.

Coordination and Communication

• Collaborate with internal departments to support daily operations and workforce initiatives;
• Represent the college at internal and external meetings, conferences, and public relations events;
• Facilitate and participate in departmental meetings and ensure timely, accurate communication of process updates and changes to staff and management.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Educational Administration, Communications, or a related field; OR 3+ years of progressive experience in operations management, project management, or higher education administration; AND
• 2+ years of program or grant management experience where fiscal management of funds was required; AND
• Experience in supervision of frontline staff.

Desired Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal, business writing, and oral communication skills;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, and Google Workspace;
• Ability to use sound, independent judgment in decision-making and working with external partner organizations;
• Experience in higher education or working in a self-support department;
• Strong proficiency in database management, and financial tracking software;
• Ability to navigate complex organizational policies;
• Bilingual or multilingual ability.

HIGHLINE COLLEGE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Highline College is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects all cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We strongly encourage applicants to apply without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legal protected status.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

The College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants needing accommodations in the application process in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources office at [phone]. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may dial 711 to place a call through Washington Relay, the state’s free telecommunication access service.

TITLE IX POLICY

Highline College complies with Title IX regulations. For details on our policies, see our website: https://humanresources.highline.edu/faculty-and-staff/policies/title-ix/

The College appointing authorities reserve the right and may exercise the option to make an employment decision prior to the conclusion of the recruitment process.