Director of Operations, STARS College Network

Department

ESA Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Advancement

About the Department

Working in collaboration with the Office of College Admissions at the University of Chicago, the STARS College Network partners with top colleges to ensure that students from rural and small-town America have the information and support they need to enroll and graduate from the college or university of their choice.

Job Summary

Working in collaboration with the Office of College Admissions at the University of Chicago, the STARS College Network partners with top colleges to ensure that students from rural and small-town America have the information and support they need to enroll and graduate from the college or university of their choice. The Director of Operations and high school programming oversees all administrative aspects of the STARS College Network and collaborates across the network and the University to develop programming to support the college aspirations of rural and small town high school students. Directly supporting University priorities, the Director of Operations and high school programming sets high-level strategy for the network, engages in fundraising, and ensures all network members can successfully reach its goals. In addition, the Director is responsible for budget goal-setting, tracking and planning.

 The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment with a record of success in complex, decentralized environments where collaboration and coalition-building are critical to success.

Responsibilities

• Designs implementation strategies for goals and priorities set by Division Vice President and network donors.
• Works closely with Vice President and ESA leadership team members on network policy planning and strategy.
• Manages donor gifts that fund the STARS network, and collaborates across the Division and with the University Resources office, to ensure that donor expectations are met.
• Represents the network at internal and external meetings in areas of expertise.
• Manages and provides oversight for 4 STARS college advisers at the University of Chicago and all college advisors at members universities and colleges.
• Develops and oversees all high school programming in collaboration with the Vice President and ESA leadership, the Executive Director of STARS, and the board of advisors for the network.
• Manages strategic planning and goal-setting for STARS Network budget.
• Sets high-level policy and strategic priorities for student recruitment across the network
• Leads the development and administration of programming for college preparation teams, will also manage program evaluation and documentation.
• Develops the program budget.
• Develops, oversees and evaluates education outreach programs and related community relations strategies.
• Serves as a program liaison to establish partnerships with national, state and local organizations. Facilitate the development and coordination of academic and co-curricular partnerships with University divisions, departments, charter schools, and other community agencies.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree.
• Masters degree.

Experience:

• Progressive admissions experience.
• K-12 college counseling and preparatory programming development.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Presentation skills.
• Customer service skills.
• Maintain confidentiality.

Working Conditions

• Some travel.
• Work will take place in an office setting or remotely; during work-related travel, on and off-campus events, and application review season.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• References Contact Information (3)(required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Academic Affairs

Role Impact

People Manager

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$170,000.00 - $220,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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