Operations Assistant

Description

Start Early is a champion for early learning and care from a child’s very first moments, so every child has the opportunity to thrive in school and life. Our desire to close the opportunity gap and create more inclusive experiences for our youngest learners guides everything we do. As a leader in early learning and care, we scale our deep expertise across program, policy, and research through partnerships nationwide.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning and communication. Become part of our rewarding, mission-driven culture! We want our employees to feel empowered, motivated, energized, and passionate about the work they do.

This role is central to ensuring the Professional Learning Network of Illinois (PLN) delivers its events, trainings, and meetings with excellence and reliability. As a key point of support for learners, facilitators, and internal teams, this position fosters clear communication, responsive service, and a seamless participant experience. By supporting event and training logistics, maintaining office and inventory systems, and providing accurate administrative and data support, this team member strengthens the division’s ability to meet funder expectations and continuously improve the quality of its programs and services.

This position is based in the Chicago office at 1 N. Dearborn, with regular onsite presence required to support training, event, and office logistics.

Reporting to the Quality & Systems Manager, you will:

• Customer Service & Event Logistics: Support the execution of training logistics for onsite events, including catering, materials preparation, room setup and teardown, and the shipping and receiving of training materials. Supports the delivery of the division's virtual professional learning opportunities for the field by assisting facilitators, taking attendance, supporting participant communication, and closing rosters. This responsibility is the largest and most time-intensive area of the role, directly supporting PLN's ability to deliver meaningful, well-organized learning experiences at scale.
• Meeting Logistics: Serve as the planning assistant for internal and external meetings, including scheduling, catering, and communications.
• Operational, Office & Fiscal Administration: Support Chicago office operations, including office supply ordering and distribution, training inventory management, and training material distribution. Support staff appreciation documentation and division card reconciliation as needed and assists the Operations Team with DONA and self-pay processes. This responsibility keeps the division's physical and procedural infrastructure running, ensuring staff and facilitators have the materials and guidance they need, when they need them.
• Compliance & Data Entry Support (Gateways, Early Intervention): Support Gateways Authorized Entity processes and associated data entry and assists with the submission and tracking of EI documentation, ensuring required information is accurate, complete, and submitted on schedule. This responsibility is a routine but necessary supporting function that helps the division maintain compliance and preserve its credentialing standing.
• Project & Resource Support: Provide logistical and administrative support to divisional projects and resources, including the HOVRS project, Video Library management and maintenance, and marketing and communications support. Supports the maintenance of divisional process documentation, such as SOPs, manuals, and other written guidance, so that content remains current, accurate, and transferable. This responsibility ensures…