Assistant Director of Operations

Assistant Director of Operations

University of Chicago – Chicago, IL.

$61,000 – $67,000 per year.

CSL Student Centers:
Event Services Operations

The Student Centers serve as the core community building and special events spaces at the University of Chicago. These centers play a formative role in the Campus and Student Life goal of creating a comprehensive and integrated network of services that support the academic mission and facilitate student learning, engagement, and success.

Reporting to the Associate Director, Building Services, the Assistant Director of Operations is responsible for overseeing the day‑to‑day operational functions and service coordination for Ida Noyes Hall, Reynolds Club, Bartlett Hall (1st floor), and Mandel Hall. The role maintains departmental resources, coordinates facility maintenance and custodial care, and serves as liaison with facility services and contractors. The incumbent interfaces with building partners, interacts with clients, and provides customer service during events.

This includes supervising the Event Service Worker (ESW) team (5 full‑time employees) and the student building managers (25 part‑time employees).

Regular schedule:
Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

• Ensure the cleanliness and functionality of facilities and equipment within the Student Centers portfolio. Perform routine inspections, coordinate building maintenance, work orders, and custodial care with facility services, and create housekeeping projects for the Event Services Workers.
• Maintain inventory of furniture, fixtures, equipment, and supplies. Manage facility access via CBORD and track distribution of keys.
• Oversee allocation and management of student group storage.
• Observe and report any security issues or irregularities in and around facilities in the Student Centers portfolio.
• Successfully execute all reservations and events across the Student Centers portfolio. Meet weekly with Student Center staff to review event schedule and collect event details.
• Coordinate internal resources for event facilitation; room set‑ups, staff coverage, audio /visual equipment, and external rental equipment.
• Create and distribute daily assignments to Event Services Workers and Building Managers.
• Perform daily inspections of event set‑ups, breakdowns, and changeover duties required per diagrams, checklists, or instructions. Lock and unlock event spaces as needed, according to the facility and event schedule.
• Supervise Event Services Workers (ESW) and Student Building Managers.
• Manage employee schedules using the university attendance system, including approval of personal or vacation requests.
• Hire and train Event Service Workers and Student Building Managers.
• Facilitate ongoing training opportunities for student building managers.
• Work with the Associate Director and Human Resources staff to handle all employment and performance concerns, consistent with the bargaining unit contract, where applicable.
• Provide after‑hours consultation to ESW and Building Manager teams in the case of an emergency or unforeseen circumstance.
• Provide customer service to all users of the Student Centers and serve as liaison to building partners, facility services, and their contractors.
• Interact with clients in preparation for and during the course of an event. Report and respond to any facility concerns that may affect an event.
• Interact with customers, including high‑profile, prominent University administrators and guests.
• Assist and advise staff and customers in making last‑minute changes to event set‑ups.
• Serve as a member of the Student Centers staff and assist with various office programs and projects.
• Consult and collaborate with the Associate Director of Building Services and fulfill other duties as assigned with the Student Centers portfolio.
• Supervise inspections of buildings, equipment, and/or surrounding grounds for deficiencies and potential safety, health, or code problems. Review and authorize written reports summarizing findings and recommend solutions.
• Coordinate with staff from other units and supervise the work of contractors, including…