Center Specialist

Location:

Des Plaines, IL

Category:
Staff

Job Type: Full Time Staff

Posted On:
Fri Aug 21 2026

Job Description:

The Welcome Center Specialist serves as a frontline ambassador for the College, ensuring that every visitor ? prospective students and their influencers, donors, legislative leaders, prospective employees, and community partners ? experiences the institution as welcoming, accessible, and mission-driven. The Welcome Center is the College's central gateway on the Des Plaines campus and will serve as the first point of contact for visitors.

This role is central to helping constituents to take their first steps toward achieving their academic and career goals while strengthening the College's relationships with external stakeholders. The Specialist creates a seamless, positive experience that demonstrates the College's impact on individuals and the broader community.

• Warmly welcome prospective students and families who arrive at the Welcome Center, serving as a bridge to Admissions, Adult and Continuing Education, Enrollment Services and other departments.
• Provide introductory information about academic programs, campus life, and student resources.
• Direct students and visitors to appropriate advisors, success coaches, or enrollment specialists, ensuring they feel supported throughout the process.
• Promote a welcoming environment that encourages students to envision themselves as part of the College community.

• Provide professional hospitality, ensuring appropriate recognition, care, and follow-up for all external guests.
• Coordinate and support logistics for donor visits, legislative briefings, community tours, and other high-profile engagements.
• Collaborate with Advancement, the President's Office, and other departments to align visitor experiences with institutional priorities.
• Share institutional priorities, general talking points, and impact stories that highlight the College's role in advancing student success, workforce development, and community well-being.

• Manage Welcome Center reception, phone, and digital inquiries with professionalism and care.
• Maintain Welcome Center spaces to ensure that branded displays, publications, and digital resources are accurate, engaging, and reflective of the College's identity.
• Track and report on visitor interactions (current and prospective students, donors, legislators, community leaders) to inform Advancement and Enrollment strategies.
• Support special events hosted in the Welcome Center or launched from it, ensuring smooth coordination and alignment with college messaging.
• Support on-campus events, tours, visits, and community events coordinated by Admission and Community Relations.
• Train and supervise student Ambassadors, including how to provide campus tours, practice strong customer service and hospitality, and facilitate warm handoffs to the appropriate departments and staff.

• Act as a visible, positive representative of the College's mission, values, and strategic priorities.
• Model a culture of hospitality, inclusion, and accessibility for all visitors.
• Support storytelling efforts by gathering student and visitor feedback and success stories to share with Advancement, Admissions, and Marketing and Communications teams.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Administrative supervision is received from the Director of Admission and Equity Outreach. May receive functional supervision as needed pertaining to communications and marketing from the Director of Communication and External Relations.

Functional supervision is exercised over student workers who serve as Admission Ambassadors.

• Associate degree required;
  Bachelor's degree preferred.
• A minimum of three years of experience in admissions, advancement, community relations, hospitality, public affairs, or a related field required.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills, with comfort in engaging diverse…