Center Specialist

About Oakton College

Educate. Empower. Transform

At Oakton College, we know education changes lives - and that starts with the people who make it happen. For more than 50 years,we've built a welcoming and inclusive community where students fromall backgrounds and experiences thrive.

We're looking for passionate educators, professionals and leaders to join our team. Whether in the classroom, student support, or behind the scenes, your talents and expertise will make a difference and shape the future.

We provide dynamic learning environments that empower students and employees alike with campuses in Des Plaines and Skokie and a Health Careers Education Center in Evanston.

As a proud institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Oakton is more than a college - it's a place where innovation, equity and lifelong learning drive everything we do. We value diverse perspectives and embrace new ideas and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and student-centered culture.

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…