Student Life Specialist – LaGuardia CARES

Student Life Specialist – LaGuardia CARES

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens , LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States;

they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students.

Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility – moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond – in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020).

Please visit www.laguardia.edu to learn more.

LaGuardia CARES is seeking a dedicated and skilled Student Life Specialist to assist with daily operations, support strategic initiatives, and enhance service delivery for students. This role requires working knowledge and experience in grant reporting, partnership development, and program coordination. The ideal candidate is an experienced administrative coordinator who excels in organization, communication, and leadership while contributing to the overall mission of student success.

Reporting to the LaGuardia CARES Director, the Student Life Manager will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

• Assist with the daily administrative and operational functions of the CARES front office, establish and maintain efficient office procedures, service-flow processes, appointment systems, and front-desk operations to ensure a welcoming, professional, and responsive student experience;

• Provide operational assistance with CARES student-facing services and basic-needs activities, including the food pantry, and other student-support initiatives; monitor daily operations, identify service gaps or operational concerns, and implement appropriate solutions in consultation with the CARES Director;

• Lead the initial assessment and routing of student inquiries and service needs, providing accurate general information regarding CARES programs, eligibility, application procedures, referrals, workshops, and other public and community resources; determine appropriate referrals to CARES staff, campus departments, and external organizations based on student needs;

• Coordinate and monitor student service processes, ensure that established CARES procedures are consistently implemented and that students receive timely, professional, and equitable assistance while maintaining strict confidentiality and safeguarding sensitive student information;

• Oversee pantry inventory and supply operations, including monitoring inventory levels, identifying shortages and operational needs, coordinating ordering and receiving, organizing storage, and ensuring appropriate stocking and distribution of food and supplies; maintain accurate inventory documentation and coordinate with vendors, food suppliers, campus partners, and community organizations to support uninterrupted operations;

• Coordinate the scheduling, daily assignments, and operational activities of student workers, temporary employees, volunteers, interns, and other personnel supporting…