Strategic Operations Manager Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Title: Slattery Center Operations Manager

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: M-F, some weekend work

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: Student Life

Department: Student Life

Location: Elon Main Campus

Position Summary

The Division of Student Life provides premier student-centered services, programs, and experiences that integrate in- and out-of-class learning, promote holistic student development, and facilitate student engagement in a vibrant, supportive residential community. Within the Division of Student Life, this position reports to the Dean of Student Health and Well-Being, with a secondary reporting relationship to the Director of HealthEU Initiatives in the Division of Academic Affairs.
The Slattery Center Operations Manager provides visionary and instrumental leadership for a comprehensive, integrated approach to wellness and well-being. Opening in Fall 2026, the Slattery Center will support campus well-being and is a cornerstone project of Elon's Boldly Elon Strategic Plan. The HealthEU Initiative focuses university resources on six dimensions of well-being: community, emotional, financial, physical, purpose, and social. The three-story Slattery Center will bring together classrooms and labs, student-faculty research spaces, wellness and fitness facilities, and campus services to create an integrated hub for learning, engagement, and support. The Slattery Center includes a state-of-the-art aquatics center and a climbing/bouldering wall.
The Slattery Center Operations Manager oversees daily facility operations, building systems, risk management, security, vendor relationships, space utilization, event coordination, and operational planning. The position serves as the primary liaison between Slattery Center departments, Facilities Management, Campus Safety and Police, Information Technology, Event and Space Management, Registrar, and external contractors to ensure the center remains a welcoming, accessible, and high-performing environment.
The Operations Manager develops and implements short-term and long-range plans, sets department goals and priorities, coordinates assessment and evaluation efforts, and enacts strategies to achieve priorities of the department, division, and university. This individual is a key partner with faculty and administrative leaders across the institution in supporting a highly integrated wellness and well-being university initiatives and priorities to strengthen inclusive excellence, wellness and well-being, leadership and civic engagement, first-year experience, student success, and the residential campus experience.

Benefits of Working at Elon

As an Elon University employee, you'll join an internationally acclaimed university with a commitment to fostering a thriving community. Ranked among the most innovative, creative and best-run universities in the nation, Elon's personal approach to education extends to employees, whose growth, professional development and success is a hallmark of our training and advancement opportunities.
Elon University's home is the charming town of Elon, North Carolina, a small, friendly community located a short distance from the beach and the mountains, and among the vibrant cities of Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham. In addition to the beautiful canopy of historic oak trees iconic to our campus, you'll find boundless opportunities for family-friendly recreation, cultural events and outdoor activities. Hiking, water sports, fine dining and entertainment are just a few of the many happenings in the Elon area, making the region one of the nation's premier travel destinations.
Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:
28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.
Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses
Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.
Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.
Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.
Free use of campus fitness facilities.
Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.
Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.
Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon's principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one's identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.
Elon is proud to have been named to the list of Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs each of the past six years. For additional information about working with the Division of Student Life, visit: https://www.elon.edu/u/administration/student-life/about/work-with-us/

Minimum Required Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Facilities Management, Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, Public Administration, Recreation Management, or a related field.
Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in facility operations, building management, campus operations, or related areas.
Demonstrated experience managing budgets, contracts, and operational staff.
Knowledge of building systems, safety regulations, and risk management practices.
Certified pool operator license (required within three (3) months of employment)
Valid driver's license (or eligibility)
Strong project management and organizational skills.
Excellent communication, leadership, and customer service abilities.

Preferred Education and Experience

Master's degree in higher education, recreation management, or a related field.
Experience in higher education, healthcare, recreation, wellness, or student affairs environments.
Professional certification such as: Certified Facility Manager (CFM), Facility Management Professional (FMP), Project Management Professional (PMP), or Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP)
Knowledge of student-centered and inclusive facility practices

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Strong oral and written communication skills
Experience working with diverse populations and commitment to equity and inclusion
Demonstrated experience building partnerships and relating effectively with a diverse range of constituents and stakeholders
Strong organizational and project management skills
Commitment to, knowledge of, and experience with student unions, student activities, and facility management
Demonstrated skill with employee recruitment, supervision, and training
Flexible management style, process orientation, and ability to meet project objectives in a timely manner
Proficiency in strategic planning and assessment
Commitment to divisional and university priorities for mentoring, leadership and skill development, inclusive excellence, wellness and well-being, vibrant residential campus experience, civic engagement, and continuous improvement and operational excellence

Required Other Training, Certifications, or Licensing

Valid Driver's License required at time of hire. First Aid, Active Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automatic External Defibrillation (AED) certification required within 30 days of hire. Certified pool operator certification is required within 60 days of hire.

Job Duties

• Departmental and Administrative Oversight
  • Provide effective leadership for the Slattery Center, guided by a mission and vision consistent with the mission, goals, and priorities of the university and Division of Student Life.
  • Establish and implement departmental goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures.
  • Provide direct oversight for the building operations budget; includes monitoring the budget, preparation and submission of the annual budget and long-term planning documents/proposals.
  • Develop and implement building operations procedures.
  • Responsible for overseeing the management of digital and wayfinding signage throughout the building, ensuring content is current, accurate, and aligned with university messaging.
  • Maintains a working knowledge of all center tenant programs and services to effectively support internal collaboration and provide accurate information to clients and visitors.
  • Regularly monitors massage, lactation, meditation rooms, and additional shared spaces for cleanliness, safety, and functionality; reports or addresses issues promptly.
  • Develop and implement effective departmental meeting and communication structures.
• Strategic and Collaborative Leadership
  • Provide sustained and visible campus leadership in student, faculty, staff, and visitor engagement within an integrated health and well-being center
  • Establish and maintain effective relationships, especially with faculty and staff leaders of departments and functions located in the Slattery Center, including Campus Recreation, Confidential Advocacy and Support, Counseling Services, Dean of Student Health and Well-Being, Education and Wellness, Exercise Science, HealthEU Initiatives, and Health Promotion
  • Partner with staff in Event and Space Management and the Office of the Registrar to ensure events, activities, and classes in the Slattery Center are successful.
  • Regularly assess and communicate the impact and effectiveness of the Slattery Center
• Supervision
  • Recruit, hire, train, and assess the job performance of designated professional staff (aquatics coordinator, administrative assistant) and graduate and/or undergraduate student staff, which includes developing training experiences and supervision strategies that support the skills, knowledge, and dispositions required to effectively meet established goals and objectives.
  • Implement the ElonGROW (Guided Reflection on Work) model by facilitating regular guided reflection conversations that connect workplace learning with students' broader educational and career goals, ensuring a consistent and developmental approach to student employment across the university.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • As a member of the Division of Student Life, support university events, including, but not limited to: Convocations, Commencement, Family Weekend, and events related to Admissions and/or New Student Orientation.
  • Serve as a member of a Student Life Care and Response Team, which includes either serving in a rotational on-call emergency response role or providing initial outreach and follow-up support for student concerns.
  • Serve on university, divisional, or departmental committees, task forces, and search committees.
  • Other related duties as assigned by the Dean of Student Health and Well-Being and the Director of HealthEU Initiatives
• Inclusive Community Building Community is foundational to Elon and a shared responsibility within our residential campus. All who work at Elon should demonstrate an understanding of and engagement with Elon's foundational commitment to relationships, mentoring and collaboration in a close-knit residential community. We embrace the shared responsibility to foster inclusive excellence within a strong residential community. Accordingly, employees are expected to join together and build connections in activities that foster an active and engaged campus environment and engage in professional development to support the shared responsibility of enriching diversity, equity, and inclusion through meaningful relationships and mentoring at Elon. Employees are encouraged to, for example, attend or participate in campus activities such as College Coffee, Numen Lumen, campus cultural events, athletic events, continuing education, professional development opportunities and trainings, employee resource groups and other university-sponsored activities to demonstrate an active commitment to the Elon community.