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Student Operations Assistant Jobs in Chicago, IL

Goalbook

Operations - Finance and HR

Mundelein, IL · Remote

You'll collaborate with other teams and assist with people operations and sales operations. At its ... Goalbook is committed to building a diverse team that can understand and serve ALL students in the ...

McMaster-Carr

Supplier Operations

Chicago, IL · On-site

$103K - $118K/yr

Supplier Operations Generalist We are looking for broadly skilled, resourceful, and talented people ... students to thespians; we're interested in your ability to think and your drive to be challenged ...

McMaster-Carr

Supplier Operations

Chicago, IL · On-site

$103K - $118K/yr

Supplier Operations Generalist We are looking for broadly skilled, resourceful, and talented people ... students to thespians; we're interested in your ability to think and your drive to be challenged ...

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How much do student operations assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for student operations assistant in Chicago, IL is $20.42, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.87 and $23.03 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a student operations assistant?

Student Operations Assistants are typically college or university students who provide administrative and logistical support to various campus departments or offices. Their responsibilities may include answering phones, scheduling appointments, assisting with event coordination, maintaining records, and providing customer service to students, staff, and visitors. This role helps students gain valuable work experience while supporting the smooth functioning of campus operations. Student Operations Assistants often work part-time and may have flexible hours to accommodate their academic schedules.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a student operations assistant?

To thrive as a Student Operations Assistant, you need strong organizational abilities, attention to detail, and proficiency in administrative tasks, often supported by enrollment in a relevant academic program. Familiarity with office software such as Microsoft Office Suite, campus management systems, and scheduling tools is typically required. Excellent communication, problem-solving skills, and a collaborative attitude help you stand out in this role. These skills are crucial for efficiently supporting departmental operations, ensuring smooth workflow, and providing effective service to students and staff.

What are some common challenges faced by student operations assistants and how can they be managed?

Student Operations Assistants often juggle multiple responsibilities, such as administrative tasks, event coordination, and supporting departmental projects. Balancing these duties with academic commitments can be challenging, especially during peak periods like registration or exam weeks. Effective time management and clear communication with supervisors can help manage workload. Additionally, proactively seeking clarification on priorities and deadlines ensures that tasks are completed efficiently and accurately.

What is the difference between Student Operations Assistant vs Student Administrative Coordinator?

AspectStudent Operations AssistantStudent Administrative Coordinator
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may prefer college courseworkHigh school diploma; administrative or office management experience
Work EnvironmentCampus offices, student service centers, administrative departmentsAcademic institutions, student support offices, administrative settings
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, colleges, student service departmentsEducational institutions, student affairs offices
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level student support rolesComparing administrative support positions in student services

The Student Operations Assistant and Student Administrative Coordinator roles share similarities in supporting student services within educational institutions. The main differences lie in their scope and responsibilities, with the Assistant focusing more on operational tasks and the Coordinator handling broader administrative duties. Both roles require similar credentials and are commonly found in university settings, making them frequent points of comparison for job seekers in student support careers.

What are popular job titles related to Student Operations Assistant jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Student Operations Assistant jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Student Operations Assistant jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Student Operations Assistant jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Student Operations Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Student Operations Assistant job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 53% Full Time, and 47% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $42,464 per year, or $20.4 per hour.

Student Operations Specialist

Cengage Learning, Inc.

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday

Job description

We believe in the power and joy of learning
At Cengage, our employees have a direct impact in helping learners around the world discover the power and joy of learning. We are bonded by our shared purpose - driving innovation that helps millions of learners improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.
Scope of Duties and Accountabilities
Serving as a central operational contact for Student Services, the Student Operations Specialist supports systems, processes, customer concerns, reporting, and efforts to improve continuously. This position collaborates with Student Services teams, Product, Technology, Sales, and external vendors. Together, they identify operational obstacles, address complex challenges, and boost the efficiency and scalability of processes serving students.
The Student Operations Specialist is responsible for investigating operational issues, coordinating cross-functional resolutions, supporting system enhancements, and ensuring business processes align with organizational goals. They bring to bear data, operational knowledge, and critical thinking to identify root causes, recommend solutions, and support initiatives that improve both the student and employee experience.
This role serves as a link between frontline teams and technical collaborators. It helps transform business needs into operational requirements and ensures teams are ready for new processes, system updates, and organizational changes.
What You'll Do
Operational Support & Blocking Issue Management
  • Serve as a point of escalation for complex operational and student-impacting issues requiring cross-functional collaboration.
  • Analyze root causes and coordinate resolution efforts across departments.
  • Partner with internal teams to ensure timely resolution of advanced concerns.
  • Monitor trends and identify recurring issues requiring long-term solutions.
  • Support operational audits, investigations, and special projects as needed.

Systems, Reporting & Process Support
  • Support Student Services systems and operational tools, including Salesforce and related platforms, while maintaining operational workflows, forms, and routing processes.
  • Submit, track, test, and validate system enhancements, bug fixes, and process improvements through tools such as Jira and Aha.
  • Partner with Product and Technology teams to communicate operational impacts, business needs, and user feedback, and participate in user acceptance testing (UAT) and operational readiness activities.
  • Monitor operational metrics, analyze data, and support reporting efforts to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
  • Identify system and process gaps and recommend solutions that improve efficiency, scalability, and the student experience.

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence
  • Analyze existing processes and find opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability, consistency, and automation.
  • Assist in advancing continuous development projects in Student Services.
  • Assist with the development, implementation, and maintenance of operational workflows and procedures.
  • Evaluate operational risks and recommend process enhancements to improve the student experience and reduce manual effort.
  • Participate in automation and operational transformation initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with Student Advising, Registrations, Student Finance, Knowledge Management, Product, Technology, and vendor teams to support operational initiatives.
  • Assist with launches, system implementations, policy updates, and organizational change efforts.
  • Communicate operational impacts and process changes to collaborators.
  • Provide operational expertise and support to internal teams as needed.

Skills You Will Need Here
  • 1+ years experience in operations, business process support, project coordination, or a related field.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with the capacity to determine root causes and suggest solutions.
  • 1+ years experience working with CRM platforms, case management systems, or operational tools (Salesforce experience preferred).
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Excellent organizational abilities and keen attention to detail.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Experience collaborating across multiple departments and collaborator groups.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, PowerBI, and reporting tools.
  • Ability to learn new systems and technologies quickly.
  • Customer-focused approach with a commitment to operational excellence.

Key Competencies
  • Operational Excellence
  • Process Improvement
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Problem Solving
  • Data Analysis & Reporting
  • Project Coordination
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Collaborator Management
  • Communication
  • Adaptability
  • Continuous Improvement

Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of any classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws.
Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process. If you are an applicant with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in our job application process, please contact us at accommodations.ta@cengage.com.
About Cengage
Cengage, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.
Compensation
At Cengage Group, we take great pride in our commitment to providing a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package designed to support and empower our employees. Click here to learn more about our Total Rewards Philosophy.
The full base pay range has been provided for this position. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and geographic location. Sales roles often incorporate a significant incentive compensation program beyond this base pay range.
$22.00 - $29.00 USD

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