Operations Assistant

Description

Start Early is a champion for early learning and care from a child’s very first moments, so every child has the opportunity to thrive in school and life. Our desire to close the opportunity gap and create more inclusive experiences for our youngest learners guides everything we do. As a leader in early learning and care, we scale our deep expertise across program, policy, and research through partnerships nationwide.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning and communication. Become part of our rewarding, mission-driven culture! We want our employees to feel empowered, motivated, energized, and passionate about the work they do.

This role is central to ensuring the Professional Learning Network of Illinois (PLN) delivers its events, trainings, and meetings with excellence and reliability. As a key point of support for learners, facilitators, and internal teams, this position fosters clear communication, responsive service, and a seamless participant experience. By supporting event and training logistics, maintaining office and inventory systems, and providing accurate administrative and data support, this team member strengthens the division’s ability to meet funder expectations and continuously improve the quality of its programs and services. This position is based in the Chicago office at 1 N. Dearborn, with regular onsite presence required to support training, event, and office logistics.

Reporting to the Quality & Systems Manager, you will:

• Customer Service & Event Logistics: Support the execution of training logistics for onsite events, including catering, materials preparation, room setup and teardown, and the shipping and receiving of training materials. Supports the delivery of the division's virtual professional learning opportunities for the field by assisting facilitators, taking attendance, supporting participant communication, and closing rosters. This responsibility is the largest and most time-intensive area of the role, directly supporting PLN's ability to deliver meaningful, well-organized learning experiences at scale.
• Meeting Logistics: Serve as the planning assistant for internal and external meetings, including scheduling, catering, and communications.
• Operational, Office & Fiscal Administration: Support Chicago office operations, including office supply ordering and distribution, training inventory management, and training material distribution. Support staff appreciation documentation and division card reconciliation as needed and assists the Operations Team with DONA and self-pay processes. This responsibility keeps the division's physical and procedural infrastructure running, ensuring staff and facilitators have the materials and guidance they need, when they need them.
• Compliance & Data Entry Support (Gateways, Early Intervention): Support Gateways Authorized Entity processes and associated data entry and assists with the submission and tracking of EI documentation, ensuring required information is accurate, complete, and submitted on schedule. This responsibility is a routine but necessary supporting function that helps the division maintain compliance and preserve its credentialing standing.
• Project & Resource Support: Provide logistical and administrative support to divisional projects and resources, including the HOVRS project, Video Library management and maintenance, and marketing and communications support. Supports the maintenance of divisional process documentation, such as SOPs, manuals, and other written guidance, so that content remains current, accurate, and transferable. This responsibility ensures that divisional tools and materials are easy for staff and learners to locate and use.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required. 
• Minimum of 1 year of administrative, operations, or customer service experience preferred.
• Training in customer service technology, tools and/or methodology.
• Detail Oriented: Comfortable collecting and entering data accurately and consistently and following established processes and procedures.
• Customer Focused: Proactively prioritizes the customer above all else. Confident interacting with and communicating with customers. Elevates customer needs and potential solutions to the larger team. Strong passion for exceeding customer expectations.  
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Teamwork & Judgment: Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and, with guidance and established procedures, exercise sound judgment on routine and repeated responsibilities.
  Confidentiality: Ability to process, protect and exercise discretion in handling confidential information and materials.
• Fast-Paced & Gets Things Done: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, goal-oriented environment. Demonstrated capability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite.
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time.
• Onsite Presence: This position is based in the Chicago office at 1 N. Dearborn, with regular onsite presence required to support training, event, and office logistics.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to lift, carry, and move boxes of training materials and supplies, and to set up and tear down event and training spaces. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

Base Annual Salary: $40,125 - $45,475

As of the time of this posting, this is the expected base annual salary range. The base annual salary will be based on a wide range of factors, including skills, qualifications, experience, as well as business needs and limitations.

Our generous benefits plan includes: Comprehensive Health Plans, Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion, Holistic Wellness Program, Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6 months paid parental leave, and much more.

Start Early is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.