Executive Office Manager
About One Million Degrees:
One Million Degrees accelerates community college students’ progress on career pathways to economic mobility.
Over 60% of students who start community college do not complete a degree or successfully transfer to a four-year institution. However, 84% of jobs in the US require skills training beyond high school. OMD’s holistic support model is designed to support community college students as they work toward degrees and careers. From personal and academic coaches to financial assistance and professional development, OMD helps community college students succeed in school, work, and life, transforming their futures and the futures of those around them for generations.
The OMD student support model is rooted in evaluation and evidence: A randomized controlled trial conducted with the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab shows that OMD scholars are 70% more likely to enroll, 94% more likely to persist, 73% more likely to earn a degree.
Currently, OMD serves scholars in all 7 of the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) and is scaling to reach nearly 3,000 Chicago students by 2026. In addition to its unique CCC partnership, OMD partners with employers across industries to build on-ramps to in-demand jobs through internships and apprenticeships. Alongside this direct service work in Chicago, OMD is also experiencing rapid growth working with higher education institutions and additional partners across Illinois and nationwide, supporting them to build holistic student support models.
Through this growing body of work, OMD continues to have a profound impact in Chicagoland while becoming a national model for sustainable, scalable, and systemic change.
OMD Values:
OMD is deeply committed to our core values, as demonstrated in the work we do, our approach to change and growth, and our commitment to our staff.
Equity: We address historical and existing systemic inequities by taking a holistic approach to supporting students on their path to economic mobility.
Excellence: We hold ourselves to a high bar and provide exceptional support so that students are empowered to achieve their ambitions.
Community: We unite around putting students first, collaborating with partners, and celebrating our collective wins.
Learning: We each adapt to a changing world and refine our approach to support students, community members, staff, and stakeholders along the way.
Amplify: We advocate for our students and share what we've learned as leaders in the field.
Position Summary:
One Million Degrees is seeking a detail-oriented, culture-driven, and relation-centered Executive Office Manager to provide administrative support for the Office of the CEO, including but not limited to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Strategy Officer/Chief of Staff (CSO/CoS), and the Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives (EDSI).
The Executive Office Manager will be the go-to partner for OMD’s CEO, ensuring their day runs smoothly and efficiently, while handling sensitive information with a high level of confidentiality and interacting with all individuals with a high level of professionalism. From managing complex calendars and coordinating meetings to acting as a liaison with internal teams and external stakeholders, this person will be at the center of it all.
The Executive Office Manager will also be the heart of OMD’s downtown headquarters creating a welcoming, organized, and positive environment for the team and guests. Reporting to the Executive Director of Strategic initiatives, this role will keep daily operations running smoothly while helping to make the office an engaging and efficient place to work. This person will manage office systems, streamline processes, and support initiatives that strengthen our culture and enhance how we work together.
The ideal candidate is an individual who enjoys working collaboratively across departments and functions, efficiently managing and completing multiple tasks and projects with high quality, and stewarding cultural initiatives with joy and passion. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced executive administrative professional to join a mission-driven, rapidly scaling organization and help transform the lives of students nationwide.
Specific duties and responsibilities include:
Provide comprehensive administrative support to the Office of the CEO, including managing calendars, scheduling meetings, preparing daily briefs, and ensuring timely follow-up on priorities.
Serve as the front desk lead for OMD’s downtown headquarters—welcoming guests, managing inquiries, and ensuring a warm, professional environment.
Responds to inquiries received either in-person, by phone, or email. Exercise discretion and good judgment in responding and problem solving. Consult with appropriate staff as needed.
Oversee day-to-day office operations, ensuring smooth functioning of equipment, supplies, and shared spaces. Support with developing and implementing office policies and procedures for efficiency and compliance.
Assist with travel requests and logistic coordination of senior executives.
Prepare correspondence for internal and external constituents; copy and distribute documents; maintain spreadsheets and databases. Maintain confidential files, records, and other sensitive information.
Support logistics for key organizational events led by the CEO’s Office, such as monthly All Staff Meetings, quarterly Institute Days, Board meetings, and leadership retreats. Provide planning and coordinator support for meetings and events. Schedules room, arrange for audio and visual technical support, prepare and distribute materials, order food/beverages; and track attendance.
Handle incoming and outgoing office mail; open mail and direct to appropriate staff; and process outgoing mail. Receive and log incoming signature requests while keeping an accurate filing system of returned items.
Support other teams with various administrative tasks (redirecting calls, disseminating correspondence, scheduling meetings, printing/binding presentations, etc.)
Manage monthly reconciliations for CEO’s and CSO/CoS’s credit card transactions and invoices.
Manage or assist with special projects as needed.
Perform related duties as required.
Qualifications and Requirements:
The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal background:
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Communications, or business-related field required.
A minimum of five years of related work experience, supporting C-Suite executive/s with complex and fast-changing calendars.
Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
Excellent written and oral communications skills.
Demonstrable discernment, discretion, and polish; respect for confidentiality and sensitivity in handling all matters in the Office of the CEO.
Strong computer information system skills, including high level competence in Microsoft Office and ability to learn other systems as necessary.
Experience organizing events and meetings.
Proven ability to work independently and to exercise sound judgment.
Must be able to follow complex instructions and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Proactive approach to problem solving.
A positive, professional demeanor and an ability to relate to a broad range of individuals inside and outside the organization.
Experience in education or nonprofits preferred.
Ability to be in-person at OMD’s downtown headquarters Monday-Thursday (9-5 PM) and occasionally work evenings and weekends.
Passionate about OMD’s mission to advance economic mobility.
Leads with empathy, respect, integrity, and authenticity.
Compensation & Benefits:
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $63,500 - $80,000 plus annual bonus eligibility.*
Full Health Benefits –Provided for all full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision. OMD pays 100% of individual’s basic monthly health premium and 80% dependent coverage.
Employee assistance program, which offers confidential emotional support, work-life solutions, legal guidance, financial resources, and more.
Retirement Benefits – For full-time employees, OMD matches retirement contributions up to 4% of total salary.
Generous Paid Time Off Policy – OMD has 12 paid holidays and offers up to 15 days PTO in year one; in addition to two weeks paid time off for winter break.
Compensatory time for designated duties performed outside of normal work hours**.
Monthly cell phone and internet reimbursement up to $50/month.
12 weeks of paid parental leave for birthing and non-birthing parents.
Professional Learning Opportunities – OMD supports employee development in areas relevant to professional and organizational goals and will pay for training such as workshops and conferences as agreed upon by the employee and supervisor.
Hybrid Work Schedule – This role will require four in-person office days per week with Friday being remote, and additional in-office days may be needed based on organizational priorities.
* To allow OMD to set salaries based on market data and internal equity, and to ensure fair and equal pay for every role, we offer our best offer first.
**All employees are expected to work a set number of Saturdays and evening hours per year due to organizational-wide events.
One Million Degrees is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation, and evaluate all candidates based on merit.