People Operations Coordinator

WHO WE ARE

At Make-A-Wish Illinois®, we are more than a great place to work:  our work is life-changing.  Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.  Nearly 40 years ago, the inspiration for Make-A-Wish began with one little boy’s wish to be a police officer.  Today, together with our volunteers, donors, staff and supporters, Make-A-Wish Illinois has granted more than 17,000 life-changing wishes and transformed countless lives.  We typically serve over 700 children per year with the goal to double our impact across our communities.  The diversity of our team of staff and volunteers, and our board, are of critical importance for us as it positions us to reach every child eligible for a wish with an equitable, high quality and impactful wish experience.

The Illinois chapter of Make-A-Wish is one of the largest chapters in the Make-A-Wish enterprise.  It has a reputation for being an innovator and often is a collaborator on national opportunities, co-creating solutions for all chapters to adopt.

THE ROLE

Title: People Operations Coordinator

Reports to: Director of People

Department: Operations

Position Description: The People Operations Coordinator role at Make-A-Wish Illinois is a unique and dynamic position that supports the talent, HR, and office operations functions. This individual will coordinate talent acquisition, employee benefits, HR administration, and employee engagement & development initiatives while ensuring smooth office operations. The ideal candidate will be a highly organized, proactive, and people-oriented professional with a passion for contributing to the mission of Make-A-Wish Illinois (MAWI).

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Talent Coordination:

• Recruitment & Talent Acquisition
• Coordinate the full-cycle recruitment process, including job postings, candidate screening, and scheduling interviews.
• Handle all new hire orientation paperwork, ensuring accurate and timely completion of all necessary forms.

• Employee Benefits Management
• Organize the management of employee benefits across the organization, ensuring all staff are informed and supported in their benefits selections.
• Serve as a liaison between employees and benefits providers, addressing any questions or issues that arise.
• Assist with the annual benefits renewal process and open enrollment.

• Employee Engagement & Development
• Facilitate the process components associated with the annual performance management program, including setting timelines, communicating expectations, and managing documentation.
• Assist in planning and executing employee engagement initiatives, such as recognition programs, team-building activities, and wellness programs.

• HR Administration
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee records in HRIS systems.
• Support the Director of People with talent projects, including policy updates, performance management processes, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.

Office Operations Coordination:

• Office Management
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the office, including managing office supplies, equipment, and facilities.
• Act as the primary point of contact for office vendors and service providers, ensuring timely and cost-effective delivery of services.
• Coordinate and manage office space, including seating arrangements and office moves.

• Administrative Support
• Provide administrative support to the organization, including providing phone coverage, scheduling meetings, preparing documents, and handling correspondence.
• Assist in organizing and coordinating company events, meetings, and conferences.
• Ensure the office environment is welcoming, organized, and conducive to productivity.

Qualifications:

Education

• Associate’s degree is required and bachelor’s degree in HR/Business is preferred

Experience & Skills

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in People Operations Coordination, Office Operations, or a related role
• Experience in office management or administrative support is preferred
• Proficiency in HRIS systems (Paylocity a plus), Workable, Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, Salesforce, and other relevant software
• Fluency in Spanish is a plus
• Proven track record of strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships at all levels of the organization

Additional Attributes

• Ability to focus on the tasks and details relevant to the position and the organization, while also switching quickly between tasks
• Ability to exercise excellent independent judgment and take ownership of decisions
• Ability to think on a broad, systems-level relative to the scope of the position
• Ability to work independently and self-manage to achieve goals while being a strong team player
• Ability to organize, meet deadlines, and delegate appropriately
• Ability to cope with and embrace change, risk, and uncertainty
• Ability to develop strong relationships within a collaborative setting that values diverse opinions; enthusiasm for helping drive change as MAWI becomes a more data-driven organization

HIRING RANGE: $23 – 26/hour (Based on 37.5/week, 52 weeks)

Work Schedule and Location:

Hybrid Schedule – Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in-person at the corporate office (200 W. Monroe, Suite 1801, Chicago, IL 60606) and M/F are remote. Business needs may dictate occasional need to adjust the hybrid schedule and team member is expected to be able to accommodate the organization’s physical presence needs as part of their hybrid work agreement.

Time Off:

• 15 PTO days
• 8 Sick Days
• 8 Paid Holidays + 3 Floating Holidays
• Last Week of Year Off (12/24 – 1/1)
• 1 Employee Appreciation Day per year
• 4 Professional Development Days for continuous learning and growth
• 1 Make-A-Wish Volunteer Day per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive benefit package:  Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical, Vision, Dental, and Wellness
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Options
• Medical Leave Bank
• Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance, and AD&D Insurance
• Additional Insurance Plans:  Accident and Pet Insurance through SPOT Pet
• Additional Benefits:  Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Commuter Benefits
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with 25% match on 1st 6% of contributions
• Eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Milestone Benefit Program
• Discounts and special offers for theme parks, events, hotels, concerts, and movie tickets

HOW TO APPLY

We know interviewing can be challenging, so our goal is to make it as positive of an experience as we can, which includes keeping you informed across the process.

Here’s what you can expect if invited to participate in the interview process:

1)     30-minute Human Resources phone screen 

2)     60-minute virtual Hiring Manager interview

3)     60-minute onsite/in-person panel interview with team members

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Make-A-Wish Illinois is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.