Adult Education Coordinator

Title: Coordinator, Adult Education

Exemption Status: Exempt

Department: Adult Education

Reports to: Adult Education Director

Year-Round Full-time

Supervises: Contract Instructors, Volunteers

Year-Round Full-time employees of the Chicago Botanic Garden are eligible for the following Benefits:

• 2025 Chicago Botanic Garden Benefit Guide - Year-Round Full-time

Compensation Philosophy:

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.

The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate’s qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate’s salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual’s contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets.

Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.

Position Overview:

The Coordinator, Adult Education position involves developing, planning, and implementing non-certificate classes in the categories of Wellness and Fitness, Horticulture, and Garden Design. Programs align with mission objectives, fostering a closer connection between people and plants. Programs fall within departmental benchmarks while adhering to budget goals, necessitating ongoing evaluation and recommendations for continuous improvement. Works closely with the entire adult education team, class instructors, and internal departments that support successful program implementation.

Responsibilities

In the Coordinator, Adult Education role you will be responsible for the following:  

• Collaborate with the Adult Education team and instructors to develop, schedule, and implement a diverse, seasonal, and well-balanced range of classes that meet established budget and performance targets. This includes both new and repeat topics in a variety of formats, such as single-session, multi-session, online, and in-person courses.
• Utilize the department’s scheduling tools and systems to plan courses effectively, ensuring deadlines are met and all logistics are coordinated.
• Stay informed on trends in your course categories to proactively guide the development of new course offerings.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with instructors, working together to align course topics and schedules with departmental goals. This includes reviewing course proposals, interviewing prospective instructors, and supporting the onboarding process. Handle instructor compensation, including contract negotiations and payment submissions.
• Write engaging and accurate course descriptions that follow Garden style guidelines and clearly communicate the value of each class.
• Work with various technological platforms (e.g. Galaxy and EMS) designed to support job functions like booking classes and pulling registration reports.
• In coordination with the Operations team, implement on-site and online classes, including operating audio-visual equipment for on-site classes and the Zoom platform for online classes.
• Ensure smooth class operations by coordinating with instructors and staff to secure class materials (e.g. handouts and supply lists), collect necessary class details (e.g. time, location, room setup, and AV needs), and ensure instructors are kept up to date on policies and procedures.

Qualifications
 Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• A strong interest and knowledge in the programming categories relevant to this position, with a genuine willingness to expand expertise.
• A combination of at least three years’ experience in the following: customer service, event planning, and in Adult Continuing Education, either professionally or as a student.
• Experience operating multiple technological systems to support event logistics.
• Flexibility to work a schedule that includes at least two weekends per month and one evening per week, with occasional additional availability as needed.
• Proven excellence in customer service, with a focus on delivering a positive experience for all stakeholders.
• Exceptional task management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize and multitask effectively.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to convey information clearly and professionally.
• A track record of consistent initiative, reliability, and follow-through.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, with a solid understanding of its applications.

Physical Demands: 

Office setting. Frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, listening, speaking, and keyboarding. Use of office equipment including computers, telephones, copiers, scanners, and fax machines. Some requirements for lifting, pushing, or pulling items less than 30 pounds. 

Why Apply? 
 Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.