Position Summary

The FORGE Grant Project Coordinator serves as a central coordinating role within a regional Advanced Manufacturing workforce initiative developed through the Northern Illinois Workforce Coalition (NIWC), a consortium of eight community colleges working together to expand pathways into advanced manufacturing employment and continued educational opportunities for students across the region.

This position partners with designated point persons at each participating college to ensure students are engaged, supported, and progressing through the program. The Coordinator also supports student outcome tracking and reporting, ensures colleges have the resources and follow-through needed to support their cohorts, and leads coordination of a regional employer roundtable connecting industry partners with the coalition. This is a grant-funded part-time contingent position.

Key Responsibilities

Coalition & College Coordination

• Serve as the initial point of contact for student needs across the coalition
• Serve as the primary liaison between the grant project and point persons at each of the participating colleges
• Coordinate regular check-ins and communication across college contacts to ensure alignment, consistency, and shared awareness of student progress
• Track student progress data across cohorts and follow up with college contacts, and when appropriate, collaborate with the coalition colleges when students have unmet needs or are at risk of disengaging
• Support the onboarding process of students into program cohorts, participating alongside college partners at the start of each cohort cycle
• Coordinate all aspects of regional employer engagement events, including planning, partner communications, logistics, and follow-up activities in collaboration with coalition college staff.

Student Outcomes Tracking & Reporting

Collect and maintain accurate data on student enrollment, retention, credential completion, and job placement across all participating colleges
Flag progress concerns and coordinate appropriate follow-up with the relevant college(s)
Support grant reporting by compiling outcome data and preparing supporting documentation
Ensure data practices comply with FERPA and grant requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's degree required; bachelor's preferred.
• Proven experience in education, workforce development, student services, or a related field
• Strong organizational and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple institutions and with diverse teams
• Proficiency with data tracking and standard office tools

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in coordinating grant-funded projects
• Familiarity with community college systems and CTE or workforce programs and pathways
• Knowledge of advanced manufacturing or related technical fields
• Experience with student information systems or outcomes tracking platforms

This is a grant-funded, contingent position and is not eligible for vacation, health, or other employee benefits. The pay rate is $24 per hour, at approximately 15-20 hours per week, running from mid-to-late May 2026 through early July 2027.

Work is primarily remote, with occasional in-person meetings and travel to participating college locations across the region as needed. Continued employment is contingent on the success of position deliverables and sustained grant funding.

For information regarding employment eligibility, please visit our employment at Oakton web page.

Equal Opportunity Employer