Curated Careers with Terri Homans
Working in Higher Education Without Teaching
Shane Taas
Assistant Campus Manager
22 June 2026
Listen on audio
Episode Description
In this episode of Work Uncovered, Terri speaks with Shane Taas, Assistant Campus Manager, about the higher education jobs that sit outside teaching and academia.
Shane shares what student-facing and campus operations work really involves, including student welfare, timetabling, boundaries, complex cases and the hidden work that keeps a campus running.
In this episode you will learn:
What an Assistant Campus Manager actually does
Why higher education careers are not only academic or teaching roles
How student services and campus operations support the student experience
Why empathy, patience, flexibility and judgement matter in this work
What can be rewarding, draining or misunderstood about student-facing education roles
How students and career changers can start exploring this type of work
Who is it for
This episode is for students, graduates, career changers, returners and anyone interested in working in higher education without becoming a lecturer, tutor or teacher.
It will also be useful for people considering roles in student services, student experience, campus administration, admissions, student engagement, volunteer coordination or education operations.
Key Takeaways
Higher education is much more than lecturers and classrooms
One of the biggest takeaways from today’s conversation is that higher education does not run only through teaching and academic roles. There is a whole layer of student-facing and campus operations work happening behind the scenes, from student enquiries and enrolments to room set-up, lecturer support, timetabling, welfare checks, and keeping the campus functioning day to day. These roles may not always be visible, but they are a major part of how students actually experience their education.
This work needs empathy, judgment and boundaries
Another important takeaway is that these roles are not just general admin jobs. Shane talked about the need for empathy, patience and good judgment, especially when students are stressed, isolated, overwhelmed, or dealing with complex personal situations. But he also made it clear that care has to sit alongside professional boundaries. You are supporting students, not becoming their friend, counsellor, or personal safety net. That balance is a real skill.
There are pathways in, but you need to be adaptable
The final takeaway is that this can be a real career path for people who like education, people, systems and problem-solving, even if they are not teachers or academics. Shane’s own pathway moved through sales, marketing, student activities, accommodation, student association work, student support and campus management. The common thread was being willing to learn, network, take opportunities, and keep adapting as each role opened up a new part of the education sector.
Thinking bout this career?
Download the Career Brief sheet (5 min read)