Administrative Assistant II

Position Title:

Administrative Assistant II

Job Group:

Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:

High school diploma or equivalent and 3 years of related experience

Preferred Qualifications:

Associate’s or bachelor’s degree
Experience providing reception and administrative support in a multi-person office environment
Experience that demonstrates familiarity with college or university policies and procedures
Experience in scheduling and calendar management using Microsoft Office tools
Experience planning, scheduling, or providing logistics for medium to large events

Job Description:

VRAC Research Center is seeking an Administrative Assistant II to serve as the first point of contact for the center and provide comprehensive administrative and programmatic support. This role is essential to the daily operations of the center and supports a wide range of activities, including outreach, research studies, and the Human Computer Interaction (HCI) graduate program. The Administrative Assistant II interacts regularly with university stakeholders—faculty, staff, and students—as well as with external partners such as legislators, industrial sponsors, and governmental agency representatives.

This position ensures the smooth functioning of the center by managing scheduling, communications, procurement, and travel arrangements. The role also involves event planning, processing payments for research participants, maintaining records, and providing key support to graduate students and visiting scholars.

Key responsibilities include:

• Serve as the first point of contact for VRAC and coordinate building security

• Manage calendars, meetings, mail, and conference room scheduling for the Director and Associate Directors

• Coordinate travel arrangements, including flights, vehicles, reimbursements, and honorariums

• Order office supplies, verify P-Card charges, and resolve procurement or vendor issues

• Assist with planning and logistics for center events, outreach activities, and public tours

• Support undergraduate research program operations, including travel, stipends, reimbursements, and documentation

• Assist with graduate program logistics, including graduate assistant assignments, tuition scholarships, and event support

If you're looking for a place where your work is valued and your team feels like family, VRAC may be the perfect fit. Here, you'll join a close-knit, collaborative group that genuinely supports one another. We operate like a well-oiled machine—everyone pitches in, steps up when needed, and takes pride in their work. If you're a dedicated professional who takes initiative and thrives in a fast-paced yet supportive environment, you'll feel right at home. We value work-life balance and are committed to creating a workplace where you can succeed both personally and professionally.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

For more information about VRAC, visit https://www.vrac.iastate.edu/.

Level Guidelines
• Career-level position demonstrating proficiency and knowledge of related competencies
• Works under direct to general supervision and may receive guidance on more complex assignments
• Follows established procedures for work assignments, and completes assignments which are semi-routine and may be atypical in nature
• Applies thorough knowledge to respond to inquiries and requests
• Able to resolve most problems and issues and respond to requests without escalation
• Provides guidance to students
• May provide supervision to one to two other staff or lead a small work team

Appointment Type:

Regular

Number of Months Employed Per Year:

12 Month Work Period

Time Type:

Full time

Pay Grade:

PS806

Application Instructions:

To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:

1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter

If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.

Why Choose ISU?

Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medi