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POSITION SPECIFICS​

Join the Willard Administrative Staff Team as an Administrative Assistant to provide support to the departments of African Studies; African American Studies; Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; and the African Research Center within the College of the Liberal Arts.

The Administrative Assistant plays a key role in supporting the administrative and operational functions of department heads and directors across the above units, coordinating events, communications, financial processes, and daily operations.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Plan and coordinate events for postdoctoral fellows and speakers affiliated with the Center and assigned departments/programs

• Provide backup support for events such as conferences, talks, and workshops, including assisting with event logistics

• Coordinate schedules and activities with university and external collaborators, including travel, event planning, and communication with partners

• Prepare various financial forms and reconciliation of purchasing card charges

• Monitor and maintain assigned department heads/directors’ calendars and conference rooms schedules

• Compose, edit, and proof correspondence

• Make travel arrangements for assigned department heads/directors and other collaborators, as requested

• Assist in creating and coordinating promotional materials; maintain assigned websites and social media accounts

• Create and maintain the departments and center files, reports, and databases

• Schedule and document regular meetings with assigned Advisory Boards and alumni group

Qualifications:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 or similar tools for communication, document preparation, spreadsheet tracking, and scheduling

• Experience with financial processes, including expense tracking and reconciliation systems

• Effective verbal and written communication skills; driven to provide excellent customer service

• Outstanding attention to detail and accuracy

• Ability to exercise discretion and judgment while managing confidential materials

• Excellent organization skills with the ability to manage and prioritize t