Executive Administrative Assistant

Department

BSD PAT - Administration

About the Department

The Department of Pathology has a long and rich history of excellence in clinical service, training, and research. Our physicians and scientists are experts in a variety of subspecialties in anatomic pathology, laboratory medicine, genomics and molecular pathology, investigational pathology, and immunology. Our diverse faculty study and diagnose patient disease and medical conditions using state-of-the-art methodologies. We invite you to browse our website to learn more about our rich offerings of clinical services, education, and research. https://pathology.uchicago.edu/.

Job Summary

The Executive Administrative Assistant serves the Chair of Pathology, who is responsible for leading a complex academic, research and clinical environment. The Executive Administrative Assistant reports directly to the Executive Director of the department with a matrixed relationship to the department. Responsibilities include working independently to organize activities and projects, drafting correspondence, and daily calendar management. This key position supports leaders by prioritizing competing requests, proactively securing resources, and using independent judgement to resolve or escalate matters appropriately and to ensure the smooth and effective operations of the office. This role serves as the 'face of the department' and demands a high level of discretion and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Assist and provide administrative oversight for relevant BSD projects, including updating project plans and timelines, scheduling meetings, coordinating resources with other BSD units, and assisting with the creation and updating of unit tracking and reporting.

• Responsible for planning and execution of deliverables for standing meetings and projects within the department.

• Provide and manage administrative, expense and logistic support for the office suite, including but not limited to calendar management, room reservations, expense management, mail, travel logistics, and recruitment efforts, all with a sense of urgency and utmost confidentiality.

• Prep, set up, execute, and follow up on meetings, interviews, functions, and projects ensuring oversight is well-coordinated, timely, and effective.

• Organize and manage meetings, off-sites and team-based events for training, development, recognition, and other organizational initiatives.

• Support annual planning processes, business planning, and performance review cycles.

• Track and help drive completion of key deliverables and follow up on outstanding items.

• Coordinate with staff on projects to help with goals and deliverables.

• Provides confidential and high-level administrative support for a leader. Stays informed of activities relating to University programs and initiatives, apprising the leader of issues when deemed necessary. Coordinates information flow from leader's office to University. May staff Board of Directors meetings. Relieves leaders of administrative responsibilities.

• Initiates correspondence and other written materials under own signature or for signature of the leader. Triages emails and telephone calls for action. Resolves routine and complex inquiries. May act as liaison to Board of Directors.

• Prepare special reports and summaries, assists in managing daily operation of the office, and may assist in developing administrative goals and policies. Maintains the leader's calendar, exercising considerable discretion and judgment as to priorities and effective use of the leader's time.

• Coordinates special projects as directed by the leader. Prepares write ups for recommendations for operational and administrative problems. May manage a portion of the leader's budget, monitoring and reconciling accounts. Prepares financial and/or administrative reports.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Prior experience as an executive assistant in an academic environment or healthcare executive setting.

• Experience scheduling for multiple leaders (2-3), preparing leaders for meetings, events, interviews, and ongoing commitments to support a hybrid workforce.