Department Assistant II – English Department (hourly, union)

Description

The Department of English at Lafayette College is a large and diverse academic unit that houses a writing program, literature track, and creative writing. The Department also houses two literary journals and currently administers the First Year Seminar program. Among the duties listed below, the successful applicant can expect event planning, budgeting, and support of department administrators to be especially important functions. 

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES/FUNCTIONS/TASKS:

● Performs basic online research

● Maintains physical and digital files

● Responds to basic inquiries and routine requests

● Hires / supervises student workers and prepares student payroll, as needed

● Handles basic purchases, invoices, and payments

● May act as department receptionist, answering telephones and sorting mail

● Maintains basic calendars - schedules meetings and appointments

● Coordinates individual or group travel arrangements and expense reports

● Prepares routine correspondence including emails

● Submits work orders

● Coordinates department searches

● Administers event support, including securing reservations, catering, work orders, and other logistical requirements for one-time or recurring events

● Maintains / tracks basic budgets and grants

● Monitors budgets for non-College-sourced funds (grants)

● Acts as a resource to Department members and as a primary resource to other areas of the College 

● Assists others, as needed, to ensure departmental processes and procedures are performed appropriately

● Designs basic flyers, brochures, newsletters, invitations, and signs for programs

● Handles basic information, data, or research requests

● Other related duties as directed

 

 

Qualifications

Required Skills:  

● Writes legibly and speaks clearly to ensure messages are understood

● Listens carefully to understand and ask questions to clarify

● Works under general supervision

● Works well as part of a team, fosters an environment that values differing perspectives

● Good organizational skills

● Knowledge of office procedures

● Seeks assistance when needed

● Provides assistance when possible, referring questions and problems to a higher level as appropriate

● Accepts new tasks in a positive manner

● Continually seeks opportunities to improve tasks within area of control

● Consistently uses equipment, resources, and work time efficiently and effectively

● High level of accuracy and attention to detail

● Good verbal and written communication skills

 

 

Qualifications and Educational Requirements:

●      Prior closely related work experience

●      HS Diploma

●      Proficiency at the advanced level for Microsoft Office

●      Consistently meets deadlines

●      Routinely multi-tasks

●      Works independently under routine supervision

●      Knowledge of office procedures and budgets

●      Adept usage of online information resources

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

● Prior Lafayette College work experience

● Regularly demonstrates ability to learn and uses new computer and web-based applications and products (such as Cognos, Emburse, etc.)

● Regularly uses WordPress

● Regularly exercises good judgment in identifying issues that need to be brought to immediate supervisors, including ideas for improvement and inefficiencies

● Regularly uses basic survey tools

● Regularly uses Banner

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee will occasionally lift and/or push up to 40 lbs.

Application Instructions

It is the College’s intention to fill job vacancies from within the College before hiring new employ