Administrative Assistant

Req Id: 43859

Job Title: Administrative Assistant

City: West Lafayette

Job Description:

Job Summary

The Department of Biological Sciences is seeking an Administrative Assistant to join our dynamic academic, research, and scientific community. This position provides administrative, program, and operational support to faculty, researchers, instructors, staff, and students across multiple buildings. The Administrative Assistant serves as an important connection point within the department, providing exceptional customer service, coordinating programs and events, supporting student success initiatives, and ensuring daily operations run smoothly.

The successful candidate will:

• Build positive working relationships throughout the department
• Provide responsive, professional, and welcoming customer service
• Communicate effectively with faculty, staff, students, and university partners
• Work independently while collaborating effectively with others
• Exercise sound judgment, discretion, and initiative when handling non-routine responsibilities
• Contribute to a safe, respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment

The position provides administrative support to both the Biology Main Office and Student Success Office, helping coordinate activities and initiatives that enhance the student experience, engagement, and success.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Student Success Office with programs, events, communications, and student-focused initiatives
• Coordinate departmental events, seminars, workshops, meetings, and special projects
• Arrange travel, process reimbursements, coordinate itineraries, and manage logistics for seminar speakers and other visitors
• Order meals and refreshments and create flyers and other communications materials
• Support faculty and instructors with course-related activities in Brightspace
• Assist with research programs and departmental projects
• Coordinate and assign duties for student employees
• Serve as a backup resource for other administrative assistants and the Main Office Executive Assistant

Operations & Copy Center Support

The position also takes ownership of daily operational responsibilities and serves as a key point of contact for the LILY and HANS Copy Center.

Responsibilities include:

• Set up and operate copier, printing, and duplexing equipment
• Coordinate regular and preventative maintenance for copy center equipment
• Respond to customer inquiries and troubleshoot equipment and service issues
• Process, distribute, and track mail and packages across two buildings
• Identify operational issues, determine appropriate solutions, and follow through to resolution

What Were Looking For

Education and Experience Required:

• High School Degree or High School Equivalency (HSE)
• Three (3) years of experience in a clerical or administrative support role

Skills Required:

• Strong:

• customer service skills and a commitment to providing a positive experience

• organizational and time-management skills with exceptional attention to accuracy and detail

• typing, drafting, filing, data entry, proofreading, and editing skills

• problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to identify issues and implement appropriate solutions with limited supervision

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint; Adobe, Brightspace, databases, and internet-based applications

• Ability to:

• work independently, exercise initiative, and manage priorities with minimal supervision

• manage frequent interruptions, multiple priorities, deadlines, and confidential information

• serve as a liaison between Business Office/Procurement and faculty to proactively resolve issues and improve processes

• interpret policies and procedures and communicate requirements clearly to others

• collaborate and communicate effectively with a diverse group of students, staff, faculty, and university partners

Additional Information:

• Purdue University will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
• A background check will be required for employment in this position
• FLSA: Non-Exempt (Eligible for Overtime)
• Retirement Eligibility: Non-exempt Defined Contribution Plan
• Benefit Statement: Purdue University offers a substantial Benefit Package including medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous paid time off package for sick and vacation days - Summary of Benefits for Administrative and Operational Support, Police, Fire and Skilled Trades - Human Resources - Purdue University

Career Stream

Administrative and Operational Support 2

• Pay Band S040
• Job Code #20002330

Career path maker: https://www.purdue.edu/hr/careerpathmaker/

Who We Are

Purdue is a community built on collaboration, with global perspectives, Boilermaker pride and endless opportunity to live, learn and grow. Join us and contribute to our culture.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Purdue University is an EOE employer.

Apply now

Posting Start Date: 9/1/26