Executive Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation

Posting Details

Work experience or education that is NOT included on the application will NOT be considered when screening your application. Please include ALL work experience and education on the application to ensure that you receive the appropriate credit toward qualification for this position.

Position Summary Information

Classification Title Executive Assistant Working Title Executive Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation Location Boone NC Job Category 5 Position Number 0A0131 Not Eligible for Visa Sponsorship

VISA sponsorship is not available for this position. All candidates must be eligible to work and live in the U.S

Department Office of Research and Innovation- 282000 Primary Purpose of Position

The Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) supports Appalachian State University research, scholarship and creative activities (RSCA) with expertise in competitiveness, compliance, and innovative impacts. The ORI builds capacity and fosters success for App State researchers throughout the RSCA life-cycle, from ideation to real-world implications. Led by the Vice Chancellor

for Research and Innovation, and consists of five divisions: Grants Resources & Services (GRS); Sponsored Programs (SP); Research Design & Analysis (RDA), Research Protections (RP), and Innovation in Practice (IP). ORI provides support for the research, creative, and scholarly endeavors of Appalachian faculty, staff, and students. ORI manages both internal and external funding programs and promotes business and industry partnerships.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide high-level administrative support to the Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation (VCRI) and the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) at Appalachian State University. This role is responsible for managing day-to-day operations for the VCRI and facilitating the efficient functioning of the Research and Innovation division. The position serves as the first point of contact for the office, managing communications, calendars, and travel arrangements for the VCRI and providing limited support to the division and the ORI in the functional areas listed below. Job functions to support the purpose of this role will include activities such as these listed below, and may evolve based on the needs of the VCRI to support the research, scholarship and creative activity enterprise.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from high school and three years of progressively responsible administrative/office management experience; or graduation of a two-year secretarial science or business administration program and one year of experience as described above; or graduation from a four-year college or university, preferably with major emphasis on Business administration or a related field; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Special Note: This is a generalized representation of positions in this class and is not intended to reflect essential functions per ADA. Examples of competencies are typical of the majority of positions, but may not be applicable to all positions.

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

License/Certification Required Essential Job Functions

The Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) supports Appalachian State University research, scholarship and creative activities (RSCA) with expertise in competitiveness, compliance, and innovative impacts. The ORI builds capacity and fosters success for App State researchers throughout the RSCA life-cycle, from ideation to real-world implications. Led by the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, and consists of five divisions: Grants Resources & Services (GRS); Sponsored Programs (SP); Research Design & Analysis (RDA), Research Protections (RP), and Innovation in Practice (IP). ORI provides support for the research, creative, and scholarly endeavors of Appalachian faculty, staff, and students. ORI manages both internal and external funding programs and promotes business and industry partnerships.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide high-level administrative support to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (VCRI) and the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) at Appalachian State University. This role is responsible for managing day-to-day operations for the VCRI and facilitating the efficient functioning of the ORI. The position serves as the first point of contact for the office, managing communications, calendars, and travel arrangements for the VCRI and providing limited support to the ORI team.

Job functions to support the purpose of this role will include activities such as these listed below, and may evolve based on the needs of the VCRI to support the research, scholarship and creative activity enterprise:

1. VCRI Executive Support

• Manage VCRI's calendar
• Handle communications, including email triage and drafting
• Coordinate all aspects of travel
• Draft letters and correspondence
• Make room reservations
• Maintain NSF documents for VCRI

2. ORI Team Support

• Assist with large group calendaring for big meetings
• Provide limited travel support (e.g., blanket authorizations, conference registrations)

3. Office Management

• Manage purchasing/procurement for ORI office supplies, inventory, and promotional items
• Serve as the first point of contact for ORI, handling email and physical mail/shipping
• Coordinate employee onboarding (keys, mailbox, furniture, phone line, laptop/equipment, signage)
• Serve as a member of the Building Emergency Team (BET)
• Manage building repairs/work orders for JET building and space management

4. Administrative Tasks

• Manage internal committee memberships and appointments
• Work with ORI Business Officer to organize records/documents physically and digitally
• Serve as Business Officer backup and payroll originator proxy
• Take meeting notes/minutes (IP Council, URC, etc.)
• Maintain Google Drive folder structure and organization

5. Executive Support

• Prevent scheduling conflicts and resolve competing priorities
• Independently assimilate and compose materials for the VCRI
• Establish and maintain paper and electronic files and records for the VCRI
• Assist VPR with personnel administration (job searches, AppState Careers)

6. Events and Communications

• Plan and manage logistics for ORI events and activities
• Provide scheduling and administrative support for campus-wide events
• Serve as point of contact for URC and IP, managing all correspondence
• Manage correspondence with the Chancellor's and Provost's Offices for research-related matters
• Edit documents to incorporate VCRI's personal style
• Serve as UComms Liaison for ORI
• Collaborate with UComm ORI experts to manage the Office of Research and Innovation website and social media
• Support light graphic design needs
• Provide administrative support for research Google group posts, Workshop Scheduler, and Research News
• Capture and share stories for submittal to ORI UComm team member

7. General Support

• Assist with Workshop Scheduler
• Update Research News on ORI homepage

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required for this Position

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
• This position requires organizational and communication skills, including the ability to manage complex calendars, prioritize tasks, and draft professional correspondence.
• Proficiency in various software applications and adaptability to new technologies is needed.
• Attention to detail, multitasking capabilities in a fast-paced environment, and sound judgment in decision-making are expected.
• Familiarity with university policies and procedures, particularly in research administration and personnel management, is necessary.
• Interpersonal skills for interaction with broad stakeholders, discretion in handling confidential information, and flexibility in addressing changing priorities are required.
• A problem-solving approach and customer-service orientation support the VCRI and the Research and Innovation division, including the Office of Research and Innovation, in achieving their strategic goals.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and one year of experience related to the area of assignment; or

equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from

appropriately accredited institutions.

Required Functional Competencies to Successfully Perform Job Duties.

Communication & Marketing:

• Must maintain critical communications at high levels of the organization and requires the ability to convey potentially sensitive information.
• Collaborate with UComm ORI expert to manage Office of Research and Innovation website and social media and must have the ability to plan and implement marketing strategies and functions.
• Adaption of communication styles and drafting high-level correspondence for the VCRI. Must have the ability to communicate complex information effectively with a range of audiences, including senior leadership.
• Serve as UComm Liaison for ORI with advanced interpersonal skills to build and maintain professional relationships across organizational lines. We require an individual with the ability to facilitate communication between different departments and adapt messaging for various audiences.

Leadership:

• Plan and manage logistics for ORI events, programs, plans and activities. Provide consultation on issues and requests from clients (in this case, those involved in the events).
• Manage, organize and coordinate internal committee memberships and appointments. Ability to develop and implement short-term strategies consistent with program goals.

Information Analysis/Decision Making:

• Work with ORI Business Officer to organize records/documents physically and digitally. We require an individual with the ability to gather, organize, and analyze program information and data. They will be involved in making decisions about how to best organize and manage this information.
• Independently assimilate and compose materials for the VCRI through the analysis of information and make decisions about what to include in materials for the VCRI. Assess and resolve potentially unprecedented problems that require research and review of policies and procedures.

Consultancy Skills:

• Prevent scheduling conflicts and resolve competing priorities through advice and collaboration with the VCRI and other stakeholders to resolve difficult issues. It involves applying knowledge of program culture and work relationships to address situations.
• Serve as UComms Liaison for ORI and identify trends, recognize the impact of policies and procedures, and promote best practices in communication. It involves collaborating with various stakeholders to achieve mutually agreeable outcomes.

Program/Project Administration:

• Manage VCRI's calendar and coordinate all aspects of travel for the efficient operation of the VCRI's office and the broader ORI program. Must have the ability to define scope, goals, tasks, deliverables, and timelines through the development and monitoring of schedules and ensuring program accountability.
• Administer a component of the broader ORI program through the management of purchasing/procurement for ORI office supplies, inventory, and promotional items. Must have the ability to assess the needs of the work unit, determine any gaps, make technical decisions about procurement and ensure program accountability of resources.

Type of Position Permanent Full-Time Staff/Non-Faculty Staff/Non-Faculty Appointment Type 1.0 Work Schedule/Hours

Typically Mon-Fri, 8:00 - 5:00 in office, some weekend and evening work as needed and approved by supervisor.

Number of Hours Per Week 40 Number of Months Per Year 12 Mandatory Staff No Physical Demands of Position

General office environment. Some light lifting may be required from time to time. All duties are to be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

Overall Competency Level Advanced Salary Grade Equivalency GN11 Salary Range Anticipated Hiring Range $64,373 - $72,100

Pay will be commensurate with applicant competencies, budget, equity and market considerations.

Posting Details Information

Posting Date 08/27/2026 Closing Date 09/13/2026 Competency Level Statement If no applicants apply who meet the required competencies, then management may consider other applicants at a lower competency level. Special Instructions to Applicants

To be considered, please upload the below documents:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Please include 3 references with contact information in the body of the application

Search Chair Name Christine Hendren Search Chair Email hendrenco@appstate.edu Applicant Pool Preference External (Post on the Web)

Departmental Information

Quick Link https://appstate.peopleadmin.com/postings/55843 Posting Number 201503037P

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter / Letter of Interest

Optional Documents

• List of References with Contact Information