Administrative Aide

Michigan Technological University; Houghton (MI); On-site; USD 25,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Michigan Technological University invites applications for an Administrative Aide to support the School of Health, Human, and Biological Systems. Based at Main Campus in Houghton, this role provides front-line customer service and essential clerical support to faculty, staff, and students.

The position requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently within a diverse academic environment. Union work type; full-time hours.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• One year of administrative clerical experience.
• Two years of experience with personal computers and basic software.
• Experience with Banner, WebFOCUS, Perceptive Content databases, Google Suite preferred.
• Experience using CMS to create and maintain website content.
• Experience developing written content such as articles, announcements, and promotional materials.

Responsibilities

• Greet and assist customers, respond to inquiries, and direct calls.
• Manage program communications on websites, social media, newsletters, and publicity materials.
• Purchase and maintain office supplies; ensure copiers and printers are working.
• Coordinate and maintain school/program files, calendars, and lists; take meeting minutes as needed.
• Coordinate prospective student visits, orientations, guest seminars, and forums.
• Coordinate payroll for student employees; assist with onboarding and timesheets.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Communication

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Banner

WebFOCUS

Perceptive Content

Google Suite

CMS

Job description

Job No: 26194
Department: School of Health, Human, & Bio Sys
Work Type: Union
Location: Main Campus (Houghton, MI)
Full Time / Part Time: Full Time
Categories: Administrative/Business/Professional
Applications Close:

Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological research university founded in 1885 in Houghton. Our rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Research focus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive, environment, and aerospace.

The area’s waters, forests, and snowfall support year-round recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and paddling. The University is an integral part of the region, supported by a friendly and welcoming community that takes pride in being a true college town. We embrace our size, climate, sense of adventure, and originality.

Summary

The Administrative Aide provides comprehensive administrative and clerical support to the faculty, staff, and students of the School of Health, Human, and Biological Systems at Michigan Technological University. Based in the Psychology and Human Factors program, this position serves as the primary point of contact for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and internal and external visitors and delivers professional, courteous, and responsive customer service. Success in this role requires strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a diverse academic environment.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

1. Act as first contact of the program to provide excellent customer service to a diverse population of both internal and external customers. Greet and assist customers in a friendly and courteous manner, receive and direct telephone calls, and independently respond to inquiries for information on established programs and services.
2. Answer routine correspondence and draft responses to non-routine correspondence.
3. Handle campus mail pick up and distribution. Send out UPS and FedEx packages.
4. Manage and monitor School/Program communications, including websites, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), newsletters (Mailchimp), and publicity materials (posters, flyers, Flickr photo updates). Utilizing CMS and other software applications to create, publish, and update content.
5. Independently purchase and maintain inventory of office supplies. Ensure copiers and printers are working and that necessary supplies are stocked.
6. Coordinate and maintain school/program files, calendars, and email lists. Take meeting minutes, as needed.
7. Ensure regular updates with personnel changes including updating signage, ordering business cards, and assisting with onboarding/offboarding employees.
8. Coordinate all aspects of rooms assignments, equipment, and misc. services; schedule appointments; process key requests and building access.
9. Coordinate all aspects of prospective student visits, student orientations, guest seminars, and student forums.
10. Collaborate with IT and Facilities for office/building needs and improvements.
11. Coordinate the distribution and collection of academic materials such as book orders, class rosters, evaluations, and syllabi.
12. Use Banner to update students' schedules and acquire transcripts for advisors.
13. Access and maintain confidential student information utilizing Banner and Discoverer reports and provide data, as requested.
14. Assist coordinators with check requests, business meals forms, travel vouchers/reimbursements and program procurement cards.
15. Coordinate payroll for student employees; originate electronic payroll forms (EPAF) and reallocations, review and process employment forms for new student hires, approve biweekly timesheets, and serve as program timekeeper.
16. Assist grad program assistant with current graduate students, incoming graduate students and correspondence with prospective graduate students. This includes defense announcements, emails, flyers, & room reservations.
17. Provide clerical support and assistance to faculty, staff, and students on policies and procedures. Assist faculty, students, and guests with travel reimbursements.
18. Assist with School events and program specific events (program teas/coffee chats, meetings, food orders, student/faculty activities, preview day, etc.)
19. Provide functional supervision over work-study students.
20. Perform other duties as assigned.
21. Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives.
22. Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

• High school diploma, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.

Required Experience

• One year of experience in an administrative clerical support position, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.
• Two years of experience using personal computers and basic software packages.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Experience using BANNER, WebFOCUS, Perceptive Content databases, Google Suite.
• Experience using website content management systems (CMS) to create, edit, format, and maintain website content.
• Experience developing written content such as articles, new stories, blog posts, announcements, and other promotional or informational material.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal, customer services, and oral/written communication skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Demonstrated ability to work with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize work assignments independently and take initiatives to solve problems.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively under conditions with frequent interruptions and meet established deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries and work harmoniously with diverse groups of students, faculty, and staff.
• Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe work environment.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems in standardized situations. Ability to problem-solve when necessary.
• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons with a wide variety of backgrounds and viewpoints.

Language, Mathematics and/or Reasoning Skills

• Language Skills: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.
• Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

• Employee Safety Overview
• Annual Data Security Training
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Title IX Training

Additional training will be required by the program on a periodic basis.

Background Check:

Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)

1.0

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Appointment Term

12 months

Shift

1st Shift

Contractual. External candidates will receive the minimum amount ($18.58/hr).

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

UAW Posting - 10/19/2026 - 10/25/2026

External Applicants are encouraged to apply, however internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal UAW posting dates.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations during Michigan Tech’s hiring process please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or [e-mail].

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. Michigan Tech will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the Michigan Tech Public Safety.

In compliance with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) and its implementing regulations (34 CFR Part 86), Michigan Tech is committed to maintaining a drugfree campus environment and actively promoting the health and safety of its community. Find our notice that outlines the University's policies, legal sanctions, health risks, and available support resources related to the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol.

Michigan Technological University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex and gender. Michigan Tech also prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Reports of misconduct, questions regarding Title IX , and concerns about noncompliance should be directed to the Title IX Coordinator . For a complete copy of the policy or more information, please contact the Title IX Coordinator or the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office of Civil Rights (OCR).