Administrative Assistant

Kent State; Kent (OH); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Kent State University is seeking an Administrative Assistant to support administrators and faculty on the Kent Campus. You will handle daily office functions, coordinate schedules, and manage communications.

The role requires strong Microsoft Office skills, good interpersonal abilities, and the capacity to prepare reports, assist with budgets, and staff coordination.

This on-campus position offers a stable schedule, a collaborative environment, and opportunities to contribute to department goals.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent and 18 months formal training in office administration or related field.
• Minimum of two years’ experience providing secretarial/administrative support in increasingly demanding positions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and standard office software.

Responsibilities

• Serves as liaison and acts on behalf of administrator with internal and external contacts; represents administrator at meetings and conferences; may compose non-routine correspondence.
• Coordinates and monitors department budgets and expense accounts; approves expenditures; helps in budget projections.
• Assists in administration of department programs/projects; ensures compliance with policies; drafts reports; provides information for decision making.
• Directs work of other clerical staff and student employees; may participate in hiring and training.
• May coordinate and monitor faculty/staff actions; maintains records and ensures policy compliance.
• May assist with special projects.
• Performs related duties as required.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Public speaking

Written communication

Time management

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

18 months formal training in office administration or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Administrative Assistant

Job no: 996064
Work type: Staff/Classified
Location: Kent Campus - Kent, OH
Categories: Full-time

Physical Location: Kent Campus - Kent, OH

$18.67

Basic Function: Provides administrative support to assist administrators and faculty in achieving department goals through liaison activities, coordination of daily business functions, and implementation of programs/projects. Reports to designated supervisor.

Additional Basic Function – if applicable:

Examples of Duties:

Duties/essential functions may include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Serves as liaison and acts on behalf of administrator in dealings with people within (e.g., Directors, Chairpersons, etc.) and outside the University (e.g., representatives of agencies, professional contacts, etc.); represents administrator at meetings and conferences; may make presentations at meetings and conferences; independently composes non-routine correspondence on behalf of supervisor and/or under own signature.
• Coordinates and monitors multiple department budgets and expense accounts; approves expenditures and signs various financial forms; researches and reconciles discrepancies; assists in budget projections.
• Assists in the administration of department programs/projects; ensures compliance with policies, procedures, and regulations originating within and outside the University; participates in departmental procedures and policy changes; researches and analyzes information; drafts and composes reports; provides technical advice and information to aid administrator in decision making; answers questions and resolves problems concerning administration of program and projects.
• Directs the work of other clerical/secretarial staff and student employees by training, evaluating, assigning duties, and providing information about changes in department and University policies and procedures; may make hiring, firing, and disciplinary recommendations.
• May coordinate and monitor faculty and or staff actions (e.g., hiring, promotion, termination, etc.); serves as liaison between affected individuals and departments (e.g., Academic Personnel, Payroll, etc.); maintains records and files; ensures policies and procedures are followed.
• May assist with special projects.
• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

High school diploma or equivalent plus completion of 18 months formal training in office administration, public administration or related field (or equivalent training or experience which provides comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities). A minimum of two years’ experience in providing secretarial/administrative support in increasingly demanding positions.

Knowledge Of:

• Bookkeeping/accounting procedures and terminology, if required by position
• Office practices and procedures
• Specific software may be preferred

Skill In:

• Interpersonal communication to effectively interact with University personnel and public in person and over the telephone (e.g., to explain information, explain policies and procedures, handle sensitive inquiries, etc.)
• Public speaking, if required by position
• Written communication (e.g., to compose reports, speeches, correspondence and memos)

Ability To:

• Resolve problems independently and make decisions
• Define problems, collect data, and draw valid conclusions
• Apply policies and procedures
• Train and provide effective work direction to other employees
• Manage time effectively and set priorities
• Carry out or assist in implementing changes
• Establish and implement office procedures
• Establish methods to gather, collate, and classify information
• Read and comprehend a variety of written information
• Utilize Microsoft Office Suite
• Maintain accurate records
• Perform basic mathematics (e.g., add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, fractions, and decimals, and to calculate percentages)
• Learn and utilize specific software applications
• Manage time effectively and set priorities

Assessments:

Asterisk (*) indicates knowledge, skills, abilities which may require assessments. Assessments could take the form of interview questions, a request to provide work samples or a written or practical test to assess job related competencies.

Working Schedule:

Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; however, schedule may vary to meet departmental needs.

Additional Information:

Must pass a security check.

Kent State University is committed to creating a community that is culturally and intellectually diverse and to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that respect differences, and are inclusive, welcoming, respectful and kind. For official job descriptions, visit www.kent.edu/hr.

Kent State University is a Smoke-Free, Tobacco-Free University effective July 1, 2017. Smoking and tobacco use are not permitted on any of Kent State’s campuses or other locations and properties that are owned, operated, or leased by Kent State, both domestic and international. For additional details, visit www.kent.edu/smoke-free .

Disclaimer:

The intent of this description is to illustrate the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and should not be interpreted to describe all the specific duties and responsibilities that may be required in any particular position. Directly related experience/education beyond the minimum stated may be substituted where appropriate at the discretion of the Appointing Authority. Kent State University reserves the right to revise or change job duties, job hours, and responsibilities.

Advertised: November 02, 2026 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: November 16, 2026 Eastern Standard Time