Administrative Assistant 1/Trainee (NY HELPS)

Suny College at Plattburgh; City of Plattsburgh (NY); On-site; USD 43,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

SUNY Plattsburgh in Plattsburgh, NY is seeking an Administrative Assistant 1/Trainee NY HELPS to provide administrative support for Student Financial Services. You will assist students and families with financial aid, billing, and accounts, and supervise clerical staff and student employees. The role requires strong communication and organizational skills, ability to handle confidential information, and a Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.

to 4:00 p.m. schedule.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED and two years of admin support experience.
• Proficient in office software, customer service, and business writing.
• Certification substitutions acceptable for required experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support for Student Financial Services and customers.
• Process transactions, maintain records, and reconcile cash receipts.
• Supervise two staff and student workers and use Banner daily.

Skills

Administrative support

Customer service

Office software

Communication

Multitasking

Education

High school diploma or GED

IAAP Certified Administrative Professional (or equivalent)

Tools

Banner

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Administrative Assistant 1/Trainee (NY HELPS)

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening.

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

If a canvass letter is emailed, you must respond interested and complete an online application to be considered. Please include a complete application and contact information for three current professional references. A resume is also strongly encouraged. Additional information may be requested at a later step in the process.

Successful completion of the traineeship requires taking eight courses. More information on the traineeship can be found here .

Employees will have all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

ATR (Position)

Search Number

Search Number CPJ # 9012

Title

Title Administrative Assistant 1/Trainee (NY HELPS)

Category

Department

Position Summary

Student Financial Services encompasses financial aid and student accounts, serving both on-campus and external constituents. We are part of the Enrollment and Student Success division which focuses on helping students throughout their college journey, from application to graduation. This position is expected to include supervising two support staff and student employees, as well as providing customer service for students, parents, faculty and staff through a variety of channels.

Title assigned to successful candidate upon appointment will be determined based on qualifications and experience. See the Required Qualifications section for detailed information.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p. m.

Examples of Duties & Responsibilities

Provides administrative support to Student Financial Services, assisting students and families with financial aid, billing, payment services, and student account inquiries. Duties include processing transactions, maintaining student records, reconciling daily cash receipts, managing files and databases, and utilizing campus systems such as Banner. The position also supports the training of new staff and provides oversight of clerical staff and student employees. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong communication, customer service, organizational, and multitasking skills; maintain confidential information with discretion and sound judgment; participate in professional development activities; adhere to workplace procedures and safety requirements; and perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

For those currently on a civil service list:

• If you receive an emailed canvass letter, you must respond interested and complete an online application to be considered.

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.

Minimum Qualifications for applicants not currently civil service eligible for the title

Administrative Assistant 1 – Grade 11, $49,841 hiring rate

Applicants must have:

Promotion: one year of service in a clerical title allocated to Grade 6 and above; and completion of a two-year traineeship*.

• high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma; and two years of experience in administrative support**, which includes use of office software (e.g., email, word processing), provision of customer service, business writing, and management of an office.

* Successful completion of the traineeship requires taking eight courses in the following competencies: Professionalism and Self-Management, Verbal and Written Communication, Interpersonal and Customer Relations, and Computer Skills and Technology. It must include instruction in each of the following topics: office organization and management; business writing; customer service; and Microsoft Word basics.

** Certification (e.g., IAAP Certified Administrative Professional), advanced diploma, or associate’s degree in office administration, secretarial science, administrative assistance, paralegal, business technology, or office technology substitutes for two years of experience.

Administrative Assistant Trainee 2 – Grade 10, $47,110 hiring rate

Applicants must have:

• One year of experience in administrative support, which includes use of office software (e.g., email, word processing), provision of customer service, business writing, and/or office administration. To be advanced to the full performance level of this title you must successfully complete a set training and development program. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training as a Trainee 2 you will advance to the full level of this title without further examination.

Administrative Assistant Trainee 1 – Grade 8, $42,209 hiring rate

Applicants must have:

• Six months of experience in administrative support, which includes use of office software (e.g., email, word processing), provision of customer service, business writing, and/or office administration. To be advanced to the full performance level of this title you must successfully complete a set training and development program. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training at the Trainee 1, you will automatically advance to Trainee 2.
• The ability to understand and follow written and verbal instructions
• The physical capability to perform the duties of the position
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with colleagues from a variety of backgrounds

It is the applicant’s responsibility to prove they meet the minimum qualification listed in the job posting, such as education, experience, certifications, licenses, skills, and contact information. Failure to provide sufficient information may result in the applicant being deemed not qualified.

As SUNY Plattsburgh is an institution that delivers challenging and high-quality educational experiences to a diverse group of learners, the successful candidate must demonstrate an understanding of and sensitivity to diversity, inclusion, and equity-minded policies, programs, and practices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to prioritize tasks effectively and manage workload

To receive full consideration, supply all requested documents by: 11/02/2026

Special Instructions to Applicants

If a canvass letter is emailed, you must respond interested and complete an online application to be considered. Please include a complete application and contact information for three current professional references. A resume is also strongly encouraged. Additional information may be requested at a later step in the process.

Successful completion of the traineeship requires taking eight courses. More information on the traineeship can be found here .

Employees will have all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

EEO Statement

SUNY Plattsburgh is an equal opportunity employer, committed to excellence through diversity. As an equal opportunity employer and a government contractor subject to VEVRAA , SUNY Plattsburgh complies with hiring regulations regarding sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, age and veteran status.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Are you currently employed by SUNY College at Plattsburgh?
  • Yes
  • No
• * How did you learn about this position?
  • SUNY Plattsburgh website
  • HigherEdJobs.com
  • HigherEdJobs.com Direct Outreach
  • Website, please specify below
  • Social Media (e.g. LinkedIn, Facebook, X), please specify below
  • Listserv, please specify below
  • Newspaper, please specify below
  • Veteran-specific posting or website, please specify below
  • Other, please specify below
• Please specify source.

  (Open Ended Question)

Required Documents

Required Documents Optional Documents

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter/Letter of Interest
• Contact Information for three references
• Other Document 1