Administrative Assistant II - Part-time

Iowa State University; United States; On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite childcare (Ames)

Health and dental benefits

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Iowa State University seeks an Administrative Assistant II to provide comprehensive administrative and operational support across two academic departments. This role serves as a primary contact for faculty, staff, students, visitors, and external partners.

Responsibilities include coordinating department operations, managing meetings and events, supporting faculty reviews and governance activities, recruitment and visitor logistics, and assisting with departmental reporting and special projects.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent and 3 years of related experience.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Experience coordinating meetings, events, and travel.
• Proficiency with MS Office applications (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Teams).

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and operational support for two academic departments, serving as a primary contact for faculty, staff, students, visitors, and external stakeholders.
• Provide departmental teaching support including entering instructor information in Workday, ordering textbooks, changing class schedules and classrooms as needed, as well as arranging and sharing teaching evaluations.
• Coordinate student employment and onboarding processes for faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars, graduate assistants, student employees, and visitors.
• Manage department records, communications, supplies, reimbursements, shared spaces, and other day-to-day administrative needs.
• Plan and coordinate faculty meetings, governance activities, seminars, candidate interviews, and other departmental events, including travel and visit logistics.
• Support faculty review, advancement, appointment, and reappointment processes and maintain related records and documentation.
• Prepare agendas, meeting materials, reports, presentations, minutes, and other materials for department leadership, faculty, committees, and college requirements.
• Coordinate departmental reporting, reviews, and special projects, including annual reports, program reviews, strategic planning, and external review activities.
• Research, compile, and organize information to support department leadership and administrative decision-making, and coordinate campus space and other departmental surveys.
• Independently resolve routine administrative and logistical issues, prioritize multiple deadlines, and handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

Skills

Microsoft Office Suite

Excel

Outlook

Word

PowerPoint

Teams

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Position Title: Administrative Assistant II - Part-time

Job Group: Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent and 3 years of related experience

Job Description

The Departments of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology and Genetics, Development & Cell Biology at Iowa State University are seeking an Administrative Assistant II to provide comprehensive administrative and operational support across two academic departments. This position plays an important role in keeping department operations running smoothly while supporting faculty, staff, students, department leadership, visitors, and external partners.

Responsibilities include coordinating department operations and employment processes, managing meetings and events, supporting faculty reviews and governance activities, coordinating recruitment and visitor logistics, and assisting with departmental reporting and special projects. The successful candidate will be highly organized, responsive, and comfortable managing multiple priorities with a high degree of attention to detail. This position requires sound judgment, discretion when handling confidential information, and the ability to independently coordinate activities involving a wide range of stakeholders.

What You’ll Do

• Provide administrative and operational support for two academic departments, serving as a primary point of contact for faculty, staff, students, visitors, and external stakeholders.
• Provide departmental teaching support including entering instructor information in Workday, ordering textbooks, changing class schedules and classrooms as needed, as well as arranging and sharing teaching evaluations.
• Coordinate student employment and onboarding processes for faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars, graduate assistants, student employees, and visitors.
• Manage department records, communications, supplies, reimbursements, shared spaces, and other day-to-day administrative needs.
• Plan and coordinate faculty meetings, governance activities, seminars, candidate interviews, and other departmental events, including travel and visit logistics.
• Support faculty review, advancement, appointment, and reappointment processes and maintain related records and documentation.
• Prepare agendas, meeting materials, reports, presentations, minutes, and other materials for department leadership, faculty, committees, and college requirements.
• Coordinate departmental reporting, reviews, and special projects, including annual reports, program reviews, strategic planning, and external review activities.
• Research, compile, and organize information to support department leadership and administrative decision-making, and coordinate campus space and other departmental surveys.
• Independently resolve routine administrative and logistical issues, prioritize multiple deadlines, and handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience providing administrative support and customer service to multiple stakeholders in an office environment.
• Experience coordinating meetings, events, travel, or complex schedules involving multiple participants.
• Demonstrated experience providing confidential administrative support.
• Experience managing records, tracking deadlines, and coordinating multiple administrative processes simultaneously.
• Expertise with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel spreadsheets, Outlook email and calendars, Word documents, Power Point presentations, and Teams.

Why Join Us?

Join two collaborative academic departments where your work directly supports teaching and research. In this role, you’ll work closely with faculty, staff, and students across both departments while coordinating seminars, meetings, visits, and other activities that bring people together. This is a great opportunity to build relationships, stay engaged, and make a meaningful contribution to the day-to-day success of two research-focused departments.

Why Choose Iowa State University?

Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental, as well as:

• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program

This position is part-time, 30 hrs per week. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

Appointment Details

• Appointment Type: Regular
• Number of Months Employed Per Year: 12
• Month Work Period Time Type: Part time
• Pay Grade: PS806
• Original Posting Date: September 17, 2026
• Posting Close Date: September 27, 2026
• Job Requisition Number: R19939

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. [phone], email [e-mail].

All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.

By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds.

Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.

Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email [e-mail] or call [phone] or Toll-Free: [phone]. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or [phone].