Administrative Assistant (Part-time)

RISD - Rhode Island School of Design; Washington Place (TN); Hybrid; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) seeks a part-time Administrative Assistant to join Finance and Administration. The Administrative Assistant provides comprehensive administrative and operational support to the Office of Finance and Administration and reports directly to the Director of the Office of the SVP for Finance and Administration.

This position serves as the first point of contact for the office and plays an essential role in ensuring efficient daily operations, exceptional customer

Qualifications

• Associate's degree or equivalent education and/or relevant work experience.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Three to five years of progressively responsible administrative experience, preferably supporting senior or executive leadership.
• Experience in higher education or a complex nonprofit organization is a plus.
• Strong organizational, planning, and time-management skills, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with a demonstrated commitment to providing responsive, high-quality customer service.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and handle sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive administrative support to the Director of Finance and Administration and the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration.
• Manage complex calendars, schedule meetings, coordinate travel, and resolve scheduling conflicts while exercising discretion and independent judgment.
• Screen calls, visitors, and correspondence, responding independently when appropriate and routing matters to the appropriate individual.
• Prepare correspondence, reports, presentations, agendas, meeting materials, and other documents using a high level of accuracy and professionalism.
• Maintain confidential files and records in accordance with institutional policies and best practices.
• Coordinate daily office operations, ensuring efficient workflows and excellent customer service.
• Order and maintain office supplies and equipment.
• Process invoices, purchase requisitions, reimbursements, procurement card transactions, and other administrative financial activities.
• Maintain electronic filing systems and departmental records.
• Coordinate logistics for divisional meetings, retreats, workshops, and campus events.
• Schedule meeting locations, catering, technology, and other support services.
• Prepare meeting agendas and materials.
• Record meeting minutes, distribute documentation, and track follow-up action items.
• Support Board of Trustees committee meetings and other executive-level meetings by assisting with logistics, materials preparation, and scheduling.
• Serve as a welcoming and professional representative of the Office of Finance and Administration.
• Respond to inquiries from faculty, staff, students, trustees, vendors, and external partners.
• Assist in preparing internal communications, announcements, and divisional updates.
• Maintain departmental distribution lists, websites, and shared resources as assigned.
• Assist the Director in tracking divisional initiatives, projects, and deadlines.
• Maintain project schedules, task lists, and documentation.
• Support policy management activities by organizing files, scheduling meetings, maintaining records, and assisting with communications related to institutional policies.
• Compile information and prepare routine reports, spreadsheets, and presentations.
• Assist with budget tracking, purchasing, and administrative recordkeeping.
• Coordinate onboarding logistics for new staff within the division.
• Recommend improvements to administrative processes and office procedures to enhance efficiency and customer service.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Skills

Organizational skills

Planning

Time-management

Communication

Customer service

Discretion/ confidentiality

Scheduling meetings

Education

Associate's degree or equivalent experience

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Google Workspace

Virtual meeting platforms

Document management tools

Enterprise administrative systems

Job description

JOB SUMMARY (OVERVIEW)

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) seeks a part-time Administrative Assistant to join Finance and Administration. The Administrative Assistant provides comprehensive administrative and operational support to the Office of Finance and Administration and reports directly to the Director of the Office of the SVP for Finance and Administration. This position serves as the first point of contact for the office and plays an essential role in ensuring efficient daily operations, exceptional customer service, and effective coordination across the Finance and Administration division. Working in a highly collaborative and creative environment, the Administrative Assistant manages complex scheduling, coordinates meetings and events, prepares correspondence and meeting materials, maintains records, processes financial and administrative transactions, and supports divisional communications. The position exercises sound judgment, maintains strict confidentiality, and anticipates the needs of the Director and SVP while providing responsive service to faculty, staff, students, trustees, and external partners. The successful candidate will thrive in a campus environment that is committed to advancing the principles of social equity and inclusion, environmental and climate justice, and equal access to resources and opportunities.

SECTION 3: ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/DUTIES

Executive and Administrative Support

Provide comprehensive administrative support to the Director of Finance and Administration and the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration.

Manage complex calendars, schedule meetings, coordinate travel, and resolve scheduling conflicts while exercising discretion and independent judgment.

Screen calls, visitors, and correspondence, responding independently when appropriate and routing matters to the appropriate individual.

Prepare correspondence, reports, presentations, agendas, meeting materials, and other documents using a high level of accuracy and professionalism.

Maintain confidential files and records in accordance with institutional policies and best practices.

Office Operations

Serve as the primary administrative contact for the Office of Finance and Administration.

Coordinate daily office operations, ensuring efficient workflows and excellent customer service.

Order and maintain office supplies and equipment.

Process invoices, purchase requisitions, reimbursements, procurement card transactions, and other administrative financial activities.

Maintain electronic filing systems and departmental records.

Meeting and Event Coordination

Coordinate logistics for divisional meetings, retreats, workshops, and campus events.

Schedule meeting locations, catering, technology, and other support services.

Prepare meeting agendas and materials.

Record meeting minutes, distribute documentation, and track follow-up action items.

Support Board of Trustees committee meetings and other executive-level meetings by assisting with logistics, materials preparation, and scheduling.

Communications and Customer Service

Serve as a welcoming and professional representative of the Office of Finance and Administration.

Respond to inquiries from faculty, staff, students, trustees, vendors, and external partners.

Assist in preparing internal communications, announcements, and divisional updates.

Maintain departmental distribution lists, websites, and shared resources as assigned.

Project and Administrative Coordination

Assist the Director in tracking divisional initiatives, projects, and deadlines.

Maintain project schedules, task lists, and documentation.

Support policy management activities by organizing files, scheduling meetings, maintaining records, and assisting with communications related to institutional policies.

Compile information and prepare routine reports, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Operational Support

Assist with budget tracking, purchasing, and administrative recordkeeping.

Coordinate onboarding logistics for new staff within the division.

Recommend improvements to administrative processes and office procedures to enhance efficiency and customer service.

Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

SECTION 4: JOB QUALIFICATIONS/SPECIFICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Associate's degree or equivalent education and/or relevant work experience.

Bachelor's degree preferred.

Three to five years of progressively responsible administrative experience, preferably supporting senior or executive leadership.

Experience in higher education or a complex nonprofit organization is a plus.

Strong organizational, planning, and time-management skills, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with a demonstrated commitment to providing responsive, high-quality customer service.

Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and handle sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.

Strong initiative, problem-solving skills, and adaptability, with the ability to anticipate needs, coordinate projects, and respond effectively to changing priorities.

Ability to work independently while building collaborative relationships and working effectively with colleagues across all levels of a diverse campus community.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and virtual meeting platforms.

Familiarity with enterprise administrative systems, document management tools, and financial software preferred.

Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment that supports diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Union: No

Work Schedule: 20 hours per week; 12 months per year

Employment Status: Part-time; Non-exempt; Regular Grade: 830NE Work Modality Hybrid-eligible

Documents Needed to Apply

Resume (Required) Cover Letter (Required) Salary Grade Structure Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The successful candidate will be required to meet our pre-employment background screening requirements.

RISD recognizes inclusion and belonging as fundamental to its learning and working community and integral to an art and design education. We welcome candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to this community and to our commitment to excellence.

RISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

Rhode Island School of Design is a nonprofit college and museum founded in 1877 in Providence, RI - one of the first art and design schools in the US. Our students engage in rigorous, studio-based learning and liberal arts studies. By cultivating expansive and elastic thinking, RISD equips artists, designers and scholars to generate and challenge the ideas that shape our world. Find out much more about RISD at risd.edu/about.