Administrative Assistant Reception

Actalent; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 26,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Disability insurance

Health Savings Account

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave

Job summary

Actalent seeks an Administrative Assistant / Receptionist in Columbus, OH to manage frontline client communications, coordinate financial processing, and support a busy laboratory team. The role requires organized, detail-oriented multitaskers who represent the organization professionally and maintain accurate records.

You will handle visitor greeting, NDA sign-in, calls routing, email management, PO issuance, and coordination with operations. On-site, contract position with benefits eligibility.

Qualifications

• 6 months+ of administrative experience, manufacturing environment a plus.
• Experience with front desk/reception duties.
• Proficient with Excel for data entry and basic spreadsheets.
• Proficient with Outlook for email and calendar management.
• Strong verbal and written communication with clients and staff.
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent attention to detail and organization.
• Comfort with phone systems and routing emails.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact at the front desk, greeting visitors and couriers professionally.
• Ensure safety and NDA sign-in protocols and maintain access records.
• Manage inbound calls by routing inquiries to technical or operations teams.
• Monitor emails and direct questions about sample updates or tests to correct contacts.
• Issue approved purchase orders for laboratory consumables, reagents, and office supplies.
• Coordinate building maintenance, track status, and share updates with stakeholders.
• Arrange servicing/repairs for office equipment to minimize downtime.
• Handle incoming/outgoing mail and packages for staff/departments.
• Collaborate with operations to compile and verify sample testing records.
• Generate client invoices following established procedures and timelines.
• Perform Excel-based data entry and proper filing of records.
• Provide general administrative support, scheduling and document prep as needed.
• Maintain organized reception and office areas for a professional look.
• Support internal communication and cross-department information flow.

Skills

Administrative experience

Reception/front desk

Excel data entry

Outlook email/calendar

Verbal communication

Written communication

Multitasking

Attention to detail

Phone system handling

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Job Title: Administrative Assistant / Receptionist Job Description This Administrative Assistant / Receptionist role manages frontline client communications, coordinates essential financial processing, oversees vendor ordering, and delivers critical administrative support to a busy laboratory team in Columbus. The position requires a highly organized, detail-oriented professional who can handle multiple priorities, maintain accuracy in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment, and represent the organization with a polished and professional demeanor.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact at the front desk by greeting visitors, vendors, and couriers in a professional and courteous manner.
• Ensure all visitors follow required safety and non-disclosure sign-in protocols and maintain accurate records of building access.
• Manage inbound phone calls by answering, screening, and routing client inquiries to the appropriate technical or operations team members.
• Monitor and respond to incoming emails, directing questions about sample updates or testing results to the correct internal contacts.
• Issue approved purchase orders for laboratory consumables, chemical reagents, office supplies, contractor services, and facility-related invoices.
• Coordinate building maintenance requests by scheduling service calls, tracking completion, and communicating status updates to the appropriate stakeholders.
• Arrange servicing and repairs for office equipment to ensure minimal downtime and continuous operation of front office and laboratory support tools.
• Handle incoming and outgoing mail, packages, and courier deliveries, ensuring timely distribution to the appropriate staff or departments.
• Collaborate closely with the operations team to compile completed sample testing records and ensure all documentation is accurate and complete.
• Generate accurate client invoices based on completed work, following established procedures and timelines.
• Perform Excel-based data entry for administrative and financial records, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and proper filing.
• Provide general administrative support to the laboratory team, including scheduling, document preparation, and record keeping as needed.
• Maintain an organized reception and office area, ensuring a professional appearance and efficient workflow.
• Support internal communication by relaying messages, coordinating information between departments, and assisting with basic office coordination tasks.

Essential Skills

• At least 6 months of administrative experience; experience in a manufacturing environment is a plus.
• Demonstrated administrative support experience, including reception or front desk responsibilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including accurate data entry and basic spreadsheet use.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook for managing email and calendar communications.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with clients, visitors, and internal staff.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, particularly in handling documentation and financial records.
• Comfort with handling phone systems, email routing, and general front office operations.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Prior experience supporting a laboratory, industrial, or manufacturing setting is beneficial.
• Experience coordinating purchase orders, vendor interactions, or basic procurement activities.
• Familiarity with invoicing processes and compiling documentation for billing purposes.
• Ability to follow established safety, confidentiality, and non-disclosure protocols.
• Professional, courteous demeanor when interacting with clients, vendors, and colleagues.
• Proactive approach to problem-solving and willingness to assist where needed across the office and laboratory team.

Work Environment

This role is based in a laboratory facility in Columbus that operates in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment. The position is primarily on-site at the front office and reception area, with frequent interaction with laboratory staff, visitors, vendors, and couriers. The work involves regular use of office technologies such as computers, Microsoft Excel and Outlook, phone systems, and standard office equipment. The environment requires adherence to safety and non-disclosure sign-in protocols for all visitors, reflecting a focus on security and compliance. The reception and office areas are professional and structured, and the role involves standard business hours with periods of higher activity when managing multiple calls, visitors, and administrative tasks simultaneously.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Columbus, OH.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $19.00 - $20.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 30, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Columbus,OH.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.