Administrative Associate IV, Buffalo Nations

Montana State University; Bozeman (MT); On-site; USD 28,458 - 40,531; Part time

Job summary

Montana State University seeks an Administrative Associate IV to support the Buffalo Nations Food Systems Initiative. You will manage calendars, handle communications, process travel and reimbursements, and assist with budget tracking and procurement.

You will also help coordinate events, host workshops, and assist with grant reporting and program assessment, contributing to culturally grounded programming with Indigenous partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• Progressively responsible administrative experience emphasizing customer service, office operations, or program coordination.
• Advanced skills in Word and Excel, with experience preparing and formatting professional documents, reports, and communications.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and operational support for the Buffalo Nations Food Systems Initiative, including calendar management, correspondence, and reception support.
• Coordinate business and fiscal processes, including budget tracking, procurement, financial reconciliation, and travel and reimbursement processing.
• Coordinate program logistics, hosted events, workshops, and field research, including travel, lodging, and speaker/elder honoraria arrangements.
• Maintain Buffalo Nations web and social media platforms and support grant reporting and program assessment.

Skills

MS Word

MS Excel

Microsoft Office

Customer service

Time management

Teamwork

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Administrative Associate IV, Buffalo Nations

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

Position Information

Announcement Number

Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 27032

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Working Title Administrative Associate IV, Buffalo Nations

Brief Position Overview

Join the Buffalo Nations Food Systems Initiative as our Business Operations Manager and play a vital role in supporting Indigenous-centered education, research, and community engagement. You will work closely with the Director, faculty, students, Indigenous knowledge keepers, and community partners to coordinate programs, manage fiscal operations, and support impactful events and field research. This is an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to culturally grounded programming in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

Position Number

Position Number 4M1964

Department

Division

Division College of Education, Health & Human Development

Appointment Type

Appointment Type Classified

Contract Term

Contract Term Fiscal Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

FLSA

FLSA Non-Exempt

Union Affiliation

Union Affiliation FOCUS-MFPE

FTE

FTE 0.75

Benefits Eligible

Salary $25.04 per hour, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications

Contract Type

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type

Recruitment Type Open

General Statement

The Buffalo Nations Food Systems Initiative, housed within the Department of Food Systems, Nutrition, & Kinesiology, supports educational, research, and community-engaged programming centered on Indigenous food systems and knowledge, partnering with faculty, students, Indigenous knowledge keepers, and community members to advance culturally grounded teaching, research, and outreach.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and operational support for the Buffalo Nations Food Systems Initiative, including calendar management, correspondence, and reception support
• Coordinate business and fiscal processes, including budget tracking, procurement, financial reconciliation, and travel and reimbursement processing
• Coordinate program logistics, hosted events, workshops, and field research, including travel, lodging, and speaker/elder honoraria arrangements
• Maintain Buffalo Nations web and social media platforms and support grant reporting and program assessment

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience
• Demonstrated history of progressively responsible administrative experience emphasizing customer service, office operations, or program coordination
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced skills in Word and Excel, with experience preparing and formatting professional documents, reports, and communications
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain organizational systems, and work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Demonstrated experience working with Tribal Nations, Indigenous communities, or Indigenous knowledge keepers
• Demonstrated experience with university or grant-funded fiscal systems and processes (e.g., procurement, travel reimbursement, budget reconciliation)
• Demonstrated experience coordinating events, meetings, or field logistics
• Demonstrated experience supporting grant administration, reporting, or program assessment
• Familiarity with website and social media platform management

The Successful Candidate Will

• Cultural responsiveness and respect when working with Indigenous communities and other partners
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• High attention to detail and strong organizational abilities
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently with sound judgment
• Flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment
• Discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive or confidential information

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

Physical Demands

This position may require occasional evening or weekend work to support Buffalo Nations events, workshops, and field research, as well as periodic in-state and/or out-of-state travel.

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Number of Vacancies

Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date

Desired Start Date At the conclusion of a successful search.

Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Close Date

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on July 7, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).