Administrative Coordinator

State of Iowa; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental insurance

Life insurance

IPERS retirement

401A plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Iowa Department of Transportation in Ames, IA is seeking an Administrative Coordinator (Executive Officer 1) to drive operational improvements and support major initiatives within the Operational Services Bureau. Responsibilities include budgeting, program management, and coordinating critical projects across the bureau.

The role emphasizes data-driven decision making, stakeholder alignment, and emergency-response coordination, with a shift schedule of Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–4:30 pm.

Qualifications

• Experience in program administration, development, operations, or management.
• Strong analytical, presentation, and coordination abilities.
• Proven ability to track budgets and allocate resources effectively.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate operational problems and justify equipment, facilities, budget, and staffing needs.
• Prepare and present documentation for Bureau leadership and planning meetings.
• Analyze and adjust the Bureau budget for resource allocation.
• Serve as Program Manager for statewide vertical infrastructure projects.
• Coordinate workloads and support assigned programs to meet mission objectives.
• Lead reviews of performance data and coordinate operational changes or outsourcing.
• Manage urgent projects including emergency response and strategic service management.

Skills

Budgeting

Program management

Communication

Analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Job description

At the Iowa Department of Transportation, we’re committed to Making Lives Better Through Transportation. We’re looking for an Administrative Coordinator (Executive Officer 1) in the Operational Services Bureau. In this role, you’ll help drive operational improvements, support major initiatives, and bring clarity and coordination to critical projects across the Operational Services Bureau. You’ll carry out this work through the DOT’s core values: Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception.

Location: Ames, IA

Shift Requirements: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

As an Administrative Coordinator, your duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Evaluate operational problems and prepare justifications for equipment, facilities, budget, and staffing needs.
• Prepare and present clear, concise documentation and presentations for Bureau leadership and planning meetings.
• Analyze, track, and recommend adjustments to the Bureau budget to support effective resource allocation.
• Serve as Program Manager for statewide vertical infrastructure projects, overseeing planning, execution, monitoring, risk management, and stakeholder alignment.
• Coordinate workloads, gather information, answer questions, and support assigned programs to help ensure mission objectives are met.
• Lead efforts to review performance data, identify operational improvement needs, and coordinate transitions related to operational changes or outsourcing.
• Manage urgent or emergent mission-critical projects, including emergency response coordination and strategic service management.

As a State of Iowa employee, you will be eligible for the following benefits:

• Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
• Insurance benefits start the first month following 30 days of employment and costs can be reviewed here
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match
• Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.
• Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).

We encourage you to view more about the State of Iowa Employee benefits and costs at the State of Iowa Employee Benefits Website!

Iowa DOT complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the EEO & ADA Officer at 515-689-1009 or via email at [e-mail].

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to three years of full-time professional-level work in program administration, program development, program operations, or management.

2) A total of seven years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience.

3) All of the following (a, b, and c): a. One year of full-time professional-level work experience in program administration, program development, program operations, or management; and b. A total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and c. A total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university coursework in a public-service-related area (e.g., public or business administration, social work, public health, law, education, engineering) equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education.

4) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes thirty months of fulltime work as a Program Planner (any level), Management Analyst (any level), or Administrative Assistant (any level).

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.