Administrative Support Specialist - #002138

Western Carolina University; Indiana (PA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university seeks an Administrative Support Specialist to manage daily operations within the School of Teaching and Learning. The role requires excellent communication skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office, along with administrative responsibilities including budget management and record keeping. Join us for a rewarding career with comprehensive benefits and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Tuition waivers for courses

Training and development programs

Paid parental leave

Flexible spending accounts

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency with one year experience in office settings.
• Experience with management software and independent judgment.
• Knowledge of policies and procedures related to information handling.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations of the School of Teaching and Learning.
• Maintain departmental records, budgets, and facilities.
• Communicate effectively with faculty, students, and staff.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Microsoft Office

Data management

Organizational skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalency

Job description

Administrative Support Specialist - #002138

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Applicants must apply online in order to be considered. Please include a cover letter, current resume, and a list of three professional references (with complete contact information).

PLEASE COMPLETE ALL AREAS OF THE APPLICATION. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS MAY NOT BE GIVEN CONSIDERATION IN THE REVIEW PROCESS.

Applicants must upload a DD-214 if claiming Veteran’s Preference.

If no applicants apply, who meet the required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities/Competencies and Training and Experience requirements, then management may consider other applicants.

All new hires into positions subject to the State Human Resources Act (SHRA) will serve a 12 month probationary period as defined by the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR).

Working Title Administrative Support Specialist - #002138

Department

Department School of Teaching and Learning

About WCU

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes ‘Best Employers’ lists each year. Including:
• 2024 – Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
• 2023 – Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
• 2022 – Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC system’s westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans – eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences – many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary

The primary location of this position is on the main Cullowhee, NC campus.

The administrative support specialist works closely with the Director of the School of Teaching and Learning to manage the daily operations of the department. The position will require knowledge of multiple programs’ policies, procedures, and information systems located within the School of Teaching and Learning. Responsibilities for this position include the following: departmental budget management; facilities and inventory management; organizing and maintaining records; maintaining the departmental SharePoint site; managing contracts; scheduling classrooms and meeting spaces; managing data using a variety of computer applications (spreadsheets, word processing, Catamart, etc); and making independent decisions within university policy. This position will also need to be able to interpret data, effectively communicate, and adhere to the policies and procedures of the School of Teaching and Learning and the University. This person will need to monitor and evaluate patterns related to scheduling and recommend alternatives. The position will be expected to make administrative independent decisions regarding use of work studies, assignment of graduate students, the division of labor activities among the other staff in the School of Teaching and Learning.

Must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required for this Position

• Possess excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills and the ability to develop strong relationships with both internal and external constituencies.
• Ability to compose and clearly convey information, write reports and express ideas through a variety of media.
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), data management and other office technology programs.
• Ability and willingness to learn other software and systems to meet the School of Teaching and Learning needs.
• Ability to exercise independent judgement and analyze relevant policies and procedures in using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions and/or reaching conclusions across a variety of situations.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and facilitate the flow of work in order to meet deadlines with limited supervision.
• Ability to measure, evaluate and make recommendations to redesign work processes, services, and products to achieve organizational goals.
• Ability to coordinate and support programs, manage resources, monitor activities, and assess environmental risks and quality control associated with the programs associated with the School of Teaching and Learning.
• Possess knowledge of policies and procedures related to the collection, retention, and storage of printed and electronic information.
• Ability to establish competencies and evaluate both learning and performance outcomes for student workers and other support staff.
• Possess an understanding of services, policies and procedures related to a program or area of specialization, ability to demonstrate and apply this knowledge in performance of office support tasks, and explain and interpret information to faculty, students, and staff.

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalency and one year of related office experience; or equivalent combination of training and experience.

Anticipated Hiring Range

Anticipated Hiring Range $42,900

Position Type

Position Type Permanent Full-Time

Number of Hours per Week

Number of Hours per Week 40

Number of Months per Year

Number of Months per Year 12

Salary Band Range

Salary Band Range $34,602 - $58,870

Salary Grade

Salary Grade For administrative purposes during the implementation of Career Banding this journey level posiiton is considered a Salary Grade 61.

Posting Text

Open Date

Open Date 06/10/2025

Close Date

Close Date 06/24/2025

Open Until Filled No

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants must apply online in order to be considered. Please include a cover letter, current resume, and a list of three professional references (with complete contact information).

PLEASE COMPLETE ALL AREAS OF THE APPLICATION . INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS MAY NOT BE GIVEN CONSIDERATION IN THE REVIEW PROCESS .

Applicants must upload a DD-214 if claiming Veteran’s Preference.

If no applicants apply, who meet the required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities/Competencies and Training and Experience requirements, then management may consider other applicants.

All new hires into positions subject to the State Human Resources Act ( SHRA ) will serve a 12 month probationary period as defined by the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources ( OSHR ).

Background/E-Verify

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.

Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify . Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.

All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential/qualification requirements.

EOE

Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call [phone] or email at [e-mail].

University Safety

The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.

Required Documents

Cover Letter/Letter of Application

Resume

List of references

Optional Documents

DD-214

NGB 23A (RPAS)

DD256 or NGB22

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Do you require sponsorship?
  • Yes
  • No
• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
  • HigherEdJobs.com
  • Inside Higher Ed
  • HERC - Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
  • Website - Jobs.wcu.edu
  • Indeed.com
  • Personal Referral
  • Agency Referral
  • Other