Division Administrative Coordinator

Caltech; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 39,950 - 53,726; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement savings plans

Paid time off

Job summary

Caltech in Pasadena, CA, invites applications for a Division Administrative Coordinator in the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering division. The role supports HR operations, recruitment, payroll coordination, and visiting scholar appointments, with collaboration across faculty and management.

Responsibilities include onboarding, visa processing, timekeeping training, and program coordination, while applying Institute policies and ensuring compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant work experience.
• 3+ years of experience in human resources or an academic setting.
• Highly organized with the ability to work independently, manage priorities, and accomplish assigned tasks accurately and in a timely manner.
• Demonstrated experience using AI agents such as Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or the equivalent.
• Excellent interpersonal relations skills and effective oral and written communication skills necessary to interface with faculty, students, and visitors in a professional manner.
• Customer service-oriented; ability to effectively resolve problems by applying policies and procedures.
• Experience using a PC and various computer software programs, including Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and web browsers.
• Conscientious, detail-oriented, and proactive. Demonstrates good judgment and initiative.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates HR-related functions including job requisition posting and employment processing.
• Facilitates new hire process for students and summer employees.
• Tracks important employee actions such as introductory periods and visa dates.
• Payroll monitoring and time entry training for staff.
• Prepares appointments, re-appointments, and promotions for guests and visiting scholars.
• Coordinates with the International Scholars Office for visa documentation.
• Manages the CCE Corporate Recruitment Program and recruitment communications.
• Processes expense reports, travel logistics, and compliance with travel regulations.
• Provides general administrative support and handles confidential records.
• Uses AI tools to assist in administrative work and verifies AI-generated outputs.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Skills

HR experience

Academic setting

Organized

AI tools

Communication

Customer service

Tech proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Oracle

UKG

Microsoft Office

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (CCE) Division Operations Officer, the Division Administrative Coordinator is responsible for specific Division functions related to human resources. Primary functions include staff recruitment, human resources transactions, academic non-faculty appointments, visitor appointments, and payroll coordination. The Division Administrative Coordinator provides project management for specific Division programs, including the CCE Corporate Recruitment Program.

Essential Job Duties

• Coordinates human resources-related functions, including job requisition posting and employment transaction processing. Facilitates new hire process for students and summer employees. Answers questions about human resources policies and procedures, and refers to Human Resources staff as needed.
• Coordinates the assembly of new hire orientation manuals; updating contents for all new staff hires. Provides new employee training on timekeeping and the use of the timekeeping systems.
• Tracks important employee actions, including introductory period end dates, temporary employee end dates, lecture appointment review dates, and visa end/renewal dates.
• Serves as the Payroll Activity Monitor (PAM) for all Division staff. Includes verification of time sheets and submission of approvals to the Human Resources Office. Provides training to new employees on proper time entry and provides information regarding Division policies.
• Prepares and coordinates the appointments, re-appointments, and promotions of all guests, volunteers, visitors, visiting associates, and visiting students in CCE. Ensures all actions (including, but not limited to, review policies, salary minimums, reviews, and affirmative action compliance) are completed in a timely manner, and all required steps are fulfilled in compliance with Division standards, Institute policies, and legal regulations or requirements.
• Prepares and coordinates appointments, re-appointments, and promotions of all postdoctoral scholars in CCE. Ensures all actions (including, but not limited to, review policies, salary minimums, affirmative action compliance) are completed in a timely manner, and all required steps are fulfilled in compliance with Division standards, Institute policies, and legal regulations or requirements.
• Coordinates with the International Scholars Office for initial documentation for visa requirements, including initial hire visas, extension of visas, and visa modifications as needed for specific circumstances related to hiring or retention practices, based on timelines of appointment.
• Coordinates the CCE Corporate Recruitment Program, including scheduling of multiple events and interviews, facilitating information to recruiters, advertising job opportunities to special audiences (undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs), and assisting with initiatives to promote and enhance visibility of student and postdoctoral research opportunities.
• Processes expense reports, advances, reimbursements, and payment requests; assists with logistics associated with domestic or international travel; ensures compliance with funding agency travel requirements and export regulations.
• Provides general administrative support for the Division Office, requiring a thorough knowledge of department processes and Institute policies and procedures. Applies knowledge of administrative functions to plan, coordinate, and assist with specific operations, such as drafting, typing, editing, and proofing correspondence, reports, position descriptions, and office forms.
• Independently handles a variety of issues involving both administrative and operational functions. Interacts with Division faculty and managers professionally to ensure that issues are screened and routes/delivers regular mail, email, and telephone calls, as appropriate.
• Provides guidance to professorial faculty, staff, and postdoctoral scholars regarding Institute policies, Division processes, and procedures for appointments of visitors, visiting associates, and visiting students.
• Creates and maintains Division working files for staff, guests, postdoctoral scholars, visitors, and volunteers. Maintains sensitive and confidential records, files, and databases. Participates in confidential communications with faculty management and Institute administration.
• Uses AI tools to assist in administrative work where applicable. Checks and confirms the accuracy of all work that is AI-generated.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant work experience.
• 3+ years of experience in human resources or an academic setting.
• Highly organized with the ability to work independently, manage priorities, and accomplish assigned tasks accurately and in a timely manner. Able to track deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience using AI agents such as Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or the equivalent.
• Excellent interpersonal relations skills and effective oral and written communication skills necessary to interface with faculty, students, and visitors in a professional manner.
• Customer service-oriented; ability to effectively resolve problems by applying policies and procedures.
• Experience using a PC and various computer software programs, including Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and web browsers.
• Conscientious, detail-oriented, and proactive. Demonstrates good judgment and initiative.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Caltech policies, procedures, and systems, including Oracle or UKG.
• Experience in an academic or research setting.
• Familiarity with labor or wage-and-hour laws.

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Hiring Range

$29.00 - $39.00 per hour

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

• competitive compensation
• health, dental, and vision insurance
• retirement savings plans
• generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.)
• tuition reimbursement
• Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Caltech is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

To read more Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) go to eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf.

Disability Accommodations

Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position.

If you would like to request an accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please contact Caltech Recruiting at

Additionally, if you do not meet the basic qualifications of a role but believe you can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Caltech Recruiting at