Executive Assistant - Access, Belonging, and Student Engagement

University of Wisconsin Colleges; La Crosse, Northern (WI, KY); Hybrid; USD 51,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse seeks an Executive Assistant II to provide high-level administrative support to the Vice Chancellor of the Division of Access, Belonging, and Student Engagement (ABSE) and to the ABSE leadership team.

You will manage a shared reception, maintain calendars, arrange travel, supervise student workers, coordinate events, prepare reports, and handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree or equivalent required; 1-2 years administrative experience preferred.
• Ability to manage a complex workload with multiple priorities and maintain discretion.
• Experience using Microsoft 365 and enterprise systems is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as first point of contact for the division and provide confidential support to staff and students.
• Schedule meetings, maintain calendars, coordinate travel, and process reimbursements.
• Prepare reports, organize shared reception, and supervise student workers.

Skills

Administrative support

Calendar management

Travel planning

Budgeting

Communication

Reception handling

Confidentiality

Event coordination

Education

Associate's degree or equivalent

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft 365

Workday

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process. Position Title: Executive Assistant - Access, Belonging, and Student Engagement Job Category: Academic Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Executive Assistant II Job Duties: This full-time position provides programmatic and high-level administrative support to the Vice Chancellor of the Division of Access, Belonging, and Student Engagement (ABSE) and administrative support to the ABSE leadership team (Vice Chancellor, Associate Vice Chancellor, and Dean of Students/Assistant Vice Chancellor). This position requires discretion and the ability to operate within a supportive team independently and with minimal supervision. Duties and responsibilities include managing the shared reception point serving the Vice Chancellor's Office, the Student Life Office, and the Office of Civil Rights and Compliance (OCRC), supervising student workers supporting the shared reception point, functioning as a liaison between the office and faculty, staff, students and community, handling confidential information, record and file maintenance, making travel and hotel arrangements, managing delegated calendars, coordinating special events for the division and conducting special projects as requested. Successful completion of duties in the position will require gaining an understanding of the structure, staff, and responsibilities of the units within the division and their programming and working constructively with other members of the division's executive team. The review of applications starts on October 12, 2026 Applications received on or before October 12th are prioritized and review will continue until the position(s) is/are filled. Initial interviews will be conducted virtually, with shortlisted candidates invited to campus. UW-La Crosse does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding this, please contact Human Resources at 608-785-8013. Key Job Responsibilities: General responsibilities Serve as a first point of contact for the division. Provide friendly, informative, and confidential support to students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Complete research and direct inquiries as necessary. Order and maintain an adequate stock of office supplies. Maintain organized digital and physical records for the division, including those containing confidential and personally identifiable information. Initiate work order requests as necessary. Other duties as assigned in relation to the mission of the Division of Access, Belonging, and Student Engagement. Budget and financial responsibilities Coordinate travel arrangements for the VC, ABSE leadership team, visitors, and job candidates. Process reimbursements, vendor payments, and expense reporting in a timely and accurate manner. Develop and maintain an up-to-date understanding of general budget and travel policies by coordinating with the Business Manager, reviewing documentation, and attending community-of practice meetings. In coordination with the Business Manager, conduct spend planning, account reconciliation, and maintain accurate and current documentation of expenses and purchases for the leadership team and their operational accounts. Serve as designated backup to the Business Manager for administrative task completion, following established procedures. Provide administrative support Complete a complex range of professional administrative support tasks. Develop and maintain an up-to-date understanding of the responsibilities of the Vice Chancellor (VC), Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC), and Dean of Students/Assistant Vice Chancellor for ABSE. Contextual awareness and discretion are essential to protect confidentiality and perform the essential duties of this position. Schedule meetings and maintain master calendars for the VC and ABSE leadership team. Maintain awareness of conflicting priorities and prioritize appropriately. Interact daily with the VC to align priorities and discuss any emerging situations. Use judgement and discretion in alerting the VC and ABSE leadership team of matters needing attention in priority order. Respond to requests for information from a variety of sources, particularly in the absence of the VC. This may involve researching answers and tactfully addressing sensitive issues. Manage and prioritize phone calls, appointments, incoming/outgoing correspondence, and reports. Compose, proofread, and edit correspondence and documents as required. Documents may be of a confidential nature. Participate in ABSE leadership team meetings, as well as other events related to ABSE upon request. Develop and share agendas, take meeting minutes, and share minutes in a timely and accessible manner. Assist in gathering data and preparing reports related to ABSE functions and end of year reporting. Manage the shared reception point serving the Vice Chancellor's Office, the Student Life Office, and Office of Civil Right and Compliance, including reception, coverage, and continuity of service. Assist in organizing processes and procedures to ensure efficient functioning of the ABSE main office, including development and maintenance of shared reception procedures, in collaboration with the leadership team and Business Manager. Hire, train, schedule, and supervise student workers supporting the shared reception point, including coordination of training on reception, referral, confidentiality, and office procedures. Assist with organizing special events (ordering food, scheduling rooms, digital signage and campus event calendar submissions). Coordinate preparation and distribution of divisional communications and recurring newsletters from the VC and ABSE leadership team, including gathering submissions, formatting, scheduling, and archiving. Serve as one of the primary liaisons, in coordination with the Business Manager, between the VC, the ABSE leadership team, unit directors, and support staff regarding university and divisional policies, procedures, goals, and functions. Serve as one of the primary liaisons, in coordination with the Business Manager, between ABSE, the Chancellor's leadership team, and academic departments. Develop and maintain positive lines of communication between ABSE and other university offices. Department: Access, Belonging, & Student Engagement Compensation: $60,000 / year Required Qualifications: Associate's degree or equivalent as applicable. 1-2 years of administrative experience or equivalent as applicable: public service, academic, etc. Demonstrated ability to appropriately manage a complex workload with multiple priorities. Demonstrated ability to use discretion and good judgement, especially regarding confidential information. Demonstrated ability to learn new software/skills and adapt to changing circumstances. Ability to respectfully relate, communicate, and respond to individuals with a variety of needs. Ability to work well with others in a team environment. Ability to work independently and set priorities as needed to meet the position's demands. Working knowledge of modem office practices and common office equipment: email, electronic calendars, printer/copier, etc. Attention to detail and excellent organization skills. Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor's degree or higher. Experience working with Microsoft 365: Outlook, Sharepoint, Teams, Word, Excel, etc. Experience working with Workday or a comparable enterprise system. 3-5 years of broad and increasingly responsible administrative experience. Experience providing administrative support to executive leaders or a leadership team. Office management experience. Event and/or travel planning experience. Experience creating and scheduling posts to social media. Experience hiring and/or supervising student workers. Experience coordinating and developing official correspondence. Experience participating in strategic planning and related initiatives. Experience in higher education and/or a desire to grow professionally within the higher education environment. How to Apply: Required application documents Cover letter (that addresses the required and preferred qualifications) Resume Contact Information: Andrew Avery-Johnson [e-mail] Special Notes: Application deadlines TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION: Priority consideration is given to those candidates who apply by the listed ‘First Review Date’. Applications received after that date may be considered at the discretion of the search committee. Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Incomplete and/or late application materials may not receive consideration. If you have questions regarding this recruitment, or if you are not able to complete the application online due to a disability or system problem, please contact the Office of Human Resources. Confidentiality of Applicant Materials UWL is a state agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWL will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request. CBC & Reference Check Policy All candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment screening which includes a criminal background check, work authorization, and verification of education. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment. Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act) For the UWL Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.uwlax.edu/student-life/student-resources/annual-security-report/ or contact the University Police Department at 608.785.9000. INFORMATIONABOUTYOURBENEFITS Your benefits add an additional 40%+ to the overall financial package from the university. Highlights include: Paid vacation for 12-month positions. Excellent flexible health insurance with low co-pays and good coverage. Paid holidays and paid sick days. After 5 years of employment, you become vested in our retirement system which ensures income post-career. Benefits atUWLare highly competitive with local industry and some of the strongest in state and nation. Benefit eligibility is determined at the point of hire. This information is provided for illustrative purposes only. Benefits are also pro-rated based on the appointment percentage. UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. The Universities of Wisconsin serve approximately 161,000 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, the Universities of Wisconsin is Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state Universities of Wisconsin graduates stay in Wisconsin five years after earning a degree – with a median salary of more than $66,000. The Universities of Wisconsin provides a 23:1 return on state investment. The Universities of Wisconsin also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy. The Universities of Wisconsin and its employees are purpose-driven, people-focused, and committed to stewardship.