Executive Assistant to the Provost

Lenoir-Rhyne University; Hickory (NC); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina seeks an Executive Assistant to the Provost. You will provide senior administrative support, manage academic workflows, and coordinate initiatives across Academic Affairs and other divisions.

You will supervise the Academic Affairs administrative assistant, oversee faculty lifecycle processes, and help optimize space planning and digitization of workflows to ensure institutional continuity and effective service.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 10+ years of administrative experience in higher education.
• Experience with Ellucian products and enterprise systems.
• Demonstrated discretion and professionalism handling sensitive information.
• Strong organizational, communication and project management skills.
• Experience with process improvement and operational systems thinking.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, 25Live and digital workflow systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage high‑level scheduling, executive correspondence and meeting preparation with discretion.
• Coordinate Provost agendas and materials for academic initiatives.
• Serve as central communication point for Academic Affairs and liaise with senior leaders.
• Oversee onboarding, offboarding, and contract coordination for faculty; credentialing compliance.
• Lead space planning and scheduling management across academic units; support 25Live operations.
• Standardize procedures and digitize key academic workflows; support accreditation readiness.
• Act as cross‑campus liaison between Academic Affairs and Registrar, HR, Facilities and other units.
• Coordinate budget documentation and purchasing workflows within Academic Affairs.
• Plan and manage Provost‑led events and strategic initiatives.
• Mentor and supervise the Academic Affairs administrative assistant.

Skills

Discretion

Professionalism

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Project management

Process improvement

Microsoft Office

25Live

Digital workflow systems

Ellucian products

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Ellucian products

25Live

Digital workflow systems

Job description

Location : Hickory, North Carolina

Position Summary

The executive assistant to the Provost serves as a senioradministrative partner in the Office of Academic Affairs, providingcomprehensive executive support while managing academic operations,coordinating strategic initiatives and facilitatinginstitution-wide academic workflows. While primarily aligned withAcademic Affairs, the executive assistant may also providecoordination and support to other divisions as needed to ensureinstitutional continuity and effective service.

This role extends beyond traditional executive assistant functions,encompassing faculty lifecycle management, academic space planning,process digitization and interdepartmental coordination. Theexecutive assistant acts as a trusted advisor to the Provost,supervises the Academic Affairs administrative assistant and servesas a strategic liaison across key university units.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Executive Support to the Provost

• Manage high-level scheduling, executive correspondence andmeeting preparation with discretion and sound judgment.
• Coordinate agendas, materials and follow-up for Provost-ledmeetings and academic initiatives.
• Serve as a central communication point for Academic Affairs,facilitating timely and informed decision-making.
• Provide support to other senior leaders or divisions asappropriate based on institutional needs and executivedirection.

Faculty Lifecycle & Human Resources Coordination

• Oversee onboarding, offboarding, contract coordination andreappointment processes for faculty in collaboration with HumanResources and academic leadership.
• Ensure compliance with credentialing, policy and documentationrequirements in collaboration with the Provost and SACSCOCliaison.

Academic Space and Scheduling Management

• Lead the assignment of faculty offices and classrooms acrossacademic units.
• Support 25Live scheduling system operations and datareporting.
• Collaborate with the Registrar's Office and Facilities tooptimize space utilization and support strategic planning.

Administrative Process Oversight

• Standardize and document operational procedures within AcademicAffairs.
• Coordinate the digitization of key academic workflows to improve efficiency and reduce administrative burden.
• Support accreditation readiness and institutional compliance,including SACSCOC requirements.

Cross-Campus Collaboration and Leadership

• Serve as a liaison between Academic Affairs and campuspartners, including the Registrar's Office, Human Resources,Facilities, Athletics, Business and Finance, Advancement,Marketing, Admissions and the President's Office.
• Supervise and mentor the Academic Affairs administrativeassistant, ensuring effective support, professional development andaccountability.
• Coordinate and support administrative staff across academicdepartments to promote consistency, collaboration and sharedoperational standards.
• Align academic processes with broader institutional operationsand student services as appropriate.

Financial Process Coordination

• Support the Provost by organizing budget-related documentation,tracking submissions and facilitating workflows for purchases andreconciliations.
• Manage administrative aspects of purchasing and credit carddocumentation within Academic Affairs.
• Monitor financial processing timelines and assist inmaintaining compliance with institutional policies.

Project and Event Coordination

• Plan and manage logistics for Provost-led events, meetings,retreats and strategic initiatives.
• Coordinate cross-departmental engagement to support effectiveexecution and results.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or a minimum of 10 years of administrativeexperience in higher education required.
• Experience working with Ellucian products

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Discretion, professionalism and sound judgment in handlingsensitive information
• Strong organizational, communication and project managementskills
• Strong operational systems thinking and process improvementskills
• Proficiency with enterprise platforms such as Microsoft Office,25Live and digital workflow systems

About Lenoir-Rhyne University

Lenoir-Rhyne University is a co-educational, private, comprehensiveinstitution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus located inHickory, North Carolina, a city of more than 40,000. The universityhas additional graduate centers in Asheville, N.C., and Columbia,S.C. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir-Rhyne is less than an hour’s drive from Charlotte, and theHickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area has apopulation of about 365,000. The university now offers more than 45undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs to approximately2,400 students. Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks to liberate mind andspirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, buildcommunity, and promote responsible leadership for service to theworld. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America(ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne is open to people from all religious andnon-religious backgrounds.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy

Lenoir-Rhyne University is committed to providing a workplace andeducational environment, as well as other benefits, programs, andactivities that are free from discrimination, harassment andretaliation.

LR is committed to creating a safe campus environment for allmembers of the LR community, including, but not limited to, thosewho identify as transgender and gender non-conforming. To that end,LR does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex(including sex stereotypes and sex characteristics), ethnicity,national origin, physical or mental disability, age, maritalstatus, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, genderidentity, gender expression, veteran or military status or anyother characteristic or status protected by applicable law.

To ensure compliance with federal and state civil rights laws andregulations and to affirm its commitment to promoting the goals offairness and equity in all aspects of the educational program,activity and employment, LR has developed internal policies andprocedures that provide a prompt, fair and impartial process forthose involved in an allegation of discrimination or harassment,and for allegations of retaliation.

LR values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of itscommunity and strives to balance the rights of the parties in thegrievance process during what is often a difficult time for allthose involved.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Lenoir-Rhyne University promotes a welcoming campus environmentthat is integral to the university's commitment to excellence inengagement and education. We are particularly interested incandidates who have demonstrated experience nurturing a welcomingcommunity, working with faculty, staff, and/or students from allwalks of life and/or incorporating varied perspectives andtraditions in their current or previous positions. This commitmentis rooted in our Lutheran tradition of fostering wisdom, nurturingvocation, and preparing students for lives of purpose while servingthe common good.