Group Administrator

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 33,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is hiring an Office Administrator to support a 55+ member technical team. You will manage daily office operations, schedule group leaders, handle purchases, renewals, and contracts, and assist with hiring and staff onboarding.

The role requires on-site work five days a week, strong organizational and communication skills, and the ability to obtain a Secret clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business-related field or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of office administration experience.
• Strong communication and organizational abilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily office management support for a group of 55+ staff.
• Schedule management for Group Supervisor and Assistant Group Supervisor.
• Handle purchases for hardware, equipment, and office supplies.
• Manage software renewals, contracts, and maintenance costs with Lab Manager support.
• Maintain group property lists and assist in capital planning processes.
• Support planning of town halls, agendas, and information needs of staff.
• Provide confidential assistance on personnel matters and data requests.
• Assist with hiring processes, onboarding, and staff requisitions.
• Serve as Group Security Representative and assist with inspections and safety guidance.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Verbal and written communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business-related field

Master’s degree in business-related field

Job description

Description Are you a people person who is skilled in office administration?

Description Are you a people person who is skilled in office administration? Would you love working with a dedicated group of technical professionals pursuing state-of-the-art solutions to critical challenges? Do you enjoy making a difference for the team you work with? Does a dynamic role in a fast-paced work environment interest you? If so, this may be the opportunity that you’ve been looking for!

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.

We are seeking a driven and hardworking Office Administrator to help meet the needs of a group of 55+ technical staff that are providing major contributions to our sponsors. We are a team of engineers and scientists whose goal is to develop state of the art solutions to advance national security. As an important member of this group you’ll have a hand in everything that we do, including group morale, publications, hiring, purchasing, budgeting and managing all other administrative functions.

As an Office Administrator for A2E, you will...

• Be responsible for providing daily office management support to the A2E Group
• Manage schedules for the Group Supervisor and Assistant Group Supervisor
• Make programmatic, capital, and overhead purchases for technical hardware, test equipment, and office supplies
• Handle software renewals, support contracts and other yearly maintenance costs. Work closely with the Lab Manager to maintain equipment repair and calibration contracts.
• Maintain group property lists including items in group laboratories as well as all staff equipment
• Provide support and assistance in the yearly capital planning process.
• Assist group leadership with planning town hall meetings, including generating slides, defining agendas and understanding information needs of the staff.
• Provide confidential assistance on personnel matters
• Generate information to answer data calls from Sector and Lab-level leadership.
• Assist group staff with various APL procedures including professional society membership, class/conference registration, travel preparation and reimbursement, meeting setup and coordination, etc.
• Help to maintain a positive work environment, including planning staff social and networking events.
• Assist with our hiring team, entering new staff requisitions, scheduling interviews, and onboarding of new staff members.
• Serve as Group Security Representative for which responsibilities include, providing staff with assistance for safe maintenance during biannual inspections and providing guidance to staff as needed.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Have a Bachelor’s Degree in a business-related (or similar) field or an equivalent number of years of relevant experience.
• Have a minimum of 2 years of recent experience in office administration or a closely related function
• Have strong interpersonal and organizational skills, and enjoy working both independently and as part of a multi-organizational team.
• Have demonstrated ability in prioritizing and balancing problems independently, showing great attention to details and being a self-starter.
• Can work well with others using discretion and tact, and possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Have demonstrated ability to communicate effectively at all levels with people inside and outside of the organization.
• Are able to obtain a Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements to qualify for a US. Government clearance includes U.S. Citizenship.
• This position requires the candidate to work on-site 5 days/week.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Have a Master's Degree in a business-related (or similar) field
• Have 5+ years of relevant experience in an office environment with complex organizational systems and processes

About Us

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world‑class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore‑Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact [e-mail].

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short‑term disability, long‑term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Minimum Rate

$24.25 Hourly

Maximum Rate

$44.30 Hourly