Office Associate

Mississippi State University; Colorado; On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Mississippi State University’s College of Education is seeking an administrative receptionist who serves as the first point of contact for students, faculty, alumni, and donors. You will guide inquiries, coordinate with program directors, and help with day-to-day office operations.

The role emphasizes welcoming surroundings, directing calls, maintaining calendars, and supporting fleet and event planning while ensuring confidential handling of information.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required.
• Two years of experience directly related to the duties.
• Equivalent combination of related education and related experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Answer calls and route to appropriate contacts.
• Greet and assist faculty, staff, students, donors, and others.
• Maintain a clean, welcoming office environment.
• Monitor inventories of office, safety, and cleaning supplies.
• Perform clerical and administrative duties, including typing.
• Assist with fleet management, including vehicle scheduling.
• Support staff in business affairs, event planning, and academic records.
• Serve as a liaison between the Dean's Office and departments to support communication.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Organization skills

Confidentiality

Written communication

Calendar management

Data entry

Office equipment

Education

High School diploma

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Position Function

This position serves as a primary point of contact and often provides the first impression of the College of Education and the Dean’s Office. Students rely on this position for assistance with a variety of day-to-day needs, including identifying the appropriate contacts for questions or concerns related to their academic programs and receiving guidance on procedures such as adding or dropping classes.
The position also plays an important role in creating a welcoming and supportive environment for prospective and visiting students, current students, alumni, and donors. Responsibilities include providing general assistance, offering directions and parking information, and facilitating connections with faculty members, program directors, and other appropriate personnel.

Salary Grade

09

Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.

Department Profile

Discover your path to a meaningful career through Mississippi State University's College of Education. We are making a difference inside and outside the classroom through our nationally accredited teacher education programs and our non-teaching degrees, such as kinesiology, educational psychology, music performance, industrial technology, and more.
We are making tomorrow better and brighter by integrating world-renowned research centers and state-of-the-art facilities with our unwavering commitment to excellence in education. From our unique Partnership Middle School to our trailblazing Mississippi Institute on Disabilities, we are not just teaching - we are transforming lives and communities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Answer incoming phone calls, provide callers with basic information, and route calls appropriately throughout the College and University.
• Greet and assist faculty, staff, students, donors, and other constituents of the College of Education who require face-to-face interaction with the Dean, Associate Dean, or Dean’s Office support staff.
• Maintain a clean, organized, warm, and welcoming office environment. This may include light cleaning, organizing shared spaces, and performing minor office equipment maintenance.
• Monitor and maintain adequate inventories of office, safety, and cleaning supplies.
• Perform a variety of clerical and administrative duties, including basic to complex technical and typing assignments.
• Assist with fleet management responsibilities, including coordinating vehicle maintenance schedules, reservations, and calendars for departmental use.
• Provide support to staff responsible for a variety of operational functions, including, but not limited to, business affairs, event planning, recruitment efforts, and academic record keeping.
• Serve, as needed, as a liaison between the Dean of Education and departments within the College of Education to support effective communication and the successful fulfillment of the College’s mission.
• Perform other duties as assigned based on departmental needs, as well as the employee’s unique talents, skills, and abilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: High School diploma
• Experience: Two (2) years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
• Substitution: An equivalent combination of related education and related experience may be considered for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Organizational and coordinating skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and information.
• Ability to understand and follow specific instructions and procedures.
• Receptionist skills.
• Ability to maintain calendars and schedule appointments.
• Ability to create, compose, and edit written materials.
• Knowledge of supplies, equipment, and/or services ordering and inventory control.
• Ability to operate basic office equipment.
• Records maintenance skills.
• Word processing and/or data entry skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
• No or very limited exposure to physical risk.
• No or very limited physical effort required.
• Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, [phone].

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: [phone] or [e-mail].

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at [phone] or [e-mail]. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.