Operations Administrative Specialist, Cantor Arts Center

SLAC; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site café

Job summary

The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University seeks an Operations Administrative Specialist to oversee administrative, budgeting, contracting, HR coordination, IT coordination, and space planning for the museum. Reporting to the Deputy Director, the role requires discretion, strong organizational leadership, and the ability to manage multiple projects.

It is a hybrid position with a minimum of four on-campus days; occasional extended hours, weekends, and holidays may be required.

Qualifications

• Experience in museum operations or similar administrative roles.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• Familiarity with financial transactions and systems.
• Experience developing and monitoring budgets.

Responsibilities

• Attend planning meetings and communicate priorities.
• Prepare briefing materials for meetings.
• Plan and coordinate meetings, events, and public programs.
• Oversee financial transactions, invoicing, and budgeting.
• Support procurement, contracting, and vendor management.
• Manage capital assets, inventory, and space planning.
• Coordinate HR onboarding, staff setup, and safety walkthroughs.
• Develop policies, update staff directories, and manage supplies.
• Plan calendars and travel in accordance with policies.
• Coordinate computer inventory and software upgrades.
• Provide facilities and security coverage when needed.
• Monitor department budget and assist with cost savings.
• Serve as on-site café contact and manage P&L review.

Skills

Administrative experience

Budgeting

HR coordination

Vendor management

Tools

Financial systems

Procurement software

IT coordination

Job description

Work Arrangement:

Please note that this position will be based on the Stanford campus and will be considered a hybrid role with a minimum of 4 days per week on campus. This position will work extended or non-standard hours, weekends and holidays based on business needs.

Budgeted Salary:

The expected pay range for this position is $38.64 - $48.50 per hour.

Stanford University is one of the world’s premier academic and research institutions, devoting tremendous intellectual and physical resources toward the betterment of humanity. As a major Silicon Valley employer, Stanford seeks people committed to excellence and improving our world. The university is committed to supporting its employees as they develop their careers and enrich their lives. Stanford’s future success will be shaped by its diverse perspectives, unique experiences, and inclusive culture.

Serving the Stanford University campus, the Bay Area community, and visitors from around the world, the Cantor Arts Center provides an outstanding cultural experience for visitors of all ages and a growing online audience of scholars. The Cantor’s encyclopedic collection spans 5,000 years and includes more than 40,000 works of art from around the globe. An established resource for teaching and research on campus, the Cantor offers free admission and programs year-round. It is consistently one of the most visited university museums in the U.S. It is an exciting time to join the expanding team at the Cantor Arts Center. Join us as we build capacity to achieve the museum’s goals within an equitable, collaborative, and creative work environment.

Reporting to the Deputy Director, the Operations Administrative Specialist will be responsible for overseeing the administrative functions of Cantor Arts Center and will support a historic building featuring high-value works of art, vibrant exhibitions, classroom spaces, dynamic public programs, an onsite café, and outdoor grounds and sculpture. This position plays a critical role in ensuring effective day-to-day administrative cohesion and continuity including managing financial transactions, contracting, and budgeting; human resources coordination; capital assets management; IT coordination; and space planning. The individual in this role functions as a central point of contact for administrative matters, often managing competing priorities across multiple active projects and initiatives. This is a highly visible role requiring discretion, strong organizational leadership, and the ability to operate as a trusted partner for the Operations Team.

In this role, you will:

• Attend planning meetings on behalf of the Deputy Director to help establish and/or communicate priorities, identify and resolve problems that are administrative in nature, and provide post-meeting follow-up.
• Research and prepare background information for meetings and briefing materials.
• Provide planning and logistical support for meetings, conferences, seminars, special events, and public programs.
• Oversee, facilitate, and process a variety of complex financial transactions; produce, monitor, and reconcile invoicing and budget statements; Research, identify, and resolve financial discrepancies. Assist with troubleshooting and provide solutions for issues involving transactions, supplier management, or financial system navigation.
• Assist with procurement and contracting actions including market research, vendor sourcing, supplier system management, proposal development and evaluation, and contract amendment coordination.
• Assist with managing the museum's capital assets including purchasing, documentation, tagging, tracking, retirement, and inventory coordination.
• Coordinate space planning, office moves, routine remodeling and renovations; manage the museum’s furniture inventory including purchasing, repairs, and surplussing.
• In partnership with HR leads and hiring managers, help facilitate staff on-boarding and off-boarding, office assignments and set-up, credentialing and key assignments, new staff orientation, and facility/safety walkthroughs.
• Responsible for leading the administrative functions of the museum. Develop, update, and distribute administrative policies and guidelines, staff directories, and museum-wide email and phone lists; manage requests for VIP parking permits; manage publications inventory, and purchase museum-wide kitchen/office supplies.
• Plan and schedule calendar(s) without prior consultation, resolve calendaring conflicts, and arrange/process travel in compliance with unit, university, and sponsor policies.
• In partnership with VPA staff, SUIT, and central university offices, manage the museum’s computer inventory including list management, computer replacement, and loaner coordination. Facilitate computer imaging and phone set-up for new and departing staff; manage museum-wide software purchasing, installation, and upgrades; and oversee the museum’s Cardinal Print program.
• When needed, provide operational support and coverage for facilities and security including scheduling; assigning and prioritizing workloads; setting appropriate deadlines; attending meetings; and reviewing work for quality and timeliness.
• Monitor the department’s administrative budget and provide updates as needed; make recommendations for reprogramming and/or cost savings; and approve expenditures. Participate in out-year budget planning.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the on-site café including contract administration, menu development, and the monthly review and analysis of the P&L statements. Ensure compliance with the University’s Edible Food Recovery Program, including quarterly reporting and inspections.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience of museum operations including facilities management, security and emergency protocols, and administrative standards and systems
• Demonstrated experience working independently and as part of a team
• Knowledge of financial transactions/processes and systems.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, monitor, and revise pre-approved departmental budgets