Receptionist/Administrative Assistant III

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV); Las Vegas, Northern (NV, KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Retirement match

Paid time off

Educational benefits

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Desert Research Institute (DRI) seeks a professional Receptionist / Administrative Assistant III to be the main contact at the Las Vegas campus. You’ll manage reception, assist executives, handle shipping/receiving, and support financial and operational tasks throughout the day.

The role requires excellent judgment, superb customer service, strong organization, and the ability to juggle priorities in a dynamic environment with interruptions. On-site at DRI Las Vegas.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum of one year of full-time administrative experience.
• Strong administrative, organizational, and customer-service skills.
• Professional communication with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise independent judgment.
• Proficient with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and scheduling systems.
• Ability to prepare reports, spreadsheets, and business documents.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary reception and administrative resource for multiple units.
• Answer main phone line, greet visitors, and coordinate check-in.
• Provide advanced administrative and project support to executive offices.
• Manage shipping/receiving tasks and campus safety-related information.
• Prepare documents, correspondences, and meetings as requested.

Skills

Customer service

Administrative support

Communication

Organization

Independent work

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is seeking a highly professional, customer service-oriented Receptionist / Administrative Assistant III to serve as a key administrative resource and primary point of contact at DRI’s Las Vegas campus.

This full-time and onsite position reports to the Chief of Staff and plays an important role in creating a welcoming, professional, and secure environment for DRI employees, visitors, partners, donors, elected officials, dignitaries, and members of the public.

The successful candidate will manage the primary reception function for the campus while providing advanced administrative and project support to the President’s Office, Chief of Staff, Vice President for Research, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), Financial Services, Human Resources, Advancement, and other administrative and scientific units as needed.

This position is an integral part of the day-to-day operation of DRI’s Las Vegas campus.

The Receptionist / Administrative Assistant III serves not only as the first point of contact for the organization but also as a trusted administrative partner supporting multiple areas of DRI.

The position requires excellent judgment, exceptional customer service, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to successfully manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment with frequent interruptions.

The ideal candidate will enjoy working with people, take pride in providing outstanding service, and be comfortable moving between reception responsibilities, executive administrative support, financial and operational tasks, meetings and events, shipping and receiving, and unexpected campus needs throughout the day.

Key Responsibilities

Reception, Visitor Services, and Campus Coordination

• Serve as the primary reception contact for DRI’s Las Vegas campus and provide a welcoming and professional experience for employees, visitors, vendors, donors, elected officials, dignitaries, and members of the public.
• Professionally answer and manage DRI’s main telephone line, respond to general inquiries, and direct calls to the appropriate faculty or staff member.
• Greet visitors, coordinate visitor check-in and notification procedures, and maintain required visitor information in accordance with DRI and export-control procedures.
• Serve as a point of contact for employee and visitor identification and security badge processes.
• Coordinate conference room preparation, signage, and other meeting requirements based on requester needs.
• Provide general information and directions and assist visitors in connecting with appropriate DRI personnel.

Shipping, Receiving, and Mail Services

• Manage incoming and outgoing shipping and receiving activities and maintain appropriate records and logs in accordance with DRI and NSHE policies.
• Receive, process, and distribute incoming packages and daily mail.
• Assist faculty and staff with the appropriate preparation and shipment of packages.
• Coordinate carrier pickups and communicate with shipping vendors as necessary.
• Support shipping activities involving dangerous goods and hazardous materials following completion of required training and certification.

Advanced Administrative and Financial Support

• Provide high-level administrative and project support to designated DRI administrative units, including the President’s Office, Chief of Staff, Vice President for Research, Financial Services, Environmental Health and Safety, Human Resources, and Advancement.

Safety and Security Support

• Serve as an initial point of contact for basic campus safety and security matters.
• Respond appropriately to emergency situations and assist with initiating established emergency response procedures when necessary.
• Provide information and assistance to faculty, staff, visitors, and members of the public regarding campus procedures and safety requirements.
• Maintain appropriate awareness of building activity and follow DRI safety and security protocols.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED/equivalent.
• Minimum of one year of full-time administrative experience.
• Strong administrative, organizational, and customer-service skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate professionally and effectively with a wide range of individuals, including administrative, technical, scientific, and academic personnel as well as members of the public.
• Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, and ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and appropriately resolve commonly encountered administrative and customer-service issues.
• Strong interpersonal and team-oriented skills.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize assignments and work effectively in an environment with changing priorities and frequent interruptions.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and carry out assignments with minimal supervision.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook e-mail, internet applications, and scheduling systems.
• Ability to compile information and prepare reports, spreadsheets, presentations, and other business documents.
• Familiarity with standard office equipment and office administrative procedures.
• Basic knowledge of shipping and receiving procedures.
• Basic understanding of appropriate responses to emergency and safety situations.
• Ability to obtain required dangerous goods/hazardous materials shipping and receiving certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience providing administrative support to senior executives or multiple organizational units.
• Experience coordinating meetings, conferences, or internal and external events.
• Experience with financial administrative processes, including travel reimbursement and purchasing card reconciliation.
• Experience with Workday, Bridge LMS, or similar enterprise and learning-management systems.
• Experience interacting professionally with executive leadership, elected officials, dignitaries, donors, external partners, and members of the public.

Conditions of Employment

This position requires the ability to perform physical tasks associated with office, shipping/receiving, meeting, and event operations, including moving, carrying, and lifting objects weighing up to 30 pounds. Duties may require prolonged periods of walking, sitting, or standing and occasional stooping, bending, and kneeling. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Valid driver’s license by date of hire. Due to the reception, safety, security, shipping/receiving, and campus-support responsibilities associated with this position, regular on-site presence is required.

Salary/Benefits

This is a DRI Technologist position Grade 29 with a starting salary range of $49,722.16 and is commensurate with education and experience.

DRI offers an excellent benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, and life insurance (flexible spending and health savings account options available); PERS 19.25% retirement match, 10 hours of annual leave and 10 hours of sick leave accrued per month, 12 paid holidays, and educational benefits. Additionally, there is no state income tax or social security deduction. This position is eligible for relocation assistance.

Exempt

No

Full-Time Equivalent

100.0%

Required Attachment(s)

Please upload the following documents in the specified section of your application in Workday: A cover letter detailing your experience and career goals; A current resume; Contact information for three professional/work-related references, to be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process based on applicant permission.

Welcome to the Desert Research Institute (DRI), we are excited to see your interest in our research, administrative, and staff positions. This unique entrepreneurial setting enables innovative, and results driven individuals to accomplish world renowned achievements. Since 1959, DRI has stood at the forefront of understanding Earth's complex environmental systems, promoting preservation of diverse ecosystems, advancing responsible natural resource management, and improving human health and welfare throughout Nevada and around the world. Research at DRI calls on the expertise and methods of multiple scientific disciplines. More than 400 highly-skilled scientists, engineers, technicians, students and staff on two main campuses in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada, are collaboratively focused on understanding and answering critical questions about water quality and availability, air quality, sustainability of desert lands, life in extreme environments, and more. DRI ranks high in research and development expenditures in environmental sciences. DRI is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment free of discrimination without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

DRI employs only U.S. citizens and persons lawfully authorized to work in the United States. Additionally, we comply with all applicable state laws and DRI takes measures consistent with Title IX to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its students, faculty and staff. Information regarding security, personal safety, fire safety, and crime statistics can be found at DRI's Public and Personal Safety page. NSHE Employees are required to participate in a mandatory retirement plan in lieu of Social Security. As a result, employment at NSHE may impact your Social Security benefits. Additional information is available at SSA 1945. Job postings are specific to the Nevada System of Higher Education.