SBDC RISE Center Administrative Assistant

University of Mississippi; Mississippi; On-site; USD 47,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Mississippi seeks an experienced administrative coordinator for the Small Business Development Center RISE Center. You will coordinate day-to-day fiscal, administrative, and operational activities across funded programs, supporting grant planning, budgeting, reporting, and liaison duties.

Responsibilities include managing the Center Director's calendar, handling correspondence, tracking deadlines, preparing materials, and maintaining CRM records.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting a senior leader, including calendar management.
• Strong written communication and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and CRM systems; willingness to learn new tools.
• Discretion and ability to maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Assist in managing the Center Director's calendar, including scheduling appointments and meetings.
• Serve as the first point of contact for the Center Director; screen calls, visitors, and meeting requests.
• Coordinate scheduling for center events, and maintain the master calendar of center activities.
• Provide proactive alerts on upcoming tasks, meetings, deliverables, and deadlines.
• Monitor the Center Director's incoming email; flag time-sensitive items and draft routine responses.
• Track deadlines across grant reporting and program commitments.
• Prepare meeting materials, agendas, and follow-up items.
• Enter and maintain client and event records in CRM accurately and on schedule.
• Review CRM entries and center activity for anomalies and data-quality issues.
• Assist with pulling activity summaries and reports from CRM as needed.
• Anticipate and prepare travel paperwork and reimbursements in accordance with requirements.
• Handle administrative details for the Center Director, including documents and routine correspondence.
• Research conferences and events and manage registrations and logistics.
• Serve as a liaison between the Director, RISE Center resource leads, and Mississippi SBDC Network.
• Support center events with logistics and day-of coordination.
• Other duties as assigned by the Center Director.

Skills

Calendar management

Gatekeeping

Written communication

Attention to detail

Microsoft Office

CRM platforms

Discretion and confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM platforms

Scheduling software

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

The University of Mississippi — fondly referred to as Ole Miss —stands a premier public research institution with a proud legacyof academic distinction. We are devoted to nurturing a vibrant,inclusive community where every member — student, faculty, andstaff — can achieve their fullest potential.

Join the Ole Miss Family — Build Your Legacy Here!

Department

Small Business Development Center RISE Center

Job Summary

Coordinates day-to-day fiscal, administrative, and operationalactivities of a defined, program or set of funded activities.Programs are usually focused to a single purpose, may bescientific, research, educational, or service oriented, and mayexist as a subset of an integrated funded program activity. Dutiestypically include assisting with grant planning and administration,fiscal, budgetary, and/or other associated transactions, programimplementation and administration, internal and externaloperational/administrative liaison, program marketing, andreporting.

Job Description

• Assists in managing the Center Director's calendar, includingscheduling appointments and meetings based on guidance andestablished priorities.
• Serve as the first point of contact for the Center Director;screen calls, visitors, and meeting requests, redirecting mattersthat can be handled by others.
• Coordinate scheduling for center events, and maintain themaster calendar of center activities, events, and commitments.
• Provide the Center Director with proactive alerts on upcomingtasks, meetings, deliverables, and approaching deadlines.
• Monitor the Center Director's incoming email; flagtime-sensitive and high-priority items and draft routine responsesfor review.
• Track deadlines across grant reporting, universityrequirements, and program commitments.
• Prepare meeting materials, agendas, and follow-up items asdirected.
• Enter and maintain client and event records in CRM accuratelyand on schedule.
• Review incoming CRM entries and center activity on a regularcadence; identify and alert the Center Director to anomalies suchas missing records, unusual patterns, or data-quality issues.
• Assist with pulling activity summaries and reports from CRM asneeded for program reporting.
• Anticipate and prepare all travel paperwork, including travelauthorizations, itineraries, registrations, and reimbursementdocumentation in accordance with university and grantrequirements.
• Handle administrative details on the Center Director's behalf,including document preparation, records, and routinecorrespondence.
• Research and recommend conferences, convenings, andprofessional events the Director should attend; manage registrationand logistics for those selected.
• Serve as a liaison between the Director, the RISE Centerresource leads, the broader Mississippi SBDC Network, anduniversity offices.
• Support center events with logistics, tracking, and day-ofcoordination as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned by the Center Director.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience supporting a senior leader, includingcalendar management and gate keeping.
• Strong written communication skills and attention todetail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) andcomfort learning new systems, including CRM platforms.
• Demonstrated discretion and ability to maintain strictconfidentiality with client, personnel, and programinformation.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2 years' experience
• Experience in a university, government, or grant-funded programenvironment, including travel and procurement processes.
• Experience with CRM data entry and data quality reviewFamiliarity with AI productivity tools (such as Claude or similar)and willingness to use them in daily workflow.
• Experience supporting economic development, small businessassistance, or client-facing advisory programs.

Substitution Statement: An equivalent combination of relatedexperience and education may be considered for this role.Substitutions of the required experience or education will beassessed on a 1:1 substitution basis.

Education Qualifications

Bachelor's (Required)

Experience

Relevant experience| No Experience Required| Not Required

Compensation

$46,904.00 - $70,366.40

Interview Requirement

Interview Requirements: Any candidate who is called for aninterview must notify the Department of EqualOpportunity/Regulatory Compliance in writing of any reasonableaccommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

EEO Statement

The University of Mississippi provides equal opportunity in anyemployment practice, education program, or education activity toall qualified persons. The University complies with all applicablelaws regarding equal opportunity and does not unlawfullydiscriminate against any employee or applicant for employment basedupon race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation,gender identity or expression, religion, national origin,ethnicity, citizenship, age, disability, military status, protectedveteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protectedstatus.

Background Check Statement

The University of Mississippi is committed to providing a safecampus community. UM conducts background investigations forapplicants being considered for employment. Backgroundinvestigations include a criminal history record check, and whenappropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving historycheck.