Senior Office Assistant

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Atlantic Mine (MI); On-site; USD 36,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Michigan Technological University is seeking a Senior Office Assistant for the Merchandising Operations department. The Senior Office Assistant leads customer-facing retail operations for Michigan Tech’s Campus Store and University Images, ensuring an exceptional customer experience and on-floor leadership.

The role requires a high school diploma and 1 year of related experience, with advanced computer skills.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• One year of experience in customer service or retail, office, or administrative support.
• Advanced computer skills.
• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, sociology or related field (desirable).
• Experience operating POS systems and handling financial transactions (desirable).
• Valid U.S. Driver’s license (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Provide outstanding customer service in a professional, friendly, and inclusive manner.
• Lead daily floor operations with appropriate coverage and responsiveness.
• Open and close store locations per procedures.
• Supervise student employees and provide coaching and training reinforcement.
• Operate POS systems, process transactions and balance cash drawers.
• Manage inventory transfers, receiving, stocking, and shipping orders.
• Maintain merchandising standards and support visual displays.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Leadership

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Confidentiality

Independence

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma

Bachelor's degree (desirable)

Tools

Point-of-Sale systems

Google Suite

Office equipment

Job description

Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological researchuniversity founded in 1885 in Houghton. Our rural campus issituated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's scenic UpperPeninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60countries around the world.

Consistently ranked among the bestuniversities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’sflagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Researchfocus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive,environment, and aerospace.

The area’s waters, forests, and snowfall support year-roundrecreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, andpaddling. The University is an integral part of the region,supported by a friendly and welcoming community that takes pride inbeing a true college town. We embrace our size, climate, sense ofadventure, and originality.

Summary

Michigan Technological University is seeking a Senior OfficeAssistant for our Merchandising Operations department. The SeniorOffice Assistant leads customer-facing retail operations forMichigan Tech’s Merchandising Operations. The role is responsiblefor ensuring an exceptional customer experience, maintaining salesfloor standards, and providing functional supervision to studentemployees during daily operations at the Campus Store andUniversity Images. This position serves as a key on-floor leader,resolving customer issues, supporting merchandising execution, andensuring efficient store operations.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

Customer Experience & Leadership

• Provide outstanding customer service in a professional, friendly,and inclusive manner
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customer concerns, resolving issues independently, and elevating issues asnecessary
• Lead daily floor operations, ensuring appropriate coverage andresponsiveness to customer needs
• Open and close store locations in accordance with establishedprocedures

Student Employee Supervision

• Provide functional supervision to student employees duringshifts
• Offer real-time coaching and guidance to support performance andservice standards
• Assist with onboarding support and reinforcement of trainingexpectations

Retail Operations

• Operate point-of-sale systems, process transactions, and balancecash drawers
• Monitor and maintain cleanliness, organization, and visualstandards of the sales floor and stockrooms Restock merchandise andensure product availability on the sales floor

Inventory & Fulfillment

• Execute inventory transfers between store locations, includingsystem entry and physical transport
• Assist with receiving, stocking, and organizing merchandise toensure inventory is distributed appropriately
• Support e-commerce operations by preparing, packing, and shippingorders

Merchandising Support

• Audit merchandise and recommend items for markdown
• Execute approved markdowns, including system updates andtagging
• Maintain and support visual merchandising standards

Collaboration & Support

• Assist with inventory counts and operational projects
• Provide coverage for sales floor and operational needs asrequired
• Serve as departmental website backup, including, but not limitedto, updating store hours, adding announcements, and promotingevents.
• Assist with critical Auxiliary Business Services events andoperational needs during non-peak times, providing cross-functionalsupport across auxiliary venues and programs as directed

Continuous Improvement & Compliance

• Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies andLean practices and integrating them into daily retail operations.Actively engage in University continuous improvementinitiatives
• Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everydaywork, and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

• High school diploma or equivalent

Required Experience

• One year of experience in customer service or retail, office, oradministrative support
• Advanced computer skills

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, sociology, or a relatedfield (or an equivalent combination of education andexperience)
• Experience operating point-of-sale systems and handling financialtransactions
• Experience in a college or university bookstore environment
• Valid U.S. Driver’s license and eligibility under Universityvehicle use requirements

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiplepriorities
• Ability to work irregular hours, including evenings, weekends,and holidays for athletic and university events
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail, accuracy, andorganizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead and guide student employees duringoperations
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise soundjudgment
• Ability to work independently and in coordination with others,including, but not limited to, the ability to work at any assignedlocation
• Ability to operate basic office equipment, including personalcomputer, photocopy machine, printer, scanner, fax machine, andcalculator
• Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe workenvironment

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Proficient in Gmail, Google Suite
• Demonstrated ability to work with teams and collaborate
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to,working with persons with a wide variety of backgrounds andviewpoints
• Advanced computer skills

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics describedhere are representative of those an employee encounters whileperforming the essential functions of this job. Reasonableaccommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilitiesto perform the essential functions. The noise level in the workenvironment is usually low to moderate

• Frequent sitting, standing, and walking
• Use of multi-screen computer systems for extended periods
• Occasional lifting up to 50 pounds with assistance
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch
• Peak workload periods are aligned with academic terms

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receivethe following 4 required trainings; additional training may berequired by the department.

Required University Training:

• Employee Safety Overview
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Data Security Training
• Annual Title IX Training

Background Check: Offers of employment are contingent upon and not consideredfinalized until the required background check has been performedand the results received and assessed.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)

.75

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Appointment Term 12 months

Shift -

Pay Rate/Salary Contractual. External candidates will receive the minimum amount$17.76hr

Title of Position Supervisor General Manager

Posting Type Internal & External

Dependent on Funding No

Other Conditions of Employment:

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effectivedate of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal OpportunityEducational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that providesequal opportunity for all, including protected veterans andindividuals with disabilities.

The AnnualSecurity and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safetyand disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policiesand fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. MichiganTech will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact theMichigan Tech Public Safety.

In compliance with the federal Drug-Free Schools andCommunities Act (DFSCA) and its implementing regulations (34 CFRPart 86), Michigan Tech is committed to maintaining a drugfreecampus environment and actively promoting the health and safety ofits community. Find ournotice that outlines the University's policies, legalsanctions, health risks, and available support resources related tothe unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs andalcohol.

Advertised:22 Jul 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

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