Senior Secretary

South Dakota State University; Brookings (SD); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Retirement plan

Paid holidays

Vacation leave

Tuition remission

Job summary

South Dakota State University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering seeks a dependable Senior Secretary to provide administrative support for the department head, faculty, staff, and students. The role involves coordinating schedules, maintaining records, handling purchasing, and assisting with budget planning in a dynamic academic setting.

Located in Brookings, SD, the position requires skills in organization, communication, and multitasking, with a focus on accuracy and

Qualifications

• General office practices and procedures.
• Basic budgeting, accounting, and purchasing processes.
• Microsoft Office Suite proficiency (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Business English, including grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate schedules and help maintain accurate departmental records and databases.
• Oversee purchasing, invoices, and office supply orders to keep daily operations running smoothly.
• Assist department leadership with departmental budget planning, monitoring, and management.
• Provide friendly, reliable administrative support to faculty, staff, and students.
• Day-to-day administrative functions helping to ensure compliance with department, college and university policies and procedures.
• Help plan and organize departmental meetings, events, and student visits.
• Support position searches by coordinating materials and communication.
• Maintain up-to-date website content and assist with departmental communications.
• Arrange travel and logistics for faculty, guests, and departmental visitors.

Skills

Office administration

Budgeting basics

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Records management

Job description

South Dakota State University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is seeking a dependable and detail-oriented Senior Secretary to provide administrative support for the department head, faculty, staff, and students. This position helps keep daily operations running smoothly by assisting with scheduling, record keeping, communications, and event coordination. The ideal candidate will be organized, approachable, and able to manage a variety of tasks in a busy academic environment.

SDState is the state’s largest, most comprehensive university with over $94 million annual research expenditures, more than 200 academic programs and an enrollment of approximately 12,000 students. The university is part of a dynamic community for families, students, young professionals, and retirees, which offers an abundance of attractions and activities. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is one of six departments in the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering, serving over 500 undergraduate and graduate students. Located in historic Crothers Engineering Hall, the department offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degree programs in mechanical engineering, B.S. degree program in healthcare systems engineering, and minor programs in aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, and sustainable energy system.

This position is located in Brookings, South Dakota.

Must be authorized to work in the U.S. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Job Responsibilities

• Coordinate schedules and help maintain accurate departmental records and databases.
• Oversee purchasing, invoices, and office supply orders to keep daily operations running smoothly.
• Assist department leadership with departmental budget planning, monitoring, and management.
• Provide friendly, reliable administrative support to faculty, staff, and students.
• Day-to-day administrative functions helping to ensure compliance with department, college and university policies and procedures.
• Help plan and organize departmental meetings, events, and student visits.
• Support position searches by coordinating materials and communication.
• Maintain up-to-date website content and assist with departmental communications.
• Arrange travel and logistics for faculty, guests, and departmental visitors.

Benefits

SDState offers a wide range of excellent benefits including medical, dental, and flexible benefits, retirement plans, compensation packages, paid holidays, and vacation leave. We offer a generous retirement plan that includes 6% matching, 10 hours of annual leave each month, 9.34 hours of sick leave each month, and eleven paid holidays. Employees also have access to internal and state-sponsored training as well as reduced tuition for state-supported courses at all State of South Dakota academic institutions. Relocation benefits are available per university’s guidelines.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge of:

• General office practices and procedures.
• Basic budgeting, accounting, and purchasing processes.
• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Business English, including grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Modern office equipment and software applications.

Skill & Ability to:

• Manage multiple priorities with the ability to prioritize work to meet competing deadlines.
• Work both independently and as part of a team
• Follow program guidelines and office procedures accurately.
• Keep records and files updated and accurate while maintaining confidentiality
• Communicate clearly and professionally in person, by phone, and in writing.
• Work effectively with faculty, staff, students, and visitors.
• Pay close attention to detail and complete tasks with accuracy through organization and problem solving

Any offer of employment is contingent on the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by law and/or university policies, including but not limited to, successful completion of a criminal background check. SDState is a tobacco free environment. It is the policy of the University to maintain a drug-free environment and to thereby establish, promote, and maintain a safe and healthy working and learning environment for employees and students. This position is subject to South Dakota State University’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy 4:14.

South Dakota State University promotes access to and opportunities for all to receive the benefit of and participate in education, research, and service and is especially interested in candidates that can contribute to this land-grant access mission. SDSU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to, and SDSU prohibits unlawful discrimination of all legally protected classes in the offering of all educational programs and employment. Arrangements for accommodations required by disabilities can be made by emailing [e-mail]. Individuals with concerns regarding discrimination should contact: Equal Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, Human Resources, Morrill Hall 100, SDSU, Brookings, SD 57007. Phone: [phone].