Temporary Office Assistant

Fort Lewis; Durango (CO); On-site; USD 441,000 - 496,000; Part time

Job summary

Fort Lewis College is seeking an Office Assistant to support the Counseling Center with front-desk duties, scheduling, and admin tasks. The role is temporary, part-time (16–18 hours/week) through mid‑May, with hours during business days (8:00 am–5:00 pm).

The position requires one year of customer service experience, strong communication skills, and proficiency in Outlook, Word, and Excel. A background check is required; the role emphasizes confidentiality and a growth mindset.

Qualifications

• One year prior customer service experience or ability to demonstrate strong customer service orientation with sensitivity to the needs of others while exercising utmost confidentiality.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience with computerized scheduling, data management, Outlook, Microsoft Word and Excel, and an ability to learn college computer applications.
• Capacity and willingness to receive and respond to direction and feedback from multiple team members and uphold a growth mindset.

Responsibilities

• As the initial point of contact for the department, provides excellent customer services and greets visitors to determine the visit purpose and respond accordingly.
• Initial triage of student mental health concerns and needs through questioning, observation, and intuition.
• Answer and screen all calls for the department and relay messages for counselors.
• Schedule and maintain office schedules for up to 9 clinical staff, 1 psychiatry provider, and up to 9 part-time interns.
• Assist in scheduling, spreadsheets, and paperwork for Behavior Assessments with the Housing Department while keeping client confidentiality.
• Prioritize schedules and deadlines to meet client and staff needs.
• Maintain an orderly reception area and group room.
• Provide additional administrative support to the Director and Administrative Coordinator as needed.
• Receive feedback gracefully and maintain confidentiality in all interactions.
• Maintain client information per state ethical guidelines and ensure digital accessibility per ADA/Section 508.

Skills

Customer service

Multi-tasking

Organization

Communication

Initiative

Confidentiality

Tools

Outlook

Microsoft Word

Excel

Job description

Position Summary

The Office Assistant is a temporary position, 16-18 hours/week. The office assistant performs a variety of administrative duties including general office task, scheduling & reception, initial triage for all at first point of contact with clients. This position also provides general administrative assistance to the Director and Administrative Coordinator as needed. The position reports to the Administrative Coordinator.

Contract Status & Working Hours

FLSA Status/ Position Type/Expected Hours of Work/ and Salary Range: Temporary, full part time, 16 hours per week, mid-Aug through mid-May 16-18 hours per week Typical work hours are during business hours Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Compensation

The hourly rate for this temporary, part-time position is $20/hour for 16-18 hours per week mid-Aug through mid‑May.

Required Qualifications

• A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and student success, as well as working with broadly diverse communities.
• One year prior customer service experience or ability to demonstrate strong customer service orientation with sensitivity to the needs of others while exercising utmost confidentiality.
• Strong skills and abilities in the areas of multi-tasking, prioritizing, remaining organized, and accomplishing tasks in a way that is detail-oriented and ensures quality of work.
• Experience with acting independently within given policies and procedures, and ability to take initiative.
• Demonstrated success in a team-oriented work environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience with computerized scheduling, data management, Outlook, Microsoft Word and Excel, and an ability to learn college computer applications.
• Capacity and willingness to receive and respond to direction and feedback from multiple team members and uphold a growth mindset.
• Ability to work within the Counseling Center environment and embrace its culture grounded in values related to belonging, transparency, sustainability, and teamwork.

Preferred Qualifications

• One year of experience in an educational, healthcare or counseling-related field.
• Experience and comfort with communication with others who in are emotionally escalated or distressed.
• Familiarity with basic symptom & behavior screening of clients in crisis situations and ability to prioritize need based on such screening.
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with and respond to multiple constituencies both at the college and in the community.
• Demonstrated extensive involvement with, and understanding of Native American, Black, Latinx and/or LGBTQIA+ communities.
• Demonstrated abilities in leadership, openness, and flexibility.
• Personal skills of stress tolerance, non-defensiveness, and ability to receive and respond to feedback.

Duties

• As the initial point of contact for the department, provides excellent customer services and greets visitors (students, families, FLC employees) to determine the purpose of their visit and respond accordingly.
• This includes initial triage of student mental health concerns and needs through thorough questioning, observation, and intuition to determine how soon a client needs to be seen and the best counselor for the client and can include broadly interpreting behavioral health screening instruments.
• Answer and screen all calls for the department and independently act on those calls, including taking messages for counselors and conveying customer concerns in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Schedule Maintain office schedules for 9 clinical staff members, 1 psychiatry provider, and up to 9 part‑time graduate intern volunteers by scheduling, rescheduling, and canceling appointments, and sending daily appointment reminders.
• Manage the scheduling, spreadsheet, and other necessary paperwork for Behavior Assessments in collaboration with Housing Department, while ensuring confidentiality of client records.
• Prioritize schedules and deadlines to ensure that client and staff needs and other duties are properly completed.
• Maintain an orderly appearance in the reception area and the group room.
• May provide other administrative support to the Director and Administrative Coordinator.
• Receive feedback and demonstrate willingness to learn and grow.
• Maintain confidentiality in all interactions.
• Maintain client information according to state ethical guidelines.
• Maintains knowledge and awareness of digital accessibility including the American with Disabilities Act and Section 50.
• Produces and remediates digitally accessible materials in accordance with FLC standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• The successful candidate will be required to pass a background check.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that an employee can expect while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Moderate noise (i.e. business office with computers, phone, and printers) Ability to work in a confined area Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate computer and telephone equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work Light to moderate lifting is required.

Questions

Contact Jennica Wilson with questions at [e-mail].

Equal Opportunity

Equal Opportunity Fort Lewis College does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, sex*, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, family or domestic status, political beliefs, veteran status, pregnancy, or genetic information. Accordingly, equal opportunity for employment shall be extended to all persons. The College shall promote equal opportunity, equal treatment, and affirmative action efforts to increase the diversity of students, faculty, and staff. The College is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. To file a report, get resources, read policies, or make an appointment, See www.fortlewis.edu/CARE.

Discrimination Contact Information

Discrimination Questions? Office of Compliance and Community Standards David Pirrone, Director of Compliance 210 Berndt Hall 1000 Rim Drive Durango, Colorado 81301 [phone] [e-mail]. Questions about Title IX sex discrimination? Office of the Title IX Coordinator Madeleine Gillman, Assistant Director of Compliance and Title IX Coordinator 210 Berndt Hall 1000 Rim Drive Durango, Colorado 81301 [phone] [e-mail]. Information about Fort Lewis College’s alcohol and drug policy, sexual assault policy, campus security policies, campus crime statistics, fire safety procedures and fire statistics, and campus/community resources can be found in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. Hard copies are available upon request.

ADAA Accommodations

Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact Kristin Polens by phone [phone] or email [e-mail] at least five business days before the assessment date to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.

About Fort Lewis College

On a sage‑brushed mesa overlooking downtown Durango and the La Plata Mountains, Fort Lewis College is Southwest Colorado’s premier public undergraduate research institution. With more than half of the 3,300 students identifying as people of color, FLC’s academic programming and campus life thrive on nurturing safe, diverse spaces for intellectual exploration and helping people achieve their career goals. A Native American‑serving, Non‑Tribal Institution, FLC is committed to promoting economic development in neighboring tribal communities and connecting students with the education they need to be the change in the world they want to see. Degree programs span the arts, business, education, health sciences, humanities, and social and natural sciences. Coursework builds on the natural, cultural, and historical resources found at the Four Corners region. Students work closely with faculty on research projects with real‑world implications. Like the mountain town it resides in, FLC promotes a culture of work‑life balance for students, faculty, and staff. Skyhawks enjoy unparalleled access to a healthy outdoor lifestyle thanks to 300 days of sunshine a year and more than 300 miles of hiking and biking trails in and around Durango.

Notice to Prospective Employees

The Fort Lewis College is required by the Clery Act of 1990 to notify prospective employees, current employees, students and applicants where to access our Campus Security Report. The report is updated and published annually in accordance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, Federal Student Right-to-Know, the Federal Drug‑free Schools and Campuses Act of 1989. This report contains information about: Fort Lewis College's alcohol and other drug policy Sexual assault policy Campus security policies Campus/community resources The Colorado Riot Offense Statute restriction on enrollment Where to find registered sex offender information Crime statistics for the previous three calendar years Reporting crimes The Campus Security Report can be accessed in two ways: By going to the internet website at: www.fortlewis.edu/AnnualSecurityReport Fort Lewis College Student Affairs Office will also provide a paper copy of the annual security report upon request. You can reach them at [phone].