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Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS
The Penn State Department of Food Science in the College of Agricultural Sciences is seeking an energetic, organized, and service-oriented Administrative Assistant (Intermediate Support) to join our team. This position provides essential administrative and operational support to the department and serves as an important liaison between faculty, staff, students, University service centers, and external stakeholders.
The successful candidate will support a broad range of departmental activities, with primary responsibilities in financial transactions, part-time employee recruitment and payroll administration, departmental events and seminars, office operations, communications, and customer service. The position requires strong attention to detail, excellent organizational and communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while following University policies and procedures.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Financial and Administrative Support
Serve as a liaison between the Department of Food Science and University financial service hubs by initiating and processing routine financial transactions through university systems and ServiceNow.
Prepare and submit purchasing card reconciliations, travel expense reports, non-catalog purchase orders, and Procurement Assistance Requests.
Initiate invoices and provide administrative support for financial transactions associated with departmental service centers, including the Sensory Evaluation Center and the E. coli Reference Center.
Collect, organize, and maintain financial and operational records to support departmental reporting and administrative activities.
Ensure transactions and administrative processes are completed accurately and in accordance with university policies and procedures.
Part-Time Employment and Payroll Support
Coordinate the creation, posting, and maintenance of part-time job requisitions in Workday.
Work with supervisors to gather position information, monitor hiring activity, and facilitate updates to job postings.
Assist with the administrative components of the hiring and onboarding process, including moving candidates through appropriate stages and tracking new-hire activities.
Enter wage updates and terminations in Workday as needed.
Maintain accurate records of wage-payroll appointments, with particular attention to appointments charged to sponsored funding.
Seminars, Events, and Departmental Programs
Provide administrative and logistical support for departmental seminars, meetings, workshops, and special events.
Coordinate travel arrangements and itineraries for seminar speakers and other visitors.
Arrange refreshments and hospitality items and assist with event logistics.
Create seminar flyers and promotional materials and distribute weekly seminar announcements and reminders.
Coordinate with faculty, staff, students, vendors, and other stakeholders to support successful departmental programs.
Office Operations and Purchasing
Manage departmental office supply inventory by monitoring usage, maintaining organized storage areas, and ordering supplies through PSUbuy.
Evaluate routine office supply needs and coordinate purchasing activities to support efficient and cost-effective operations.
Maintain organized departmental records, files, and administrative information.
Provide general administrative support to promote an efficient and professional office environment.
Departmental Communications and Social Media
Develop, create, and maintain content for departmental social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Collaborate with department leadership and faculty to promote departmental programs, events, student achievements, research accomplishments, and other initiatives.
Prepare and distribute timely communications and promotional materials that support departmental outreach and engagement.
Customer Service and Front Office Support
Serve as a primary point of contact for visitors, faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders.
Provide professional front-desk coverage by greeting visitors, answering and directing telephone calls, distributing incoming mail and packages, and responding to general inquiries.
Appropriately direct questions and requests to the appropriate departmental or University resource.
Provide exceptional customer service while handling sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
Additional Responsibilities
Maintain current knowledge of university systems, policies, procedures, and processes relevant to assigned responsibilities.
Pursue professional development opportunities to expand knowledge and skills and better support the department, College, and University.
Participate on departmental committees and assist with special projects as requested.
Perform other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet established deadlines.
Ability to work independently while contributing effectively as part of a team.
Ability to interpret and communicate information clearly and accurately.
Intermediate problem-solving skills and the ability to apply established policies and procedures to routine administrative situations.
Commitment to providing professional and responsive customer service to a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders.
Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience working in a higher education or complex administrative environment.
Experience with financial transactions, purchasing, travel reimbursements, or budget-related activities.
Experience with Workday or other human resources/payroll systems.
Experience supporting events, seminars, meetings, or departmental programs.
Experience managing social media or other departmental communications.
Experience with Penn State systems such as Workday, Worklion, SIMBA, SAP Concur, PSUbuy, and ServiceNow.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe applications.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This position supports the administrative operations of the Department of Food Science and interacts regularly with faculty, staff, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, University service centers, and external stakeholders. The position requires the ability to communicate effectively, maintain accurate records, and provide dependable administrative support across multiple areas of departmental operations.
The position will be on campus during the initial training period. Following successful completion of training, opportunities for a hybrid work arrangement may be discussed based on departmental needs, position responsibilities, and University guidelines. Questions regarding flexible work arrangements should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or High School (HS) 2+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
For full consideration, applicants should submit a cover letter and resume with their application.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $40,608.00 - $58,836.00.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
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Skills Required
- General Equivalency Diploma or high school diploma
- Two or more years of relevant experience
- Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet established deadlines
- Ability to work independently and contribute effectively as part of a team
- Ability to interpret and communicate information clearly and accurately
- Intermediate problem-solving skills and ability to apply established policies and procedures
- Commitment to professional and responsive customer service
- Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately
- Successful completion of required background checks
- Experience in higher education or a complex administrative environment
- Experience with financial transactions, purchasing, travel reimbursements, or budget activities
- Experience with Workday or other human resources and payroll systems
- Experience supporting events, seminars, meetings, or departmental programs
- Experience managing social media or departmental communications
- Experience with Penn State systems including Workday, Worklion, SIMBA, SAP Concur, PSUbuy, and ServiceNow
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe applications
Penn State University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Penn State University and has not been reviewed or approved by Penn State University.
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Retirement Support — Employer contributions to SERS and the TIAA Alternate Plan are described as significant, with supplemental retirement options available. Feedback suggests these choices and contributions create strong long‑term value.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Full‑time employees accrue over 24 sick and vacation days annually, with additional university holidays and a winter break. Feedback suggests this depth of leave supports work–life balance.
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Inclusive Benefits Coverage — A 75% tuition discount extends to employees, spouses, and dependent children up to age 26 across resident instruction, World Campus, and Penn College courses. Feedback suggests this broad eligibility meaningfully enhances total rewards, especially for families.
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What We Do
There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. Across 24 campuses, our nearly 88,000 students and 17,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom—it’s the positive impact made on communities across the world. From access to state-of-the-art resources to interdisciplinary pursuits in collaborative atmospheres, a Penn State degree is more than an education. The experiences and knowledge gained here will form the foundation for the lives our students build. Their contributions to the world begin with a Penn State degree. We Are Penn State.
