Administrative Assistant

**Schedule**
35 hours per week

**Education Level**
2 year Community College diploma in Office Administration or related field of study

**Career Level**
Requires 3 years of relevant experience

As a leading Chemical Engineering program in Canada, our award-winning faculty and staff create a culture of excellence both in teaching and research, with three main areas of research: Bioengineering, Polymer Materials & Manufacturing, Process Systems Engineering, and Water-Energy Technologies. The department houses institutes for advanced process systems engineering (The McMaster Advanced Control Consortium), polymer production technology, polymer processing, and pulp and paper research, all of which have significant industrial involvement and support. The department also plays an active role in Materials and Manufacturing Ontario (MMO), one of the Centres of Excellence in Ontario, and the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI). The department mentors over 100 graduate and 400 undergraduate students in over 17 training & research labs. The department of Chemical Engineering is currently seeking to fill the vacancy of Administrative Assistant (Academic) III.

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Job Summary_**

Responsible for providing administrative support for an academic program or department. Plans and coordinates a variety of academic program or department events and activities and is also accountable for monitoring the graduate program budget and forecasting financial gains and shortfalls. Performs the duties of the position in accordance with established policies, procedures, and calendar of events. Responsible for ensuring adherence to quality standards and procedures for short-term staff.

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Purpose and Key Functions:_**:

- Identify and analyze problems with the program and prepare recommendations for review and approval.
- Investigate questions and resolve problems concerning program, curricula, and admissions.
- Inform faculty of student eligibility for funding opportunities and discuss funding scenarios and scholarship options on a case by case basis.
- Advocate on behalf of students who require accommodations or non-standard arrangements with regards to funding and program requirements.
- Collect, analyze, assess, and summarize information relevant to the decision making process and develop recommendations for final approval and implementation.
- Plan and coordinate a variety of events and activities such as seminars, workshops, and conferences.
- Create financial projections and make adjustments to the program budget throughout the fiscal year.
- Deliver a variety of academic program or department presentations.
- Coordinate and organize regularly recurring events such as registration, timetabling, room bookings, examinations, committee meetings, and course material requests.
- Monitor and review program registrations and liaise with other departments to process changes to student records and registration.
- Compile course information and update course calendar information.
- Provide program and admissions information to potential applicants, students and faculty.
- Act as a liaison between students and the various individuals and offices within and external to the department.
- Inform faculty of established procedures for exam preparation and grade submissions. Ensure that proper procedures are followed and deadlines are adhered to.
- Ensure that there are no conflicts with student timetables and work with the appropriate office to resolve course conflicts.
- Monitor student course registration and provide electronic permissions to allow students to enrol in limited enrolment courses.
- Monitor budgets and reconcile accounts. Complete financial forms such as travel expense reports, electronic cheque requisitions, purchase orders and journal entries.
- Gather and compile the paperwork required to facilitate hiring and payment processes.
- Input financial and employee information required to process pay.
- Write a variety of documents such as correspondence, reports, and meeting minutes.
- Format, word process, edit, and proofread a variety of documents and materials.
- Gather and compile data and documentation for a variety of reports, memos, and program activities.
- Gather, assemble, and distribute documentation required for registration, course material, grade appeals, reinstatements, course overload and prerequisite permissions, and transfer credits.
- Collect, verify, and input data into a variety of spreadsheets and databases.
- Update and maintain information and content on websites and social networks.
- Coordinate the calendar of supervisor and resolve scheduling conflicts.
- Schedule and coordinate meetings including room bookings, agendas, catering and travel arrangements.
- Monitor and order office supplies.
- Source and obtain pricing information for office supplies and equipment.
- Set up and maintain filing systems, both electronic and hard copy.
- Classify, sort, and file correspondence, records, and oth