Administrative Support Manager
About The Position
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State is seeking an experienced and highly organized Administrative Support Manager. Reporting to the Department Head, this position provides strategic and operational oversight of the department’s administrative functions and supervises a team of other full-time staff. The successful candidate will manage office operations, oversee confidential budgets and personnel documentation, coordinate faculty recruitment activities, and support departmental research and academic programs. This role requires excellent leadership, professionalism, discretion, and the ability to anticipate needs and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Requirements
- Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe.
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities independently.
- Willingness and ability to travel between support staff locations as needed.
- Bachelor's Degree
- 8+ years of relevant experience, includes 3+ years of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
Nice To Haves
- Experience with financial, student, human resources, survey, and booking systems, such as SIMBA, LionPath, Workday, SAP Concur, Qualtrics, and 25Live is highly desired.
- Familiarity with university budgeting, HR, and grant administration processes is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the assistant to the Department Head, providing high-level administrative and operational support, including acting as the Department head’s proxy for budgetary and personal documentation.
- Oversee day-to-day office operations and ensure smooth, efficient and compliant departmental workflow.
- Provide leadership for the recruitment, training, and supervision of administrative support staff at two locations—the Ford Building and the Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic (743A Hastings Rd)—promoting a supportive, inclusive, and high-performing work environment.
- Encourage staff growth and professional development through effective leadership.
- Manage confidential personnel and budgetary records with discretion and accuracy.
- Administer departmental budgets, including restricted and general funds; prepare and submit the annual operating budget to the Dean and Financial Officer.
- Review and approve financial documents, recommend funding strategies, and provide oversight for post-award grant management.
- Coordinate and manage the departmental financial workflows in collaboration with the Finance Optimized Service Team (OST)
- Liaise with College Human Resources on faculty recruitment and hiring processes.
- Support internal programs, including grants, fellowships, and endowments.
- Collect and analyze data for reporting and planning purposes.
Benefits
- 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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
