SBDC RISE Center Administrative Assistant

University of Mississippi•University, MS

1d•$46,904 - $70,366

About The Position

The SBDC RISE Center Administrative Assistant coordinates day-to-day fiscal, administrative, and operational activities for the Center’s program and funded activities. The role supports the Center Director through calendar and correspondence management, deadline tracking, document preparation, travel arrangements, CRM record maintenance, reporting assistance, and coordination of center events. The position also serves as a liaison among the Director, RISE Center resource leads, the Mississippi SBDC Network, and university offices. Other duties may be assigned by the Center Director.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Demonstrated experience supporting a senior leader, including calendar management and gatekeeping.
Strong written communication skills and attention to detail.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, and Excel, and comfort learning new systems, including CRM platforms.
Demonstrated discretion and ability to maintain strict confidentiality with client, personnel, and program information.
An equivalent combination of related experience and education may be considered; substitutions for required experience or education are assessed on a 1:1 basis.

Nice To Haves

Two years of experience.
Experience in a university, government, or grant-funded program environment, including travel and procurement processes.
Experience with CRM data entry and data-quality review.
Familiarity with AI productivity tools, such as Claude or similar, and willingness to use them in daily workflow.
Experience supporting economic development, small business assistance, or client-facing advisory programs.

Responsibilities

Assist with managing the Center Director’s calendar and schedule appointments and meetings according to guidance and established priorities.
Serve as the first point of contact for the Center Director; screen calls, visitors, and meeting requests, and redirect matters others can handle.
Coordinate scheduling for center events and maintain the master calendar of center activities, events, and commitments.
Alert the Center Director to upcoming tasks, meetings, deliverables, and deadlines.
Monitor the Center Director’s incoming email, flag time-sensitive or high-priority items, and draft routine responses for review.
Track deadlines for grant reporting, university requirements, and program commitments.
Prepare meeting materials, agendas, and follow-up items as directed.
Enter and maintain client and event records in the CRM accurately and on schedule.
Review CRM entries and center activity regularly, identifying and alerting the Center Director to missing records, unusual patterns, or data-quality issues.
Assist with pulling CRM activity summaries and reports for program reporting.
Prepare travel paperwork, including authorizations, itineraries, registrations, and reimbursement documentation, in accordance with university and grant requirements.
Handle administrative details on the Center Director’s behalf, including document preparation, records, and routine correspondence.
Research and recommend conferences, convenings, and professional events for the Director; manage registration and logistics for selected events.
Serve as a liaison among the Director, RISE Center resource leads, the broader Mississippi SBDC Network, and university offices.
Support center events with logistics, tracking, and day-of coordination as assigned.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Center Director.