Senior Administrative Assistant

DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER•Olivette, MO

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has a full-time, non-exempt Senior Administrative Assistant position available. The position is hybrid, allowing for both in-office and remote work and requiring the individual to be on-site at least three (3) days per week. The Senior Administrative Assistant provides advanced administrative support to several scientific Principal Investigators (PI) and their respective laboratories. This position will also serve as a subject matter expert and mentor for other administrative assistants within the department.

Requirements

The successful candidate will uphold and strengthen the Center’s core values of collaboration, innovation, integrity and respect, diversity and inclusion, stewardship, and environmental sustainability.
They will demonstrate initiative, reliability, and sound judgment in handling sensitive information.
In addition to outstanding organizational, analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills, the candidate will be able to effectively manage multiple complex priorities in a dynamic, team-oriented environment.
Strong leadership and mentoring skills with the ability to support and guide peers
Excellent attention to detail and problem-solving skills
Advanced knowledge of administrative procedures, project coordination, and organizational systems
Comfort with scientific terminology and ability to communicate effectively with scientists and external collaborators
Commitment to continuous learning and process improvement
Proven experience supporting senior-level staff or complex projects
Solid computer knowledge with proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel) and Outlook is required; experience with Google Docs and Google Calendar is preferred
Must possess the ability to work independently and manage multiple, competing complex priorities, anticipate needs, and exercise discretion and professionalism
Strong commitment to teamwork and fostering a positive, collaborative work environment
High School diploma or equivalent required
Minimum 5-7 years of administrative experience, preferably in a scientific, academic, or research environment

Nice To Haves

associate or bachelor’s degree preferred

Responsibilities

Provide administrative support to several scientific Principal Investigators (PIs) and their laboratory teams, including more complex laboratories
Manage calendars and schedules as needed for assigned PIs and laboratories
Serve as a proxy in payroll by approving time off requests, punch changes, and time sheets and completing personal action forms (PAFs) for new hires, terminations, employee changes, and labor allocations related to assigned laboratories
Serve as a proxy for assigned PIs in SAP Concur to process corporate credit card and expense reimbursements
Coordinate lab meetings – reserve room space for meetings, send meeting invites and reminders, create meeting schedule, schedule speakers, etc.
Greet visitors, manage incoming calls, and assist with guest logistics for meetings
Coordinate domestic and international travel arrangements, including conference registrations and visa process, while being a good steward of Center funds
Create domestic and international shipments and associated tasks, including filling out customs forms, estimating duties, etc. when necessary
Assist with administrative tasks for lab members which may include assisting with room reservations, reimbursements, time sheets, and purchasing
Arrange housing and assist with visas for temporary / visiting scientists for assigned laboratories
Assist with job postings for assigned laboratories through the applicant tracking system, including coordinating and tracking applicant screenings and interviews
Assist with onboarding new hires in assigned laboratories, including coordinating with safety department to ensure training is scheduled and completed
Maintain and develop relationships through ongoing communication with internal and external stakeholders
Manage and execute complex special projects as determined by management, which may include cross-departmental efforts or process improvement initiatives
Serve as a subject matter expert and resource for other administrative assistants, providing guidance on procedures, systems, and best practices, as well as writing and maintaining standard operating procedures
Assist in onboarding and training new administrative assistants to ensure consistency in processes, tools, and organizational standards
Support continuous improvement of administrative workflows by recommending and implementing efficiency-enhancing solutions
Other duties as assigned