Sr. Office Assistant

Department: Merchandising Operations

Summary

The Senior Office Assistant helps Michigan Tech’s campus stores create welcoming experiences for all customers. This position combines customer service with administrative and operational support, including financial transactions, inventory transfers, and online orders. The role requires attention to detail, problem-solving, and a commitment to kindness, integrity, and continuous improvement. It is based at both store locations with a flexible schedule.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

• Greet guests and provide outstanding customer service in a professional, friendly, and courteous manner for a diverse population of internal and external customers.
• Receive, process, and complete telephone, mail, and digital communications from customers, vendors, and other stakeholders, including general inquiries and orders, while using proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation, as well as professional decorum.
• Create and update spreadsheets in support of store operations on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis, to include, but not limited to: open-to-buy, gift cards, and sales.
• Independently approve and process returns and exchanges via mail and in-store.
• Operate cash registers, manage financial transactions, and balance cash drawers.
• Independently resolve store and customer-related issues or problems that arise, asking for help/guidance when needed.
• Assist with managing and maintaining store and shipping supplies by organizing and tracking supply levels and preparing orders for buyers.
• Manage all phases of the inventory transfer process between stores, to include, but not limited to: entering transfers in inventory control system, labeling boxes, loading a cart and vehicle, and transporting between stores.
• Provide a variety of administrative functions for all department staff, to include, but not limited to: data entry in inventory control system, financial processes, word processing tasks, organizing, utilizing, and maintaining sensitive documents, organizing and maintaining shared office supplies.
• Oversee cleanliness and orderliness of sales floors and stockrooms, cleaning, restocking and rearranging as needed.
• Audit merchandise on display and within operating system to recommend items for markdown. With approval, markdown merchandise in the operating system, communicate price change, tag merchandise, and place items in clearance sections.
• Assist Merchandising Coordinators with processing inventory, web orders, and customer service requirements, including, but not limited to: preparing, closing, packaging, and shipping orders.
• Work at both locations, schedule may vary to accommodate bookrush, athletic events, tourism season, other staff schedules, weekends, some holidays, and occasionally student schedules.
• Maintain a university key to open and close store facilities according to department security protocols. Also maintain assigned security access codes to stores.
• Maintain security of confidential information acquired regarding the department and its operations and prevent unauthorized access.
• Perform other duties and tasks and assist with special projects assigned by the General Manager and the Campus Store Manager.
• Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives, to include, but not limited to: participate and present Report Outs and Teach Backs for departmental AVPA meetings based on modeling, participate in annual Professional Development Day programs and lectures, attend LEAN workshops, engage with other college stores and associations professionally via various webinars, Zoom meetings, and training sessions offered.
• Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

• High school diploma, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired

Required Experience

• • One year of experience in clerical or administrative support
• • One year of experience using personal computers, basic software packages such as Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite
• • One year of experience in a customer service setting

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Experience using advanced features of spreadsheet/database software
• Experience using Banner, Web Focus and Perceptive Content
• Experience working in higher education

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• • Excellent interpersonal, customer service and oral/written communication skills, including knowledge of proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation
• • Demonstrated ability to work independently, organizing and prioritizing customer service and work assignments in a fast-paced environment, and taking initiative to solve problems
• • Demonstrated ability to use judgment when dealing with confidential information
• • Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, working with accuracy and attention to detail with frequent and multiple interruptions
• • Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team and contribute to the overall smooth operation of a service environment
• • Demonstrated ability to adapt to and embrace change
• • Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe work environment

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• • Demonstrated ability to learn new computer-based applications
• • Demonstrated ability to protect data with integrity
• • Experience with LEAN and other continuous improvement processes

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; talk or hear; and use hands to handle or feel an object. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• The employee may be required to lift up to 40 pounds or more with assistance.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color and peripheral vision; and the ability to adjust focus.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training:
• Employee Safety Overview
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Data Security Training
• Annual Title IX Training

Background Check:
Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)

0.75

Flsa Status

Non-Exempt

Appointment Term

12 Months

Shift

1st Shift

Pay Rate/Salary

Contractual. External candidates will receive the minimum amount ($17.24/hr).

Title of Position Supervisor

General Manager

Posting Type

Internal & External Posting

Dependent On Funding

No

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

• UAW Posting 9/30/2025 -10/6/2025
• External applicants are encouraged to apply, however internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal UAW Posting dates.

Additional Information

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Other Conditions of Employment:
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  

If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations during Michigan Tech’s hiring process please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or hr-help@mtu.edu.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures* (minimum requirements)