Principal Secretary

Principal Secretary – Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)

The New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) is an integral component of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. The experiment station provides a diverse range of research, extension, and education programs that serve the people and communities across New Jersey.

Reporting to the Program Associate I of the Camden County Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, the Principal Secretary facilitates the orderly and timely flow of daily documents; organizes and performs diversified office duties in a high volume, fast‑paced environment, including confidential clerical support for the NJ EFNEP Camden County Office. The Principal Secretary will be housed in the Camden County Cooperative Extension Office.

• Manages multiple tasks with accuracy.
• Arranges meetings and associated logistics.
• Prepares written communications and compiles documents for evaluation reporting.
• Responds to internal and external inquiries.
• Greets and directs visitors to proper destination; arranges schedules, appointments, and reservations.
• Distributes mail, takes dictation and maintains records and files.
• Aids clerical back‑up support for all secretarial lines for the NJ EFNEP work units as needed.
• Provides confidential and coordinating secretarial/clerical support to a university administrator or office.
• Designs word‑processing routines to access, manipulate, and transmit files for specific uses and performs a variety of advanced and basic word‑processing assignments.

Introductory Rate: $39,179.03;
Minimum Salary: $39,179.03;
Mid Range Salary: $45,960.07;
Maximum Salary: $53,028.06.

The final salary offer may be determined by several factors, including the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and expertise, as well as the availability of department or grant funds. Market benchmarks and internal equity are also considered to ensure fair compensation within the university’s broader structure.

• Medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage
• Paid vacation, holidays, and various leave programs
• Competitive retirement benefits, including defined contribution plans and voluntary tax‑deferred savings options
• Employee and dependent educational benefits (when applicable)
• Life insurance coverage
• Employee discount programs

• Minimum
  
  Education and Experience:
  
  High school/vocational school education or equivalent plus three years of any equivalent combination of secretarial experience, college‑level study, advanced secretarial training, or clerical experience, provided secretarial experience accounts for at least one year.
• Certifications / Licenses: A valid driver’s license is required.
• Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Working knowledge of basic spreadsheet, word‑processing, database software, and email.
  • Effective communication skills.
  • Shorthand, stenographic, and/or machine transcription skills.
  • Excellent organizational and problem‑solving skills.
  • Ability to provide excellent service to culturally diverse colleagues and collaborators.
  • Ability and willingness to work in a consistently high‑energy, high‑pressure atmosphere.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and assess situations quickly and logically.
  • Ability to use video‑conferencing platforms (Zoom, Web Ex, Google Meets, Microsoft Teams).
• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Familiarity with website maintenance and a working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Email) and Internet.
  • Experience with government‑supplied reporting systems for nutrition class data entry.
  • Bilingual in Spanish.

• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds.
• Shift/
  
  Schedule:
  
  7 hours per day, 8:00‑3:30 pm with a half‑hour lunch or 8:00‑4:00 with an hour lunch.

• This is a 100% grant‑funded position; employment is contingent upon availability of funds and will expire once the grant ends.
• Willingness to use personal vehicle to travel to purchase class supplies and drive as needed throughout Camden County and to the State Office in New Brunswick.
• Safe driving record required.

Camden County, New Jersey (Camden County…