Department Coordinator

Overview

The Biology Department Coordinator provides general administrative support for the department and balances the priorities of faculty, staff, and students, acting as the first point of contact for students, faculty, alumni, staff, and visitors.

Responsibilities include managing interruptions while working on complex tasks, time‑management for short‑ and long‑term projects, and overseeing departmental operations, public communications, community building activities, fiscal monitoring, event planning, confidential information management, and field trip/travel arrangements.

The Biology Department at Macalester College is a dynamic group of faculty, staff, and students who work to learn about life processes. The department has about 15 full‑time faculty and staff and enrolls 50–65 majors per year.

• Provide administrative support to faculty and staff.
• Assist the department chair with general administrative tasks and procedures.
• Maintain the department’s website and social media accounts.
• Work with the Biology Lab Supervisor to coordinate repair and maintenance of department equipment.
• Administer, oversee, and report on department budgets.
• Act as administrative liaison and point of contact for the department to students, vendors, and equipment technicians on and off campus.
• Provide Neuroscience Program support in this capacity.
• Make department purchases and process payments.
• Coordinate, plan, and advertise speakers for the seminar series.
• Organize and coordinate department events, including meetings, student lunches, and senior dinners.
• Maintain and update class schedules and catalog copy.
• Assist faculty with courses, including classroom space, field trips, and speaker honoraria.
• Hire, train, and supervise student employees for the department.

• High school diploma required.
• Vocational or technical training or experience in office administration required; bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 1–3 years of experience in general administrative and office coordination; higher education experience a plus.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills, ability to work with diverse faculty, staff, and students.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong office technology skills including word processing, database management, spreadsheets, Google Suite, web page creation/maintenance, desktop publishing programs, and social media platforms.
• Experience with Workday is a plus.
• Comfortable with accounting programs and financial data analysis.
• Highly organized with the ability to schedule, prioritize, and complete multiple tasks and projects on time.
• Capable of working independently as needed.

Hourly: $23.19–$24.25. Union: MAPE.

• 10% employer contributions to the retirement plan.
• Outstanding vacation and sick time packages, plus an additional 10 holidays.
• Competitive health, dental, vision, and life & disability insurance.
• Generous employer contribution to Health Savings Account.
• Tuition assistance covering 75%–90% of eligible tuition for employee dependents at select institutions.
• Free primary care for most services through Nice Healthcare when enrolled in a Macalester health plan.
• Access to the athletics fitness facility, wellness coaching, and activities.

Macalester College does not discriminate on the grounds of sex, gender identity, race, color, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, genetic information, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, veteran status, sexual orientation, status with regard to public assistance, or other categories protected by law. For additional information, see Macalester College's full Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check is a condition of employment.