Administrative Support Coordinator - Political Science

Job Summary

Reporting to the Department Chair, this position plays a crucial and indispensible role in the department. Their professional presence represents the administrative side of the department to faculty, students, college and university administration. This position, with the Department Chair, operates as the nexus of all moving parts in the department. This position contributes to and sustains the open, welcoming and collegial environment highly valued in the department.

In terms of daily and routine work, the incumbent coordinates the daily administrative operation of the Political Science Department and its programs, including coordinating the department office operations and providing lead work direction for office staff under the general direction of department chair. Given the three-year department chair rotation, this position provides continuity of operation and practice with respect to the department, college and university policies.

The size and variety of programs and activities in POLS create significant complexity and require extensive knowledge of and experience in administration, budgeting, public and student relations, autonomy and decision making.

The Political Science Department (POLS) is one of the larger departments in the College of Liberal Arts. The department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with four concentrations to nearly 400 students, three minors to over 200 students, as well as a Master of Public Policy (MPP) program. The department also offers general education courses and courses that meet the USCP requirement.

Co-curricular activities are provided through a growing number of departmental clubs (such as POLS Club, MPP club, Pi Sigma Alpha) and three IRA activities (Mock Trial, Model UN, Paideia). Model UN and Mock Trial are also competitive club teams. The department has one department chair and one graduate coordinator (both of whom are tenured faculty), nearly 20 tenured/tenure-track and full-time faculty members, and approximately 10 part-time faculty members.

• Working knowledge of budget policies and procedures.
  
  Ability to perform business math, such as calculate ratios and percentages, track and analyze financial and/or budgetary data, and make accurate projections requiring some inference.
• Ability to organize and coordinate special events for large groups.
• Ability to provide lead work direction to support staff and student assistants.
• Ability to interpret and apply policies and procedures independently and use judgment and discretion to act when precedents do not exist.
• Ability to troubleshoot most office administration problems and respond to all inquiries and requests related to work area.

• High school diploma or its equivalent.
• Five years of general office support or technical experience. (Training at a vocational school or full-time college education may be substituted for two years of the required experience on the basis of one year of college education for 6 months of experience).

Anticipated Hiring Range:$4,367 - $5,538 per month

Classification Range: $4,367 - $6,362 per month

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Anticipated Hiring Range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Classification Range may be broader than what the University anticipates paying for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information.

Known for its Learn by Doing philosophy, Cal Poly is ranked among the top 10 public universities in the nation. Each year, more than 23,000 top-tier students come to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly Maritime Academy in Solano County to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities, maritime and the built environment.

Cal Poly’s hands‑on philosophy, small class sizes and close…