Academic Administrative Assistant, Religion

Join a dynamic academic department where you'll play a central role in supporting faculty, students, and departmental operations. As the department's primary administrative professional, you'll serve as the key point of contact, ensuring the smooth day-to-day functioning of the office while coordinating courses, managing records, and facilitating communication across the university. You'll partner closely with the department chair on budgeting and financial processes, organize special events, and help create an efficient, welcoming environment that enables outstanding teaching and scholarship. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who enjoys building relationships, managing multiple priorities, and contributing to the success of a collaborative academic community.

Department/Division Overview:
The Department of Religion at Denison University explores how religious traditions, practices, and ideas shape cultures, communities, politics, and everyday life across the globe. Rather than preparing students for a particular faith, the department approaches religion as a powerful human phenomenon, equipping students to analyze complex belief systems, interpret texts and rituals, and understand the role of religion in historical and contemporary societies. Through interdisciplinary coursework spanning diverse traditions, regions, and time periods, students develop critical thinking, cultural fluency, ethical reasoning, and strong communication skills that prepare them to engage thoughtfully with an increasingly interconnected and global world.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and support departmental events, lectures, and special programs by managing logistics, reserving spaces, arranging catering, coordinating communications, and assisting with visitor travel and itineraries. Create and distribute promotional materials to help engage the campus community.

• Serve as the organizational hub of the department by maintaining digital records and files, managing office and instructional supplies, coordinating department calendars, and scheduling meetings and classroom spaces.

• Support the department's academic operations by maintaining course and enrollment data, coordinating curriculum information, preparing course scheduling materials for the Registrar, managing departmental communications, and assisting with assessment activities. 

• Maintain and update the department's website and digital communications, ensuring accurate and current information about faculty, courses, majors, minors, and department initiatives. Assist with marketing efforts and maintain departmental publications and print materials. 

• Provide comprehensive administrative support to faculty, including preparing course and publication materials, coordinating governance submissions, onboarding new faculty, and arranging travel and logistics for conferences and professional development.

• Manage departmental financial and budget processes by processing invoices, reimbursements, procurement transactions, and account transfers; monitoring budgets and expenditures; maintaining accurate financial records; and partnering with the department chair to prepare annual operating, capital, and personnel budget requests.

• Leverage university and cloud-based technologies to support departmental operations, including Workday for financial and administrative processes, Google Workspace for document management and collaboration, and Canva to create polished communications and promotional materials.

• Contribute to the success of the department by performing additional administrative and operational responsibilities as needed.

Minimum Requirements: 

High School Diploma or GED

Preferred Requirements:

Associate’s Degree in Business Administration, Office Administration, or experience in a related field

Why Choose Denison? 

Denison University is a leading, fully residential liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio, located  just outside the Columbus metro area. Established in 1831, Denison blends a rigorous academic foundation with an award-winning approach to student mentorship and career readiness. With a vibrant campus community of 2,400 students and around 2,000 employees, Denison offers employees a supportive, forward-thinking environment dedicated to educational excellence and professional growth. 

Denison provides a number of staff-focused benefits, with some highlights:

• Comprehensive healthcare plan

• 403(b) retirement savings with 10% contribution from Denison for eligible positions 

• Starting at 10 vacation days

• 9 paid holidays

• Campus closure from Christmas to New Years

• Free parking and gym membership

• Free classes for employees

• Full tuition coverage for dependents

Want to learn more about us? Visit Denison.edu for more information.

 

Pay: Up to $26.85/hr