Office Manager for the Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center (HR Title: Administrative Assistant III)

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences , Cox School of Business , Lyle School of Engineering , Meadows School of the Arts , Simmons School of Education and Human Development , Dedman School of Law , Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies .

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Position:

This is a full-time position for an Office Manager to support Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center (the "Center") at SMU Dedman School of Law. The Center conducts nationwide research and advocacy to promote the Sixth Amendment right to counsel, the improved operation of rural criminal legal systems, and the responsible exercise of prosecutorial charging power.

This highly visible position will interact with faculty, students, staff, donors, contractors, vendors, justice-impacted people, and other individuals and organizations. The successful candidate will be a self-starter with excellent judgment, strong organizational skills, and a proven ability to juggle competing priorities. They must have strong bookkeeping skills and be able to manage confidential information with a high degree of discretion.

Essential Functions:

• Provides primary organizational support to Center: coordinates competing calendars, schedules Zoom meetings, manages incoming email, correspondence, and phone calls, maintains equipment and supply inventory, upholds and updates office operating procedures, manages on-boarding and off-boarding of staff (control of computers, business cards, key, procurement cards, etc.), liaises with facilities.
• Maintains confidential financial information and requests payroll authorization forms (PAFs). Assists Chief Operating Officer in monitoring multiple budgets and preparing regular budget reports.
• As instructed by the Chief Operating Officer, submits contracts and independent contractor agreements to accounting and legal departments, using Cobblestone as appropriate. Processes contractor agreements, conduct preliminary compliance review of invoices, submits approved invoices for payment, and communicates with contractors, staff, and appropriate university offices to ensure prompt payment.
• Coordinates and supports all expense and travel requests, conducts preliminary compliance review of expenses, uses Concur to submit and reconcile travel and expense transactions.
• Other duties as directed by the Chief Operating Officer.

Education and Experience:

A high school diploma, or equivalent, is required. A Bachelor's degree is strongly preferred.

A minimum of four (4) years of administrative support experience in an office setting is required Experience in legal, higher education, non-profit, or government/policy setting is strongly preferred. Previous bookkeeping or accounting experience desired.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Candidate must have strong attention to details, excellent organizational skills, the ability to generate and maintain and electronic files and records, and the ability to juggle competing priorities set by different team members.

High-level competency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat is expected. Familiarity with one or more bookkeeping/accounting software is strongly preferred.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time
• Bend, Squat, Stand, Kneel
• Reach above shoulders
• Handle Objects (dexterity)
• Push/Pull; Carry/Lift up to 25 lbs.

Deadline to Apply:

This position is open until filled.

EEO Statement:

SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu .

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefit s. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities , including tuition benefits .