Department Coordinator, Geography

The Geography Department Coordinator provides general administrative support for the department, using independent initiative to balance the priorities of the department faculty and staff. The department coordinator acts as a first point of contact for the department, interacting with students, faculty, alumni, staff, and visitors. The department coordinator must be able to manage interruptions while working on complex tasks. They are responsible for general departmental operations, public communications on behalf of the department, coordination of community building activities, fiscal monitoring, small and large scale event planning, management of confidential information, field trip/travel arrangements for individuals, and supervision of student employees. In addition, the coordinator provides limited administrative support for multiple concentrations that Geography faculty regularly participate in and chair.

This is a .78 FTE position in which the staff member works full time during the academic year and approximately 60 hours during the summer months.

About The Department:

The department hosts a vibrant community of students and faculty brought together by their common interest in Geography. On average, 30 students per year graduate with a major or minor in Geography. Our nine permanent faculty and staff members are dedicated to providing opportunities to our majors and other interested students at all levels to learn about Geography. The department strongly emphasizes experiential learning and collaborative student-faculty research. Our graduates pursue a wide variety of post-graduate options including employment in communications, education, environmental, planning and development, technology, and transportation fields.

Administrative Support

• Provide administrative support to departmental faculty and staff.
• Assist the department chair with general administrative tasks and procedures.
• Organize and maintain important department records, documents, databases, and webpages.
• Maintain confidentiality with materials, information, and communications.
• Assist with the development of field guides, course publications, department reports, and grant proposals.
• Contribute to department communications by creating, editing and proofreading materials.
• Manage and maintain department social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, by posting engaging content, responding to inquiries, and contributing to the department’s online presence.

Event Coordination

• Organize and coordinate department events and field trips.
• Make catering arrangements, reserve venues, and create announcements for event publicity.
• Coordinate student travel and lodging arrangements to professional conferences.

Budget Administration

• Administer, oversee, and report on department budgets.
• Process payments, reconcile PCard purchases, and order equipment/supplies.
• Monitor all expenses to ensure the department stays on budget. 

Community Building

• Lead initiatives to foster community among department members.
• Prepare the department's physical and digital spaces to be welcoming and inclusive.
• Act as administrative liaison and point of contact for the department.
• Provide information about department offerings through oral and written communication, and social media.

Student Engagement

• Advertise, hire, train, and supervise student employees.
• Advise and collaborate with student organizations to support community-building events and volunteer opportunities.
• Serve as managing editor for the Department’s student-led quarterly newsletter.

• High School Diploma required. Vocational or technical training in office administration is preferred.
• 3-5 years of experience in general office administration. Higher education related experience is a plus.
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred but not required.
• Effective interpersonal skills; ability to work with faculty, staff and students from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong office technology skills including word processing, database management, spreadsheets, Google tools, web page creation/maintenance, desktop publishing programs, and social media platforms.
• Comfortable with accounting programs and analyzing financial data.
• Highly organized, with ability to prioritize and multitask workload.
• Capable of working independently as needed.
• Supervisory experience for hiring, training, and managing student workers.
• Capable of efficiently handling logistics for department events (e.g., ordering food, reserving spaces, facilitating visitors).

Compensation:

The hourly wage for this position will be $22.40 - $23.42, depending on experience.

Benefits:

At Macalester, we are proud to offer excellent comprehensive employee benefits. Here are some highlights:

• 10% employer contributions to the retirement plan. 
• Outstanding vacation and sick time packages, plus an additional 10 holidays.
• Generous employer contribution to Health Savings Account.
• Tuition assistance which pays between 75% - 100% 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.

These are just some of the great benefits Macalester has to offer! To see our full benefits packages and options, please visit our Benefits Page.

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

Application Guidelines:

For best consideration, please submit your cover letter and resume through the Macalester Employment Opportunities webpage by Saturday, November 24th. No applications will be accepted after this priority date, and interviews will begin after this date.

Jaclyn Howard

Talent Acquisition Manager 

jhoward3@Macalester.edu

Founded in 1874, Macalester College provides students with the inspiration, insight, and experience to become successful and ethical leaders. Located in flourishing St. Paul, Minnesota, Macalester enrolls over 2,000 students from across the country and around the world. Macalester is a preeminent liberal arts college recognized for its student service and celebration of internationalism.

At Macalester, we look at our employees through a whole-person, holistic lens. With comprehensive benefits and well-being programs, we provide and enable our community members to grow and care for themselves, their families, and one another. Our whole-hearted fidelity to community-building and social justice exemplify these ideals.  Macalester College continuously prioritizes a culturally diverse and pluralistic community. We value individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences. 

Our rich blend of people holding varied identities enhances our strong commitment to multiculturalism and global citizenship. We seek candidates who reflect and strengthen our campus environment. Macalester invites and encourages everyone to apply who would add depth to our community including those from all sexual orientations, races, ethnicities, national origins, genders, religions, abilities, and ages.