The Department of Biological Engineering at Utah State University is seeking a highly organized, detail oriented Staff Assistant III to provide advanced administrative support to the department and to assist the Department Head in coordinating the launch of the new Chemical Engineering Program. This position plays a key role in day to day departmental operations as well as in high visibility program building activities such as student recruitment, faculty candidate visits, public outreach, and program advertising, with an anticipated start date of April 1, 2026.

The ideal candidate is proactive, professional, and capable of managing multiple projects in a fast paced academic environment. This position reports directly to the Department Head and may provide guidance to student or hourly employees.

Formal evaluation of the applications will begin in early March 2026, and the search will continue until the position is filled.

Further inquiries should be made to:

Dr. Jixun Zhan

Department Head

Email: jixun.zhan@usu.edu

Administrative & Office Support

• Provide administrative support for the Department of Biological Engineering.
• Perform advanced office duties including answering phones, routing inquiries, preparing correspondence, data entry, filing, and document management.
• Manage departmental calendars, schedule meetings, coordinate conferences, and support event logistics.
• Greet and assist visitors, students, collaborators, and prospective students.
• Sort and distribute incoming mail; prepare outgoing mail and shipments.
• Maintain inventory of office supplies, process orders, and coordinate with university purchasing systems (e.g., EZ‑Buy, P‑Card workflows).
• Assist with updating website content and maintaining organized digital information.

Chemical Engineering Program Coordination

• Assist the Department Head in coordinating activities related to launching and sustaining the new Chemical Engineering program.
• Help plan and implement student recruitment efforts, including outreach communications, recruitment events, campus visits, and targeted promotional campaigns.
• Support faculty search processes, including scheduling interviews, preparing candidate itineraries, coordinating travel arrangements, and assisting with on‑campus interview logistics.
• Collaborate with the marketing teams of the College of Engineering and the Department of Biological Engineering to support program advertising, including developing promotional materials, updating website content, and coordinating social media efforts.
• Track program milestones, documentation, and communication related to curriculum development, assessment, and accreditation readiness.
• Serve as a point of contact for prospective students, campus partners, and community stakeholders interested in the Chemical Engineering program.

Departmental Operations & Program Support

• Provide high‑level administrative support for departmental programs, training initiatives, and department‑sponsored events.
• Assist faculty and students with departmental procedures, forms, and non‑recurring requests.
• Help maintain departmental records, including student and program data, meeting minutes, and internal reports.
• Coordinate facilities requests and serve as a liaison with university units on operational matters.
• Conduct background research, compile data, and prepare materials for departmental committees or executive review.
• Support departmental communications, including newsletters, announcements, and reports.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Department Head.

Minimum Qualifications

• Four (4) years of relevant administrative experience; OR an associate degree plus two (2) years of experience; OR a bachelor’s degree.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and set priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with computers and office software (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite).
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, academic departments, or program coordination.
• Familiarity with university administrative systems (e.g., ServiceNow, Banner, EZ‑Buy, P‑card workflows).
• Experience supporting recruitment, event coordination, marketing, or public outreach.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and external partners.

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV"
2. Cover letter summarizing motivation, qualifications, experience, and career goals to be typed/pasted at the end of your application.
3. Name and contact information for 3 professional references to be entered into Candidate Profile.

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

The Department of Biological Engineering is home to innovative research and academic programs at the interface of biology, engineering, and technology. The department currently enrolls approximately 163 undergraduates, 30 graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D.), and has 18 faculty members dedicated to advancing research and education. As the department expands to launch a new Chemical Engineering program, we seek a professional who wants to contribute to a dynamic, student‑focused academic environment.

For additional information on the department, please consult:
www.be.usu.edu

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by recent Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships in women’s volleyball, three consecutive Mountain West tournament titles in women’s soccer conference championships, and a first-ever conference championship for gymnastics, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

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*updated 12/2025

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The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| OCR.Denver@ed.gov

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 |  OCR@ed.gov

*updated 10/2025