Administrative Associate for the Rector and Dean
Location: Hickory, North Carolina
The administrative associate maintains and coordinates the administrative operations of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS) Office of the Rector and Dean and provides executive-level administrative support to the rector and dean with the external relations and project management of the Seminary. The position is full-time status and will be located in Hickory, NC as LTSS is relocating to Hickory in January, 2025.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diversity, equity and inclusion are integral to the university’s commitment to excellence in engagement and education. We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience engaging with diversity and equity through activities such as fostering an inclusive environment, working with faculty and/or students from diverse backgrounds and/or incorporating diverse perspectives in their current or previous positions.
Essential Functions
Provide Administrative Support
- Work closely with the rector and dean, anticipating needs related to various administrative and executive duties.
- Coordinate all details related to the rector and dean’s calendar, including scheduling regular meetings with direct reports.
- Participate as part of the leadership team in consultation and support.
- Provide key relational support to all external constituencies.
- Support the work of the LTSS Advisory Council, including overseeing all details of their meetings, between-meeting communications, updating the roster, collecting and distributing reports and resourcing the council in their work.
- Support the work of the Eastern Cluster of Lutheran Churches, including details of their meetings, following up on action items, updating the roster and resourcing the cluster in their work.
- Support the alumni board and staff. Help coordinate, plan and execute staff events, including but not limited to Alumni Day and Scholarship Day.
- Book travel and accommodations for the rector and dean as appropriate. Also, book accommodations for office guests to the campus.
- Serve as supervisor to the administrative assistant for lifelong learning. Provide support, direction and reviews in consultation with the offices listed.
- Participate in administrative staff teams from other departments across campus to ensure support, coverage and coordination; especially as it comes to graduation, semester starts (First Week), special events and facilities use.
- Coordinate the maintenance of the seminary master calendar and assign meeting spaces. Specifically, have responsibility for clients and organizations outside of the LTSS/LR family. Manage contracts, documents and communication.
- Act as the first point of contact for internal and external constituencies. Direct communications and contacts, resolve questions and ensure follow-up.
- Serve as an advocate for LTSS.
Manage Special Projects
- Track and direct special projects that originate in the rector and dean’s office, such as strategic planning, grant proposals and so on. Tasks may include conducting research and preparing reports and presentations.
- Assist the rector and dean’s strategic external engagement agenda, such as meetings with donors, church leaders, alumni and Advisory Council members, making appointments and ensuring appropriate follow-up.
- Work across campus to ensure clear and consistent policies and procedures for use of facilities by clients/constituents from outside the LTSS/LR family.
Communications
- Ensure the highest quality of all correspondence in the Office of the Rector and Dean.
- Coordinate communication with constituents, including e-news from the Office of the Rector and Dean, the Southern Bulletin, portions of the web content for LTSS, weekly updates and so on. Tasks include soliciting materials from others, providing content, writing, editing and proofreading for and with Marketing and Communications colleagues.
Core Competencies
Communication
- Communicate with excellence in written and oral form. This includes proficiency in spelling, grammar and punctuation. This also includes taking a large amount of information and summarizing it quickly, both in writing and orally regularly.
Hospitality
- Show genuine warmth and welcome to everyone. Manage access to the rector and dean in a kind and firm way.
Cross-Cultural Competence
- Listens and speaks effectively to people across various faith traditions and from diverse social locations; can build relationships of trust across cultural differences.
Discretion
- Safeguard the confidentiality of information. Exercise discretion and sensitivity concerning financial information, student information and personnel matters.
Project Management
- Track the key objectives and scope of a project; develop a realistic and thorough plan for achieving key objectives, keeping team members briefed on progress; assist in the implementation of action plans and progress reports; anticipate, identify and resolve barriers and challenges.
Affinity for Technology
- Use Microsoft Office 365 at a power level; learn new tools quickly. Work in the tech environment with accuracy and attention to detail.
- Serves as support and troubleshooting for technology needs and planning.
Mission Ownership
- Understand and support the mission of LTSS to “teach, form and nurture women and men for public ministry in a context that is Christ-centered, faithfully Lutheran and ecumenically committed.”
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent is preferred
- Experience as an administrative assistant and/or in project management is preferred
Application Process
The review of applications will begin on September 1, 2024 and continue until the position is filled.
- Letter of application specifically addressing the position description, qualifications, leadership experience and how you have supported diversity, equity and inclusion in your current and previous positions and/or how you plan to work at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
- A resume.
- A list of three professional references, including name, current position, email, address and phone number.
The University’s mission, vision and values statements may be reviewed on the university's About page.
About Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University is a co-educational, private masters comprehensive liberal arts institution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus located in Hickory, North Carolina, a town of more than 40,000. The university has additional campus centers in Asheville, NC, and Columbia, SC. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir-Rhyne is less than an hour’s drive from Charlotte, and the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of about 365,000. The university now offers more than 50 undergraduate and 30 graduate degree programs to approximately 2400 students.
Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks to liberate mind and spirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, build community and promote responsible leadership for service worldwide. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne promotes diverse campuses open to people from all religious and non-religious backgrounds. Please visit our About page to learn more about the university.
Notice of Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment
Lenoir-Rhyne University does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, citizenship, religion, political affiliation, age, marital status, sex/gender, physical or mental disability, genetic information, pregnancy or veteran status in any educational programs and activities, including admissions. Lenoir-Rhyne’s policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity extends to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, reassignment, demotion, discipline, discharge, performance evaluation, compensation and benefits. Lenoir-Rhyne is committed to providing an environment that promotes nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and inclusion for faculty, staff, students, contractors, volunteers and visitors.