Administrative Assistant
Opportunity Overview The University of Michigan is hiring an Administrative Assistant to support its daily operations across multiple departments. This role sits at the center of a large public research university that enrolls more than 50,000 students across campuses in Ann Arbor, Flint, and Dearborn. The university is one of the oldest in the United States, founded in 1817, and operates one of the country's top academic medical centers, so administrative work here touches everything from classroom scheduling to hospital coordination. The job involves handling the kind of work that keeps a big institution running: managing calendars, organizing files, coordinating meetings, and supporting staff across departments like human resources, finance, and operations. You would work closely with executives and department heads, which means strong organizational skills and attention to detail matter more than any specific technical background. The university lists this position under tags that span HR, finance, legal, medical, and technical support, so the actual day-to-day could shift depending on which unit you land in. This is an on-campus role in Michigan. Ann Arbor, where the main campus sits, is a college town with a cost of living roughly 15 percent above the national average. Winters are cold and snowy, with temperatures often below freezing from December through February. The university is the largest employer in the region, and it offers stable public-sector work with the benefits that come with a major state institution. Public universities in the U.S. typically require work authorization for international applicants, and the university's HR office handles visa sponsorship on a case-by-case basis depending on the role and the candidate's qualifications. The University of Michigan is a public institution with an endowment exceeding $17 billion, one of the largest in American higher education. It consistently ranks among the top public universities in the country for research spending, pulling in over $1.7 billion in annual research expenditures. That scale means administrative staff work alongside faculty and researchers who are leaders in fields from engineering to public health. The university also runs Michigan Medicine, a health system that includes three hospitals and more than 100 clinics, so administrative roles here can involve healthcare operations as easily as academic scheduling. Responsibilities - Manage calendars and schedule meetings for executives and department staff - Organize and maintain digital and physical filing systems for department records - Prepare correspondence, memos, and reports for internal distribution - Coordinate travel arrangements and process expense reports - Serve as the first point of contact for phone calls, emails, and in-person visitors - Support HR processes such as onboarding paperwork and time sheet collection - Track budgets and assist with basic financial record keeping for the department - Liaise between departments including finance, legal, and operations to keep projects moving Requirements & Qualifications - High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor's degree preferred - At least one year of administrative or office support experience - Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Outlook, Word, and Excel - Strong written and verbal communication skills - Ability to handle confidential information with discretion - Experience with scheduling software or university systems is a plus - U.S. work authorization required; visa sponsorship determined on a case-by-case basis Benefits - Health, dental, and vision insurance through the university's benefits package - Retirement savings plan with university contributions - Paid time off including vacation days and sick leave - Tuition assistance for employees pursuing further education - Access to university facilities and campus resources How to Apply 1. Review the full job description on the University of Michigan careers portal to confirm the specific department and location. 2. Prepare your resume and a brief cover letter highlighting your administrative experience. 3. Click the Apply button below to submit your application.