Senior Office Assistant

Summary

Michigan Technological University is seeking a Senior Office Assistant for our Merchandising Operations department. The Senior Office Assistant leads customer-facing retail operations for Michigan Tech’s Merchandising Operations. The role is responsible for ensuring an exceptional customer experience, maintaining sales floor standards, and providing functional supervision to student employees during daily operations at the Campus Store and University Images. This position serves as a key on-floor leader, resolving customer issues, supporting merchandising execution, and ensuring efficient store operations.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

Customer Experience & Leadership
• Provide outstanding customer service in a professional, friendly, and inclusive manner
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customer concerns, resolving issues independently, and elevating issues as necessary
• Lead daily floor operations, ensuring appropriate coverage and responsiveness to customer needs
• Open and close store locations in accordance with established procedures Student Employee Supervision
• Provide functional supervision to student employees during shifts
• Offer real-time coaching and guidance to support performance and service standards
• Assist with onboarding support and reinforcement of training expectations

Retail Operations
• Operate point-of-sale systems, process transactions, and balance cash drawers
• Monitor and maintain cleanliness, organization, and visual standards of the sales floor and stockrooms Restock merchandise and ensure product availability on the sales floor

Inventory & Fulfillment
• Execute inventory transfers between store locations, including system entry and physical transport
• Assist with receiving, stocking, and organizing merchandise to ensure inventory is distributed appropriately
• Support e-commerce operations by preparing, packing, and shipping orders

Merchandising Support
• Audit merchandise and recommend items for markdown
• Execute approved markdowns, including system updates and tagging
• Maintain and support visual merchandising standards

Collaboration & Support
• Assist with inventory counts and operational projects
• Provide coverage for sales floor and operational needs as required
• Serve as departmental website backup, including, but not limited to, updating store hours, adding announcements, and promoting events.
• Assist with critical Auxiliary Business Services events and operational needs during non-peak times, providing cross-functional support across auxiliary venues and programs as directed

Continuous Improvement & Compliance
• Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and Lean practices and integrating them into daily retail operations. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives
• Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work, and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

• High school diploma or equivalent

Required Experience

• One year of experience in customer service or retail, office, or administrative support
• Advanced computer skills

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, sociology, or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and experience)
• Experience operating point-of-sale systems and handling financial transactions
• Experience in a college or university bookstore environment
• Valid U.S. Driver’s license and eligibility under University vehicle use requirements

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities
• Ability to work irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays for athletic and university events
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail, accuracy, and organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead and guide student employees during operations
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment
• Ability to work independently and in coordination with others, including, but not limited to, the ability to work at any assigned location
• Ability to operate basic office equipment, including personal computer, photocopy machine, printer, scanner, fax machine, and calculator
• Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe work environment

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Proficient in Gmail, Google Suite
• Demonstrated ability to work with teams and collaborate
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons with a wide variety of backgrounds and viewpoints
• Advanced computer skills

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training:
• Employee Safety Overview
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Data Security Training
• Annual Title IX Training

Background Check:
Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

.75

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Appointment Term

12 months

Shift

-

Pay Rate/Salary

Contractual. External candidates will receive the minimum amount $17.76hr

Title of Position Supervisor

General Manager

Posting Type

Dependent on Funding

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

UAW Posting - 07/22/2026 - 07/28/2026
External Applicants are encouraged to apply, however internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal UAW posting dates.