Assistant to the Director

Role Description

The Assistant to the Director serves as the principal administrative partner to the Director, providing professional-level coordination and management of financial, HR, and operational functions within the Department of Microbiology. This position integrates complex financial analysis with HR and administrative processes to support efficient and compliant departmental operations.

• Exercises independent judgment in managing workflows, identifying issues, and implementing solutions.
• Represents the Director in coordinating administrative functions across multiple systems and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, administration, finance or related field and 1-2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in financial data analysis, reconciliation, and reporting.
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., data analysis, formulas, reporting).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, track progress independently, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills with a high level of professionalism and tact.
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment while maintaining strong coordination with leadership and team members.

Requirements

• Perform complex monthly financial analysis, including budget reconciliation, variance review, and trend identification using Workday Finance and Excel.
• Maintain and track detailed financial records across multiple funding sources.
• Support development and monitoring of departmental budgets and projections.
• Identify discrepancies and recommend corrective actions to ensure financial accuracy and compliance.
• Develop and maintain reports and tools to improve financial tracking and transparency.
• Coordinate HR-related processes including appointments, payroll-related actions, and personnel transactions.
• Navigate and manage workflows across UW HR, Integrated Resource (IR), and other internal systems.
• Serve as liaison with HR partners to resolve issues and ensure compliance with UW policies and procedures.
• Track HR actions and deadlines to ensure timely and accurate completion.
• Support implementation and coordination of HR processes under the Director’s guidance.
• Oversee and coordinate access to Microbiology electronic systems for internal and external personnel under delegated authority.
• Maintain and monitor system access records to ensure compliance and security.
• Coordinate administrative processes across finance, HR, and departmental systems.
• Represent the Director in facilitating communication and coordination across stakeholders.
• Provide support for special projects and departmental priorities as assigned.
• Identify opportunities to improve administrative processes and workflows.
• Perform other duties as needed in support of departmental operations.

Benefits

• For information about benefits for this position, visit here .

Work Environment

• This position is fully remote and expected to perform work using UW enterprise systems and virtual collaboration tools.
• The role supports a fully remote Director and operates within a distributed work environment.
• Regular communication and coordination with internal stakeholders across UW systems is required.