Office Administrator- Continuous Post (2026)

Administrative Support Specialist

Employees in positions allocated to this level of the series work under administrative direction and in support of a major academic or administrative unit. They are responsible for initiating and coordinating the office support functions required for the effective implementation of administrative policies of the unit. Duties require extensive knowledge of the organization, programs, policies, and procedures of the unit and the institution and the ability to operate computer systems, using word processing, database, and software packages.

Examples Of Duties

Answers inquiries and resolves problems that require the interpretation, explanation, and justification of administrative and programmatic policies and procedures; receives incoming mail and responds to items as appropriate; this may require interpretation, explanation, or defense of unit policies, guidelines, or functions; composes correspondence and other documents that require the synthesis or integration of a variety of subject areas or the summation of the individual contributions of staff members or sub-units; transcribes written material that is highly technical and confidential in nature; maintains an overall awareness of organizational activities of import or impact to the designated member(s) of the unit staff and the unit; coordinates and expedites necessary actions regarding organizational activities and travel; participates in the analysis, design, and implementation of office information systems; develops and implements procedures and recordkeeping systems to support the administrative functions performed by the unit; conducts extensive research assignments involving the evaluation, selection and compilation of information from a wide variety of sources; prepares reports which require the synthesis or integration of a variety of subject areas or the summation of the individual contributions of staff members or sub-units; assists investigators with proposal preparation; authorizes fiscal transactions and keeps management informed of overall financial position: reviews and monitors fiscal transactions and accounts of a major unit with responsibility for overall control; prepares reports and budget projections; represents the designated member(s) of the unit staff or the unit at meetings and conferences; serves as a resource person for staff of external units; directs and coordinates all administrative support functions of a unit with full accountability for the results produced; analyzes work requirements for administrative support staff and establishes operating guidelines; performs duties listed in the lower level of this classification series; performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent. Any one of the following from the categories below: Four (4) years (48 months) of work experience comparable to the third level of this series. Two (2) years (24 months) of work experience comparable to the fourth level of this series.

Supplemental Information

Illinois residency requirement: Pursuant to the State Universities Civil Service System, out-of-state candidates must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days of the start date for this position. Tips for completing a Civil Service application: 1. To be eligible for the role, ensure that your application includes a complete and detailed employment history that highlights your relevant full-time and part-time work experience, including start and end dates of employment. 2. Relevant part-time work experience will count towards the qualifications for this position and will be converted to full-time equivalence to calculate the total length of experience. 3. Upload all official transcripts to meet the educational requirements. If the job description specifies a minimum number of college hours, transcripts are mandatory for the successful processing of your application. 4. Veterans who qualify for preference must provide proof of eligibility within ten (10) working days of submitting an application, unless the same proof has already been submitted in a previous application. The required proof of eligibility includes, at a minimum, a copy of the veteran's DD214/DD215 form (Department of Defense), NGB22 form (National Guard), or Discharge Orders or DD256 Discharge Certificate (Reserves). 5. After the position has closed, your application and supporting materials will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications, including any specialty factors associated with this position. Those who qualify will move forward for Civil Service Examination/Testing. 6. Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from View email address on click.appcast.io. 7. For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at sucss.illinois.gov About Civil Service Examination/Testing: The Civil Service examination for this classification is based on your application materials and responses to the supplemental questions. No participation other than submission of application materials is required from applicants that qualify to take the exam. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, your application will move forward for examination/testing in which you will receive a score calculated based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register by exam score. This score will be emailed to the email address noted on your application. After the application deadline, the names within the top three scores will be referred to the department for interview. Sponsorship for work authorization is not available. For more information visit

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an R1 Opportunity University with a statewide economic impact of $2.7 billion dollars. We offer 200+ undergraduate degrees, minors and specializations, 79 master's degrees, and 40 doctoral degrees. Our main campus is 1,136 acres, with additional acreage in University Farms, Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, and other facilities. The university is an essential part of the city of Carbondale and an important contributor to the culture of the entire region. While Carbondale includes many of the amenities of urban life, it retains its small-town flavor. Cost of living is considerably lower in the region than similar areas elsewhere, and many employees commute from nearby counties.

The Southern Illinois region is distinct from the rest of the state, boasting considerable natural beauty including the Shawnee National Forest, many state parks, national wildlife areas, and several lakes beloved for recreation. Local foods are readily available in the area, with a variety of eateries and a growing specialized food truck presence. The area is home to the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, an official wine appellation designation. The wineries extend the cultural reach of the community, hosting live music and continual art exhibits. The campus itself is a microcosm of the area, with a lake and forest on campus, as well as traditional collegiate architecture, quad, and residential halls. Students enjoy outdoor study areas as well as specialized computer labs scattered across campus, including in the three million volume Morris Library. To learn about employee benefits, employee tuition waivers, and find resources about Carbondale and the Southern Illinois region, visit:

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer dedicated to building a community of excellence, equity, and diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, order of protection status, genetic information, marital status, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation including gender identity, unfavorable discharge from the military or status as a protected veteran. The university will comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, orders, and regulations.

Benefits

University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Service (CMS). These benefits include: Health Insurance plans (HMOs, OAPs, QCHP and CDHP), Dental Insurance, Vision Plan, Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Supplemental Long Term Disability (LTD), Flex Spending Accounts, MCAP and DCAP, and 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan. Eligible employees are required to participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). SURS is the retirement administrator for employees in public higher education in the State of Illinois. Other benefits available to eligible employees include: Generous paid time-off, 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plans, and Employee Assistance Program. SIUC also provides extensive tuition benefits for its employees and their families such as: tuition waiver/application fee waiver for the employee and their dependents, a Legacy tuition rate for children of SIU Alumni, and Civil Service Employee Counsel (CSEC) Education Assistance Program (EAP). For more information please visit: