Administrative Coordinator I

Job Responsibilities

The mission of the South Carolina Department of Education is to serve students, support teachers, empower parents, and engage the community so that every student graduates prepared to reach their full potential. Job Purpose: This position provides executive-level administrative support to the Deputy Superintendent for Legal Affairs and Office of General Counsel to help coordinate the day-to-day activities of the Division of Legal Affairs. Responsibilities: This action-oriented position would be responsible for activities in the following areas:

• Manage and provide executive level assistance to the Deputy Superintendent for Legal Affairs in coordinating the activities, duties and responsibilities of the Division of Legal Affairs. Helps Deputy Superintendent manage and track progress of various duties and projects.
• Serve as primary contact for the Deputy Superintendent; prepare correspondence; handle administrative matters; answer general inquiries verbally and in writing and routing inquiries to the proper party.
• Drafts and relays procedural responses to inquiries and provides responsive information regarding administrative law, civil and appellate procedure, and other legal matters as directed.
• Provide direct support for the Office of General Counsel (OGC) for non- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) federal programs. Prepare correspondence, and materials for trials and administrative hearings, and federal reporting requirements.
• Manage civil litigation, including, but not limited to database and administration oversight; Insurance Reserve Fund liaison; contacts South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) on General Educational Development (GED) and other assessment matters; manages Attorney General's Office process for hiring outside counsel; and serves as point person to Finance on yearly preparation of Comptroller General's (CG'S) (outside counsel) Litigation Closing Package.
• Develops, maintains, and manages internal office procedures and serves as liaison responsible for disseminating current office and agency policies to division Staff.
• Under the supervision of the Deputy Superintendent, oversees the office budget and financial matters. Serves as the OGC'S Purchasing Card Liaison.
• Coordinates personnel activities for the division and helps the Deputy Secretary coordinate with the Office of Human Resources.
• Coordinates compliance with all civil litigation processes, including but not limited to database administration, Insurance Reserve Fund, Attorney General's process for hiring outside counsel; assists Legal Affairs colleagues and Finance to facilitate yearly preparation of Comptroller General's litigation reporting package.

This position is located in the Office of General Counsel.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

A high school diploma and relevant experience in business management, public administration, or administrative services or a bachelor's degree may be substituted for the required work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED, plus at least five (5) years of progressively responsible administrative experience, including experience in a legal, court, or government office. An equivalent combination of paralegal or legal-support training and directly related experience will be accepted with three (3) years of experience.
• Demonstrated experience providing executive-level administrative support to senior leadership, including preparing correspondence, handling confidential executive matters, and routing inquiries to the appropriate party.
• Completion of a paralegal certificate or legal-studies program, or comparable legal-support training preferred, not required.
• Five (5) or more years of legal administrative or litigation-support experience, preferably in a government, agency, or public sector legal office.
• Experience organizing and maintaining complex files, databases, and records or document-management systems.
• Experience in program compliance and preparing various reports.
• Experience monitoring an office budget and financial matters, including purchasing or procurement processes such as serving as a purchasing-card liaison.
• Experience coordinating personnel activities and working with Human Resources processes.
• Proficiency with all Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint) and the ability to adapt to agency-specific and other technology-based platforms.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines while maintaining a high degree of accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with attorneys, executives, and external agencies, and the public.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and sound judgement.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Additional Comments

As a part of a generous compensation package, we offer comprehensive benefits that include generous paid time off, preeminent health care benefits, professional development opportunities, pension, a 401(k), and a hybrid work schedule with opportunity for remote work.

The South Carolina Department of Education offers an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year.
• 15 days sick leave per year.
• 13 paid holidays.
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs.