Office Support Assistant/Communications Assistant

Office Support Assistant/Communications Assistant

Department: Department of Biology

Rate of Pay: $10.00/hour

Hours per week: Summer (20-25 hours per week); academic year (12-20 hours per week)

Work Schedule: Must be willing to work during Summer 2026 from 8am-12pm (or 1pm) Monday through Friday. Potential hours available for current Spring 2026 semester.   

Job Beginning/Ending Dates: Beginning Summer 2026 and ongoing into the 2026-2027 academic year. Potential hours available immediately. Preference will be given to those candidates who can make at least a one-year commitment. 

Duties may include the following:

Provide customer service and respond to inquiries from students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the general public in person, over the phone, or through email.

Distribute incoming U.S. and campus mail and other delivered packages (FedEx, UPS, IDT); collect and process outgoing mail.

Distribute seminar flyers including the following tasks and responsibilities: prepare seminar flyers, post seminar flyers on bulletin boards and department website, and assist with other duties related to seminars or events.

Post flyers and announcements in designated locations in the Biology Building and Biology Building East. 

Maintain and update literature holders, digital signs, display cases, and bulletin boards. 

Assist with planning, organizing, researching, writing, and editing content for department newsletters and marketing materials (brochures, flyers, and other informational items related to department programs, research, and/or operations). 

Assist with preparing and posting content on department social media platforms and department website. 

Assist with printing brochures, flyers, and large format posters.

Assist with taking photos at department events for marketing and communication purposes (i.e. newsletters, social media, department website, etc.) 

Assist administrative staff with tasks and responsibilities related to academics, building operations, room reservations, department events, marketing, outreach and recruiting, and other projects.

Assist student organizations in the Department of Biology with coordinating their events (i.e. room reservation requests, posting flyers, sending emails, etc.). 

Assist with processing building key and Iowa One Card access requests. 

Monitor inventory of office supplies (ex: copy paper, etc.) and distribute items when orders arrive.

Maintain, update, and distribute department directories.

Assign mailboxes to new faculty and staff, maintain cleanliness and organization of the Biology Building and Biology Building East mailrooms and storage room. 

Required Qualifications:
Excellent customer service, written and verbal communication skills. 

Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and meet deadlines on multiple tasks and projects. 

Must be willing to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and possess a strong work ethic and attention to detail. 

Ability to take initiative on tasks and projects and work well independently and within a team. 

Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Must be an enrolled University of Iowa student.

Desired Qualifications:
Students pursuing a marketing, communications, or a related degree.

Preference will be given to candidates who can make at least a one-year commitment beginning Summer 2026 and ongoing into the 2026-2027 academic year. Must be willing to work morning hours Monday through Friday in the summer (8am-12pm). Potential hours available immediately.

Experience with photography and a digital camera.

Students who have been awarded work-study funds are encouraged to apply.