Career Center

Department: Residential Service Engelhart
Salary/Grade: NEX/10

Job Summary:

Northwestern University’s Residential Services helps build a community environment for students through housing-related services, intentional learning opportunities and residential settings that include residence halls, residential communities, and residential colleges. Learn more about the Residential Services department and the Operations and Services team here: https://www.northwestern.edu/living/index.html

The Desk Clerk provides a variety of clerical and administrative support, which may include drafting and typing letters, reports, charts, graphs, etc.; using word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software; basic bookkeeping; screening calls and visitors; preparing agendas and making arrangements for meetings, travel, and special events; managing a departmental calendar, etc.

This Desk Clerk will support administrative functions at the Engelhart residence hall.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Student Services and Support 25%
  • Applies knowledge of federal and state regulations.
  • Interprets existing policies and procedures, etc.
    • Primary contact for residents for check-ins and check-outs.
    • Processes and distributes mail and packages for residents.
    • Answer basic room availability and contract questions as directed by Residential Services.
    • Works with custodial and maintenance staff in handling maintenance requests; serves as liaison between residents and maintenance staff.
• Customer Service 20%
  • Provides information via phone, e-mail, mail, etc.
    • Answers phones, routes callers, takes messages.
    • Greets visitors, responds to inquiries, requests, and provides routine information.
    • Serves as primary contact to residents, visitors, and vendors for the building.
  • Represents supervisor in routine/standard situations with various levels of personnel both internally and externally.
• Documents and Databases 20%
  • Proofs for spelling and grammar.
  • Enters information into spreadsheets and/or databases.
  • Compiles routine reports, statistics, tables, charts, etc. from readily available information.
    • Post, and at times create signage throughout the building regarding renovations, repair work, and upcoming events.
    • Types, copies and/or distributes reports, proposals, presentations, etc. 
    • Manage resident room and building access; responsible for maintaining key inventories for all apartment keys.
• Supervision 10%
  • Coordinates work of receptionists, program assistants, temporary/work-study students, etc.
  • Coordinates the hiring, training, supervision, scheduling, and evaluation of student workers.
• Accounting and Human Resources 10%
  • Reviews budget statements.
  • Prepares budget reports and spreadsheets.
  • Completes routine payroll actions.
  • Maintains inventory and orders supplies.
  • Processes a limited variety of routine HR transactions.
  • Provides information on HR policies and procedures.
• Event Coordination and Logistics 5%
  • Coordinates events which may include scheduling rooms and/or guest speaker and arranging for routine materials, technology, and refreshments.
  • Responsible for booking rentable common spaces in graduate housing.
• Website 5%
  • Coordinates content maintenance of websites and blogs.
• Miscellaneous 5%
  • Works on various projects as assigned by the Assistant Director of Housing Operations, Desk Services Manager, or Mail and Package Center Supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A high school diploma or equivalent required.
• 2 years of administrative support or other relevant experience required.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Intermediate knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, email, and database software programs is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent interpersonal communication, organization, and administrative skills.
• Experience working with diverse populations in a college setting.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern requires all staff and faculty to be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to limited exceptions. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 and Campus Updates website.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.