Position Title:Executive Administrative Assistant
Job Group:Professional & Scientific
Required Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor's degree and 3 years of related experience
Job Description:
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University is seeking applications for an Executive Assistant to the Dean.
The Executive Assistant serves as a key liaison between the Dean's Office and a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including the President's Office, Provost's Office, other deans, directors, department chairs, support staff, industry and government representatives, alumni, and the public. This role regularly manages sensitive, confidential, and high-profile matters requiring discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism.
This position provides comprehensive executive-level support to the Dean by managing and prioritizing workflow, coordinating schedules, preparing meeting materials, arranging travel, and tracking deadlines and commitments. The Executive Assistant responds to inquiries on behalf of the Dean, screens and manages communications, resolves a variety of issues, and ensures the efficient operation of the Dean's Office. The position may also supervise selected office personnel and support special projects and reports by gathering, analyzing, and summarizing information and providing recommendations to support decision-making.
The successful candidate will be highly organized, self-motivated, and able to work independently with minimal supervision. The ability to prioritize competing responsibilities, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and adapt to changing priorities is essential. Strong written and verbal communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to maintain confidentiality are required.
Example of Duties
Provides high-level administrative and executive support to the Dean, exercising independent judgment, discretion, and attention to detail in managing complex and sensitive matters.
Manages and prioritizes the Dean's calendar, including scheduling meetings, events, and commitments, and coordinating requests for appointments to ensure alignment with institutional priorities.
Coordinates meeting and travel logistics, including preparing agendas, briefing materials, and related documentation to ensure the Dean is fully prepared for engagements.
Serves as a primary liaison between the Dean's Office and internal and external stakeholders, including university leadership, department chairs, faculty, staff, alumni, industry partners, government representatives, and the public.
Screens, prioritizes, and manages incoming communications (phone, email, and correspondence), ensuring timely and appropriate responses while protecting confidentiality and exercising sound judgment.
Drafts, edits, and coordinates professional correspondence, reports, presentations, and other materials on behalf of the Dean.
Gathers, compiles, analyzes, and summarizes data and information for reports, meetings, presentations, and special projects to support informed decision-making.
Plans, coordinates, and supports college events, meetings, and special initiatives.
Coordinates and facilitates responses to sensitive and confidential issues requiring the Dean's attention, providing recommendations and follow-up as needed.
Represents the Dean's Office as delegated, responding to inquiries on behalf of the Dean and ensuring alignment with college and university priorities.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience providing executive-level administrative support to senior leaders such as deans, provosts, vice presidents, department chairs, or other administrators in a higher education environment.
Proven experience managing complex executive calendars, coordinating travel arrangements, and balancing competing priorities while ensuring effective use of leadership time.
Experience drafting executive correspondence, reports, and meeting materials while exercising discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information.
Experience building and maintaining effective working relationships with stakeholders, including faculty, staff, administrators, students, alumni, community partners, and external organizations.
Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience, including assigning and overseeing work, and providing guidance and support to staff.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.
Application Instructions:To apply for this position, please click on "Apply" and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Letter of Application/Cover Letter
Why Choose Iowa State University?Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental, as well as:
Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
Life insurance and long-term disability
Flexible Spending Accounts
Various voluntary benefits and discounts
Employee Assistance Program
Wellbeing program
Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.
If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu, or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.
Appointment Type:Regular
Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period
Time Type:Full time
Pay Grade:PS808
Original Posting Date: June 10, 2026
Posting Close Date:June 17, 2026
Job Requisition Number:R19387
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.
Current employees (excluding temporary, student and graduate assistants) must apply through the Workday Internal Careers Hub (https://www.myworkday.com/isu/d/task/2998$46522.htmld?reloadToken=892f884ef9c2fa7e5e6257ecf4e9e942f7aa1a12df75918c6ce41bc78e123167) .
By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University (http://www.iastate.edu/) attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive?land-grant?mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.
Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.
All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university's verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
If you have questions about the application process please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485. Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email employment@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942.
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.
