Veterans Center Office Assistant 3

Central Washington University is recruiting an Office Assistant 3 to join our Veterans Center team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a salary, depending on experience, from $36,336 - $47,988 annually plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~10,000 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for the seventh time in eight years, CWU is a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

The Role:

The Veterans Center Office Assistant performs a variety of complex clerical assignments such as preparing reports and reviewing records, extracting and compiling records and/or data, and composing/responding to frequent inquiries requiring substantive knowledge of office/departmental services and procedures. This position establishes, maintains, and monitors record keeping, filing, and data base systems. The Veterans Center Office Assistant prepares forms, letters, record entries and other departmental material and verifies and processes fiscal documents and/or financial records. Veterans Center employees directly affect the vision, mission, and values of Central Washington University by supporting a campus environment that ensures the safety and physical well-being of all students and by promoting access and opportunity for all students. All employees are expected to support CWU's commitment to diversity and to bring and support inclusion into the university environment.

Veterans Center Office Support:
- Respond to routine inquiries concerning office/departmental services and procedures. Following established guidelines, explain and apply knowledge of department administrative policies and procedures to track the processing of GI Bill tuition and fee payments and explain complex rules, policies, and operating procedures for both internal and external clients.
- Responsible for budget reconciliation for the Veterans Center. Compiles, reviews, and verifies fiscal reports, purchasing, inventory, and equipment usage for accuracy; investigates and corrects errors to ensure compliance with established procedures and policies; uses basic arithmetic to perform computations.
- Cross-check, verify, and tabulate -tuition and fee payments from the VA; check incoming forms and documents for required information; extract and compile statistical data from routine forms and letters; assemble reports; prepare memos; proofread material making corrections for sentence structure, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
- Assist with receiving/recording required student document submissions and updating their correct student group within student information system. Updates student groups when student status changes.
- Maintains access to VA systems by completing annual School Certifying Official (SCO) training.
- Resolve problems, exercise discretion regarding written or telephone communications serve as liaison between the Director, Outreach Coordinator, Program Coordinator with students, departments, faculty, administrators, staff and/or other institutions.
- Receive, identify and distribute a high volume of electronic and paper documents. Receives, sorts, and distributes mail, messages, records, office supplies, and other materials.
- Produce forms, letters, record entries, and other departmental material.
- Maintain and monitor established record-keeping, filing, and database systems.
- Perform complex word processing tasks such as merging and sorting, integrating text with graphics, spreadsheet, and database files, uploading/downloading, and creating footnotes and outlines; uses spreadsheet and database software to develop and maintain records; uses basic statistical software packages; performs simple computer inquiry programming; uses graphics software and recommends appropriate display of information.
- Assists with supporting department led or co-sponsored events.
- Expected to attend and participate in department and divisional training events.
- Coordinate with other departmental staff members on administrative practices and procedures. Monitor and process spending requests within the department.
- Order, receive, and maintain department inventory.

- Perform other duties as assigned.

• Demonstrated clerical experience with knowledge of office procedures and practices; business management practices, communication and correspondence practices and interpreting policies/procedures.
• Experience working in student services or a customer service setting.
• Strong interpersonal, writing and speaking skills.
• Experience with culturally and economically diverse populations.
• Experience or training that demonstrates the ability to use computers, Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet and/or similar software applications to produce written correspondence, create and maintain spreadsheets, and receive and respond to e-mail inquiries, and tasks.
• Experience maintaining departmental administrative records (both paper and electronic) such as updating, storage, accessibility, accountability, and archiving or disposal in accordance with applicable policies and laws.
• Ability to work conscientiously and accurately with large volumes of data.
• Demonstrated willingness and/or experience working with students and/or co-workers from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and experiences.
• OR applicable combination of education and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of the unique needs of veterans, service members, and their families in a student center environment.
• Military Service: time served with honorable discharge or currently serving.
• Skill in using database software, such as PeopleSoft or Financial Management System, to create tables, forms and reports, run queries and import data from other sources.
• General fiscal experience, training and/or education that demonstrates the ability to monitor and reconcile budgets, budgeting, travel, compile and interpret fiscal data and provide related reports.
• Demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for students through various activities.
• Life experiences that demonstrate an ability and willingness to contribute to CWU's commitment to inclusion and diversity.

Competencies

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Diversity: Recognizes the value of diversity and helps create environment that supports and embraces diversity.

Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. This may be the job for you!

Salary: This position is based on the range 34 of the Washington State Classification Listing, which has a minimum annual salary of $36,336 and maximum annual salary of $47,988. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Schedule/Appointment: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm (1 hour lunch)

Working Conditions: Work is performed in an indoor office setting with frequent in-person interactions. It is essential to be able to remain at a desk/computer workstation for prolonged periods of time, perform extensive data entry and other computer-related tasks and create/maintain filing systems for departmental records. Some evening or weekend work and/or occasional travel may be required.

Benefits: CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance, along with vacation and sick leave plans depending on employment classification. For additional information please visit Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

An employee of CWU may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program if the employee has student loans. To learn more, visit: https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/public-service-loan-forgiveness-program.