Programming Assistant

Opening Details

Williams College is a coeducational liberal arts institution located in the Berkshires of northwestern Massachusetts with access to Albany, Burlington (VT), Boston, New York City, and Montreal. Distinguished by a reputation for outstanding, inclusive teaching and scholarship, academic excellence, and exceptional alumni loyalty, the college is committed to building and supporting a diverse learning community of approximately 2,100 undergraduates.

The Programming Assistant is responsible for programmatic logistical coordination as a member of the Student Involvement & Events (SIE) team within the Office of Campus Life (OCL). Click here for more information on OCL.

Williams is committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty and staff. Our expectation is that the successful candidate will excel at working in a community that is broadly diverse with regard to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, and religion.

Applicants are encouraged to state in their cover letter what particular skills, strengths, and experiences they will bring to the position and the college, including their experience with and commitment to supporting diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities.


Responsibilities

The Programming Assistant position involves front-line coordination & execution of logistical support for student events on campus that are coordinated through OCL, as well as administrative support for three members of OCL’s SIE team. The position requires significant interaction & communication with students as well as with colleagues in several departments across campus, including but not limited to Facilities, Campus Safety, Dining Services, Dean of Students Office, Dean of the Faculty Office, the Office of Alumni Relations, and the Davis Center.

Specific responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• advise & assist student event planners with the details of their events;
• coordinate logistical arrangements for student events and OCL events, including supply orders & inventory, professional temp staff scheduling, work requests through Facilities, arranging large furniture moves through a local vendor, bracelet distribution for events with alcohol, and for larger programs, on-site execution of logistical support for the program in real-time;
• transport supplies and equipment to event sites and assist with set up for both indoor on campus and outdoor tent events;
• coordinate student event registration and all correlated communications with campus colleagues;
• hire, train, and supervise a team of professional temp staff for student event support, and track all relevant certifications;
• coordinate & execute annual senior class signature events, including budget management, in collaboration with class officers, OCL colleagues, the Office of Alumni Relations, the Dean of Students’ Office, and the Dean of the Faculty’s Office;
• coordinate the semesterly Super Stressbusters signature program during the final exam reading period, which serves over half of the student population;
• coordinate student tailgating registrations for the annual homecoming football game;
• day-to-day facilitation of the college’s room scheduler program;
• purchasing card reconciliations for student purchases;
• administrative support for the Associate Director and two Assistant Directors.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess:

• strong attention to detail & strong organization skills;
• strong people skills, a friendly and approachable demeanor, and the ability to calmly de-escalate difficult situations;
• experience with and commitment to supporting diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities;
• the ability to work independently with self-motivation & flexibility while at the same time the ability to work positively & collaboratively as a member of a highly-developed, enthusiastic professional team;
• proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite; understanding of internet for marketing and website updating (WordPress desirable); ability to quickly learn additional specialized college software/databases;
• high school diploma and a minimum of 2 years related experience, or equivalent education & experience

This is a year-round, hourly, 40 hours/week position. Typical hours are M-F, 8:30am-5pm; some evening & weekend hours will be required. The position is Band 18; pay begins at $17.50 / hour, commensurate with experience.

Review of applications will begin March 8, 2021 and will continue until the position is filled.


Conditions of Employment

Employment at Williams is contingent on the verification of background information submitted by the applicant, including the completion of a criminal record check, and education when applicable.


Equal Employment Opportunity

Beyond meeting fully its legal obligations for non-discrimination, Williams College is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn and thrive.