Human Resources

Administrative Aide

Apply now Job No: 25273RP
Department: CFO & Vice President for Admin
Work Type: Union
Location: Main Campus (Houghton, MI)
Full Time / Part Time: Full Time
Categories: Administrative/Business/Professional, Office/Clerical Support
Applications Close:

Ensured Consideration Date: 

Sub Department: A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum

 

Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological research university founded in 1885 in Houghton. Our rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Research focus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive, environment, and aerospace.

The area’s waters, forests, and snowfall support year-round recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and paddling. The University is an integral part of the region, supported by a friendly and welcoming community that takes pride in being a true college town. We embrace our size, climate, sense of adventure, and originality.

Summary

Michigan Technological University seeks an Administrative Aide for our A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum to provide exceptional customer service and professional administrative support for museum operations, including gift shop retail management, visitor services, promotional flyers creation, social media management, and student worker supervision. This position serves as the primary point of contact for museum visitors, manages daily gift shop operations and inventory, supervises student staff, and performs office administrative functions to ensure a welcoming, educational, and fun museum experience for diverse audiences. Availability for rotating weekend hours, Saturdays for September through May, and Saturdays and Sundays for June through August, and occasional evening hours for special events required.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

1. Provide excellent customer service to all museum visitors and ensure a welcoming, inclusive environment.
2. Manage and track day-to-day operations of the museum gift shop, including sales/returns/exchanges, invoicing, deposits, inventory, stocking and display upkeep.
3. Manage and maintain museum social media accounts, across multiple platforms, to promote exhibits, programs, events and gift shop merchandise.
4. Support museum communications through photography, graphic design, and preparation of digital and print materials.
5. Supervise and train student workers who provide support for museum operations, visitor services, the gift shop, and social media content, while providing them ongoing guidance, instruction, and performance feedback.
6. Provide administrative and financial support for museum staff, including handling transactions, maintaining records, and coordinating with University offices.
7. Operate and maintain standard office equipment including computers, printers, copiers, scanners, point-of-sale systems, credit card processing equipment, and photography equipment.
8. Available to work a variable schedule Monday through Saturday, September through May; and also Sundays, June through August.
9. Assist with museum programs, events, and exhibit openings, including occasional evenings.
10. Strictly follow museum security protocols and procedures.
11. Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work, actively engaging in University continuous improvement initiatives.
12. Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.
13. Perform other duties and assist with special projects as assigned.

 

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

• High school diploma or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired

Required Experience

• Two years office/clerical experience, including experience using personal computers and software office suite packages (Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite)
• Two years experience in a customer service or a retail setting
• Experience creating graphical content for use in promotional material, educational material or for social media
• Experience with cash handling and point-of-sale systems
• Experience supervising, training, and providing guidance to student staff

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Four years office/clerical experience
• Four years experience in a customer service or a retail setting
• Four years experience using personal computers and software office suite packages (Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite)
• Six months experience creating graphical content for use in promotional material, educational material or for social media
• Six months experience with cash handling, and point-of-sale systems
• Six months experience supervising, training, and providing guidance to student staff
• Associate's degree in Business Administration, Museum Studies, Communications, Marketing, or related field
• Experience coordinating special events or group tours
• Experience using advanced features of spreadsheet applications including creating formulas, charts, tables, and managing worksheets with multiple formulas
• Experience with retail inventory management software
• Experience working in a museum, cultural institution, or higher education environment
• Experience with graphic design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) or Canva
• Experience with photography, photo editing, and video creation for social media
• Experience providing educational tours to the public
• Experience with social media management tools and analytics platforms
• Experience creating digital marketing content and campaigns

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, customer service, and oral/written communication skills, including knowledge of proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, organizing and prioritizing multiple work assignments in a dynamic environment with frequent interruptions to meet deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative to solve problems and make sound decisions
• Demonstrated ability to work with accuracy and attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team and contribute to the overall smooth operation of a service environment
• Demonstrated ability to create a display, an exhibit, or promotional material in an attractive and informative manner
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries and work harmoniously with diverse groups of people, including but not limited to customers and coworkers
• Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe work environment

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Demonstrated graphic design skills with ability to create professional, visually appealing promotional materials
• Knowledge of current social media best practices, trends, and platform algorithms
• Ability to analyze social media metrics and adjust strategies accordingly
• Knowledge of museum operations, exhibit practices, or cultural heritage preservation
• Knowledge of LEAN and other continuous improvement processes
• Photography and videography skills for content creation
• Knowledge about geology, minerals, mineral collecting, lapidary arts, mineral retail market

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

 WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; talk or hear; and use hands to handle or feel objects.
• The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms; use rolling and stationary step ladders; and use the pallet jack.
• Work in a building without environmental controls, weather permitting.
• Walk outside in various weather conditions between two buildings
• Work outside, weather permitting, in the outdoor rock garden and the copper pavilion
• The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• The employee may be required to lift up to 40 pounds or more with assistance.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color and peripheral vision; and the ability to adjust focus.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training:
• Employee Safety Overview
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Data Security Training
• Annual Title IX Training

Background Check:
Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.
Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)

1

FLSA Status

Exempt

Appointment Term

12 months

Shift

1st Shift

Pay Rate/Salary

Contractual. External candidates will receive the minimum amount ($18.04/hr).

Title of Position Supervisor

Museum Assistant Director

Posting Type

 Internal & External

Dependent on Funding

 No

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

UAW Posting 1/7/2026 – 01/13/2026
External applicants are encouraged to apply, however internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal UAW Posting dates.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations during Michigan Tech’s hiring process please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or hr-help@mtu.edu.


Other Conditions of Employment:
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. Michigan Tech will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the Michigan Tech Public Safety.

In compliance with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) and its implementing regulations (34 CFR Part 86), Michigan Tech is committed to maintaining a drugfree campus environment and actively promoting the health and safety of its community. Find our notice that outlines the University's policies, legal sanctions, health risks, and available support resources related to the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures* (minimum requirements)

Advertised: Eastern Standard Time
Applications Close:

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