Administrative Assistant

Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design

The Center is part of the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials (SBIO), thus we have a strong focus on sustainability and natural packaging materials. More than four decades ago, William H. Sardo, Jr. Pallet and Container Laboratory was constructed to develop state-of-the-art technologies to improve the efficiency of global distribution by optimizing the unit load and packaging systems. Since its establishment, with industry and government support, Virginia Tech researchers have developed a reliability-based design and analysis methodology related to pallets and unit loads. We are always at the forefront of innovation; therefore, we are one of the few laboratories that are represented in various committees to develop the new version of ASTM, ISO, and ANSI standards. Being part of an academic institution, the education of future packaging professionals is one of our main missions. To fulfill this mission, we provide training to many undergraduate and graduate students to gain valuable industrial experience through incoming industrial projects; meanwhile, we organize short courses to members of the packaging industry.

Position Summary

The Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design is looking for a person with strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills. This individual will be responsible for:

• Updating the Center’s website including writing and creating a quarterly, web-based newsletter about the Center’s current research projects and students
• Promoting and managing industry short courses including email campaigns, food pickup, food and material orders, room reservations, attendee communication
• Managing the Director’s calendar and assisting with meeting scheduling
• Organizing communications including memberships, progress reports of graduate students, project documentation, writing articles, etc.
• Helping to schedule and coordinate the Center’s annual membership meeting
• Managing the Center’s social media accounts, including periodically posting interesting information or pictures about our students, interns, and projects
• Following up with suppliers and coordinating the purchasing of materials
• Creating Statement of Works and working with clients during project initiations
• Sending out invoices for testing projects and tracking incoming payments
• Sending follow-up surveys to clients after the completion of testing projects
• Proofreading scientific articles and marketing materials prior to publication
• Assisting the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials with drafting posts to showcase the success stories of faculty, staff and students and updating departmental social media (SBIO’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram).
• Assisting the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials with special projects such as designing recruitment and outreach materials and departmental special event fliers.

Excellent communication skills
Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality, meet deadlines and work with minimal supervision
Demonstrated excellent administrative support experience in a fast-paced, detail oriented, professional environment
Excellent interpersonal skills
Multiple years of experience with digital communications
Multiple years of experience with managing social media accounts
Multiple years of experience in finance and invoicing
Multiple years of experience in writing and proofreading scientific articles

Bachelor’s degree in communication, business, Criminal Justice, Law or a related field
Multiple years of work experience as an administrative assistant
Experience with proofreading scientific articles and dissertations
Experience with website updates
Experience working in a pallet or packaging testing laboratory
Experience with data analysis using PowerBI and PowerAutomate

3

Restricted

$35,438-$38,000, commensurate with experience

02/06/2023

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.