University of Waterloo

Administrative Officer

University of Waterloo$85K — $106K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Undergraduate degree in administration, management, international relations, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
  • 5-8 years of progressive administrative experience in a large, complex organization, preferably higher education or research-intensive environment.
  • Demonstrated experience in financial coordination, calendar and workflow management, and executive-level support.
  • Experience supporting multi-stakeholder or international projects is an asset.
  • Proficiency in financial tracking, reconciliations, and enterprise-level tools (e.g., Workday, Concur).

Responsibilities

  • Provide administrative leadership for the Global Futures Networks and Office, ensuring efficient day-to-day operations.
  • Manage office supplies, inventory, and evolving space requirements.
  • Support coordination of convening activities and interdisciplinary initiatives.
  • Maintain oversight of documentation, scheduling, and action tracking across initiatives.
  • Assist in managing confidential files and internal correspondence.
  • Liaise with academic units and external partners for collaborative projects.
  • Promote operational efficiency and a service-oriented administrative culture.

Benefits

  • Professional development support to advance your career.
  • Collaborative and inclusive workplace environment.
  • Access to health and wellness resources.
  • Involvement in high-impact initiatives spanning multiple faculties.
  • Opportunities for involvement with diverse teams and external partners.
Full Job Description
Job Requisition ID:


Time Type:
Full time

Employee Group:
Staff

Job Category:
Administrative Support

Employment Type:
Temporary

Department:
Office of the President - Global Future Networks - Operations

Hiring Range:
$85,399.86 - $106,749.82

Posting Information:

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

The internal posting deadline for this position is Thursday, March 5 at 11:59PM
Term: 20 months
This position is being offered as a Secondment or contract opportunity.

Job Description:

Primary Purpose

Reporting to the Executive Director, Global Futures, the Administrative Officer (AO) is responsible for the day-to-day operations, coordination, and administrative oversight of the Global Futures Networks (GFN) and the Global Futures Office (GFO). This high-impact initiative spans multiple faculties, academic support units (ASUs), and external partners, requiring exceptional professionalism, discretion, and the ability to manage complexity in a fast-paced, evolving environment. The role supports planning, financial tracking, information flow, local and international engagement logistics, and executive coordination to ensure effective operation and delivery of the GFN's core activities in convening, connecting, supporting, and propelling the Global Futures through catalytic funding (i.e. the Global Futures Fund).

The Administrative Officer works closely with the Executive Director, GFN, faculty leads and staff, ASU leads and staff, researchers, external collaborators, and senior university leadership. The role manages information and workflows across multiple Global Futures Initiatives that comprise the GFN and provides operational continuity, oversight of financial and administrative processes, and responsive support in a confidential and professional setting.

Key Accountabilities

Support and Operational Leadership
  • Provides administrative leadership to ensure smooth day-to-day operations of the GFN, GFO, and Global Futures funding and affiliated Networks.
  • Manages and maintains office supplies and inventory.
  • As space needs evolve for the GFO, manages the requirements and move to expanded physical space and related functions to ensure a smooth transition.
  • Supports the Executive Director and other staff within the GFO in coordinating convening activities, collaborations, and interdisciplinary initiatives.
  • Maintains high-level oversight of documentation, scheduling, and action tracking across the GFN and various governance and administrative bodies.
  • Assists with the management of confidential files, internal correspondence, issue escalation, and resolution.
  • Liaises across academic units, institutes, and external partners to support planning and implementation of collaborative projects and strategic priorities.
  • Ensures strong working knowledge of university policies, governance structures, and compliance expectations, acts as a trusted resource to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Promotes continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and a service-oriented administrative culture


Financial Coordination
  • Assists the Executive Director in monitoring operating and project budgets, reviewing expenditures, and generating financial reports.
  • Supports administration of Global Futures funding, ensuring compliance with both internal financial policies and external sponsor requirements where applicable.
  • Works with a resource person from Finance to support the scheduled disbursement and reporting of the Global Futures funding, in accordance with institutional policies and practices.
  • Processes invoices, travel reimbursements, and procurement requests while maintaining meticulous documentation.
  • Tracks and reconciles multiple accounts, including P-cards, expense claims, and cost recoveries.
  • Flags financial risks or inconsistencies and recommends corrective actions where necessary.


Administrative and Information Management
  • Coordinates complex calendars, meetings, and logistics for internal and external engagements, including visits and multi-network collaboration.
  • Responsible for the calendar of the Executive Director, Global Futures Networks.
  • Prepares briefing materials and agendas and ensures timely follow-up on action items.
  • Supports the documentation and management of governance processes, including advisory board meetings, proposal reviews, and reporting.
  • Maintains digital and physical filing systems, including those related to client and stakeholder relationships, in accordance with university records retention guidelines.
  • Coordinates internal project timelines and monitors administrative progress against key milestones.
  • Provides project-level support for reporting to funders, senior leadership, and external partners.


Communications and Event Support
  • Assists in drafting internal and external communications, including announcements, updates, briefing notes, and formal correspondence.
  • Supports the coordination and execution of key events, meetings, and workshops hosted by the GFN.
  • Coordinates logistics for travel and delegations in alignment with institutional protocols and priorities.
  • Collaborates with communications staff to ensure event logistics and communications align with university standards and GFN priorities.
  • Acts as a point of contact for inquiries related to the Fund and Networks, ensuring professionalism, discretion, and responsiveness.


Required Qualifications

Education
  • Undergraduate degree in administration, management, international relations, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience
  • 5-8 years of progressive administrative experience in a large, complex organization, preferably in higher education or a research-intensive environment.
  • Demonstrated experience in financial coordination, calendar and workflow management, and executive-level support.
  • Experience supporting multi-stakeholder or international projects is considered an asset.


Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
  • Superior organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills with proven attention to detail.
  • High degree of discretion, tact, and professionalism in managing sensitive and confidential matters.
  • Strong working knowledge of university administrative systems, policies, and governance structures.
  • Proficiency in financial tracking, reconciliations, and the use of enterprise-level tools (e.g., Workday, Concur, Unit4, Microsoft 365).
  • Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and the ability to draft and format professional documents and correspondence.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, competing deadlines, and a wide range of relationships.
  • Comfortable working independently as well as collaboratively in cross-functional teams.
  • Adaptability and resourcefulness in high-change, fast-paced environments.

About University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo is a public research university with a main campus in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is on 404 hectares of land adjacent to "Uptown" Waterloo and Waterloo Park. The university also operates three satellite campuses and four affiliated university colleges. The university offers academic programs administered by six faculties and thirteen faculty-based schools. Waterloo operates the largest post-secondary co-operative education program in the world, with over 20,000 undergraduate students enrolled in the university's co-op program. Waterloo is a member of the U15, a group of research-intensive universities in Canada. The institution originates from the Waterloo College Associate Faculties, established on 4 April 1956; a semi-autonomous entity of Waterloo College, which was an affiliate of the University of Western Ontario. This entity formally separated from Waterloo College and was incorporated as a university with the passage of the University of Waterloo Act by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1959. It was established to fill the need to train engineers and technicians for Canada's growing postwar economy. It grew substantially over the next decade, adding a faculty of arts in 1960, and the College of Optometry of Ontario, which moved from Toronto in 1967. The university is a co-educational institution, with approximately 36,000 undergraduate and 6,200 postgraduate students enrolled there in 2020. Alumni and former students of the university can be found across Canada and in over 150 countries; with a number of award winners, government officials, and business leaders having been associated with Waterloo. Waterloo's varsity teams, known as the Waterloo Warriors, compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the U Sports.
Learn more about University of Waterloo

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