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Administrative Assistant II

University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI · Full time

Posted Oct 1, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you planned a recurring meeting or event, like a monthly town hall. What did you track to make it run smoothly?

What they are checking: Event logistics skills, since coordinating monthly Town Hall meetings is a named duty.

Tell me about a time you noticed an office process that wasted time and fixed it.

What they are checking: Initiative toward operational improvements, which the posting names as part of the role.

How do you handle confidential information you overhear or see in a chair's office?

What they are checking: Discretion, which is expected of anyone working close to department leadership.

What would you do

A faculty member is upset that their reimbursement was sent back for missing receipts. How do you handle that conversation?

What they are checking: Ability to hold to policy while staying helpful and calm with busy, senior people.

You would supervise student office assistants. How would you train a new student and keep them reliable during finals week?

What they are checking: Whether they can lead and schedule student workers whose availability changes constantly.

As the front desk contact for the Chair's Office, how would you handle a visitor who arrives without an appointment and wants to see the Chair?

What they are checking: Professional judgment at the front desk and protecting leadership's time without being rude.

Several people ask you for urgent help at the same time. How do you decide what to do first?

What they are checking: Prioritization under pressure in a busy shared office.

About the work

You would process expense reimbursements for 14 clinics. Walk me through how you would check a reimbursement before submitting it.

What they are checking: Attention to detail with university policy, since errors in reimbursements create delays and audit problems.

How do you keep track of timelines and deliverables for several department projects at once?

What they are checking: Organization and follow-through, which the role needs to support the Assistant Administrative Director.

What tools have you used for expenses, scheduling and tracking projects, and how fast do you learn new systems?

What they are checking: Comfort with office software and how quickly they would get up to speed on university systems.

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The full job description

As published by University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process. Job Category: University Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Administrative Assistant II Job Summary: The Administrative Assistant II provides administrative support to the Chair’s Office within the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH). Serving as a primary point of contact, this position welcomes and assists visitors, faculty, and staff, while also managing expense reimbursement processing for 14 of the department’s 18 clinics. As a member of the Chair’s Office team, the Administrative Assistant II coordinates logistics for monthly Town Hall meetings, supports departmental projects by tracking timelines and deliverables, and assists with day-to-day office operations, including ordering supplies and managing mailing and packaging needs. The position also oversees student office assistants, coordinates front desk coverage, and leads student projects to ensure efficient office operations. In addition, this role supports initiatives led by the Assistant Administrative Director, contributing to the successful coordination and execution of departmental priorities, operational improvements, and strategic initiatives across DFMCH. • T his position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. This position is expected to work onsite Tuesday through Friday and work remotely on Monday. • Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Candidates who demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities will be given first consideration: • Knowledge of purchasing and expense reimbursement processes, including preparing, submitting, and tracking purchases, invoices and reimbursement requests in accordance with organizational policies and procedures. • Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally and effectively with audiences, including faculty, staff, senior leaders, and other members of the campus community. • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to prioritize responsibilities and maintain accuracy with frequent interruptions. • Demonstrated time management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities, adapt to interruptions, and consistently meet deadlines. • Demonstrated problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify issues, analyze information, develop practical solutions, and exercise sound judgment. Key Job Responsibilities: • Co-trains and oversees student workers on front desk duties, including but not limited to, coordinating front desk coverage, mail in/out, answering phones, helping with assigned projects, and processing building access/key requests. • Reviews expense reimbursement requests for completeness, follows up on missing documentation or information, and prepares and submits reimbursements in Oracle for processing. • Schedules logistics and secures resources for meetings, conferences, travel, and work unit operations • Serves as a first point of contact for individuals and groups, provides basic organizational information via phone, in person and through other communication mediums, and routes more complex inquiries to the appropriate entities • Collects, analyzes, and prepares various communication materials from established sources utilizing technology mediums • Sends, receives, copies, and distributes communications to the appropriate entities according to established policies and procedures under general supervision • Maintains established methods and organizational systems directed at the maintenance of electronic/physical records related to work operations according to established policies and procedures Department: School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Administration – Department Office The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) at the University of Wisconsin is a leading clinical department within the School of Medicine and Public Health. DFMCH is dedicated to advancing patient care, education, and research. Our 18 clinics provide primary care to more than 170,000 patients, yielding over 375,000 patient visits annually. Each year, we train more than 160 residents (at sponsored and academic partner sites) and 300 medical students. Learn more: https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/ . Compensation: The starting hourly wage for the position is $23.00 per hour; but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage and SMPH University Staff Benefits Flyer 2026 . Required Qualifications: • Experience coordinating meetings and providing administrative support for projects, schedules, and departmental initiatives. • Experience working in an administrative setting and/or medical office environment. Preferred Qualifications: • Experience using Oracle software, including the ability to navigate the system, enter and retrieve data, and process transactions accurately. • Experience using Smartsheet to create, maintain, and track spreadsheets, reports, workflows, and project-related information. • Knowledge of purchasing and expense reimbursement processes, including preparing, submitting, and tracking purchases, invoices and reimbursement requests in accordance with organizational policies and procedures. Education: H.S. Diploma preferred. How to Apply: For the best experience completing your application, we recommend using Chrome or Firefox as your web browser. To apply for this position, select either “I am a current employee” or “I am not a current employee” under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials. Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload the following documents in that field, either as a single combined file or as multiple files in the same upload area. Failure to submit the required documents will result in no longer being considered for the position. • Cover letter required • Resume required Your cover letter should address how your training and experience aligns with the required and preferred qualifications listed above. Application reviewers will rely on these written materials to determine which applicants move forward in the process. References will be requested from final candidates. All applicants will be notified once the search concludes and a candidate is selected. University sponsorship is not available for this position, including transfers of sponsorship and TN visas. The selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring their continuous 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 appointment. This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility. If you are selected for this position you must provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work. The department will not be able to support a request for a J-1 waiver. If you choose to pursue a waiver and apply for our position, neither the UW nor UWMF will reimburse you for your legal or waiver fees. Contact Information: Paige Steinert, paige.steinert@fammed.wisc.edu , 608-890-1740 Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information. Institutional Statement on Diversity: Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website . To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you. Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). 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. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department .

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