Administrative Assistant - West Plains

About the role

The Missouri State Public Defender System (MSPD) seeks an Administrative Assistant I to support the mission of providing high-quality legal representation to those who cannot afford counsel. This role serves as the organizational backbone of a district office, coordinating administrative functions, supporting leadership and staff, and acting as a liaison between the office and internal departments, courts, and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Serve as office manager, coordinating and overseeing daily administrative operations
• Provide administrative and clerical support to the District Defender, Deputy District Defender, and office staff
• Prepare letters, memos, reports, and other documents using various software programs
• Cook up and schedule logistics for court reporters, expert witnesses, and other case-related needs
• Maintain filing systems and ensure proper records retention and timely archiving
• Track office expenditures and assist in monitoring the local office budget
• Oversee purchasing of office supplies in accordance with MSPD policies and budget guidelines
• Coordinate maintenance and repair of office equipment and manage replacement of non-functioning items
• Manage and support special projects, including serving as a project manager when needed
• Act as a liaison with MSPD departments, courts, vendors, and external agencies
• Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion
• Collaborate with colleagues across the Missouri State Public Defender System
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• A high school diploma or equivalent
• One year of professional administrative or office management experience involving supervision or high-level administrative duties, or five years of progressively responsible clerical or office experience
• Post-secondary education may substitute for required experience on a month-for-month basis
• Preferred skills and abilities include working knowledge of office practices, procedures, and equipment, proficiency with computer systems and software, strong organizational skills, ability to prepare reports, track data, and perform basic business math computations, strong attention to detail, ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines, effective communication and interpersonal skills, ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and maintain confidentiality, ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• One year of professional administrative or office management experience involving supervision or high-level administrative duties, or five years of progressively responsible clerical or office experience
• Preferred skills and abilities include working knowledge of office practices, procedures, and equipment, proficiency with computer systems and software, strong organizational skills, ability to prepare reports, track data, and perform basic business math computations, strong attention to detail, ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines, effective communication and interpersonal skills, ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and maintain confidentiality, ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment

Skills

• Working knowledge of office practices, procedures, and equipment
• Proficiency with computer systems and software, including word processing and spreadsheets
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage and maintain records and filing systems
• Ability to prepare reports, track data, and perform basic business math computations
• Strong attention to detail and ability to review documents for accuracy and completeness
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and maintain confidentiality
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment

Benefits

This is a full-time position based in West Plains. The successful candidate will receive competitive compensation and State of Missouri benefits that include a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Learn more about benefits at https://publicdefender.mo.gov/employment/working-for-mspd/benefits/. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found https://pers.oa.mo.gov/applicants.

The salary listed reflects the base pay rate. Verified prior state service, subject to applicable eligibility requirements, may increase total compensation.

Contact Human Resources at Human.Resources@mspd.mo.gov for further inquiries.