Peanut Breeding Program Project Assistant

About the role

The Peanut Breeding Program Project Assistant provides advanced administrative, operational, and clerical support for the University of Georgia Peanut Breeding Program under the direction of Dr. Bill Branch. The selected individual serves as a key support professional responsible for coordinating daily administrative functions that contribute to the successful operation of a nationally recognized agricultural research program.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive administrative support for the Peanut Breeding Program, including preparation, formatting, proofreading, and submission of manuscripts, journal articles, cultivar registrations, grant proposals, abstracts, reports, correspondence, presentations, and other research-related materials.
• Cookbook
• Coordinate manuscript submissions through online journal management systems such as Manuscript Central and track submission progress and deadlines.
• Perform data entry and assist with organizing research data for analysis.
• Prepare annual plot plans, PowerPoint presentations, and supporting documentation for meetings, presentations, and research activities.
• Manage and prioritize correspondence, including drafting emails, letters, and other communications on behalf of Dr. Branch.
• Maintain organized and confidential files, records, and databases in both digital and physical formats.
• Avoid
• Identify administrative challenges and recommend solutions that improve workflow efficiency and office operations.
• Manage day-to-day financial and operational activities for assigned faculty and program accounts, including processing payment requests, purchase orders, travel authorizations, expense statements, and related financial documentation in accordance with university policies and procedures.
• Review bi-weekly payroll and leave requests for accuracy and approval.
• Maintain and reconcile purchasing card records and supporting documentation for the Peanut Breeding Program.
• Process deposits and assist with financial tracking and reporting as needed.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for visitors, phone calls, and general inquiries related to the Peanut Breeding Program.
• Maintain digital records and administrative documentation and coordinate departmental vehicle mileage reporting to ensure compliance with university reporting requirements.
• Provide administrative assistance to faculty and the Senior Business Manager on special projects, departmental initiatives, and program activities as assigned.
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as needed in support of the administrative and operational functions of the Peanut Breeding Program.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Preferred summary

Skills

Excellent organizational skills
Computer proficiency to include Microsoft 365 and digital services such as DocuSign and PDF editing
Previous experience tracking project budgets and writing project summaries

Physical Demands

• Work behind a desk for extended periods to complete written reports.
• Driving to perform job related tasks.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please include CV, References and a Cover Letter.