Position Summary

Are you an experienced administrative professional who enjoys being at the center of a dynamic academic environment? The School of Art and Design is seeking an Administrative Support Coordinator to serve as a key operational resource supporting the School’s academic, faculty, fiscal, and student-facing functions. This position coordinates complex day-to-day operations across a vibrant School serving approximately 1300 students and a broad range of disciplines, from graphic design and interior architecture to art history, multimedia, painting, sculpture, and more.

Working closely with the School Director and campus partners, the Administrative Support Coordinator independently manages multiple priorities, interprets university policies and procedures, and helps ensure critical academic and administrative processes move forward accurately and efficiently. This is an opportunity for a highly organized professional to take ownership of meaningful operational work and contribute directly to the success of faculty, students, and academic programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Academic & School Operations: Coordinate the School’s daily academic and administrative operations, including academic scheduling, instructional support, reporting, and other processes essential to the delivery of academic programs.
• Faculty Personnel Coordination: Manage faculty personnel transactions and coordinate evaluation processes, including retention, tenure and promotion (RTP), periodic evaluations, post-tenure review, appointments, and related documentation.
• Budget & Fiscal Administration: Monitor instructional and student payroll budgets, track and analyze expenditures, prepare fiscal reports, coordinate financial transactions, and recommend adjustments based on operational and instructional needs.
• Student & Program Support: Coordinate administrative processes related to undergraduate and graduate students, including admissions, major declarations, application reviews, academic inquiries, and sensitive student matters requiring cross-campus coordination.
• Workflow & Staff Coordination: Establish administrative priorities, coordinate concurrent projects and deadlines, and provide lead work direction to student employees to support efficient and consistent School operations.

Why Join Us?

• Be Central to School Operations: Play an integral role in keeping the academic, faculty, fiscal, and student operations of a complex School moving forward.
• Work in a Creative Environment: Support a vibrant community of artists, designers, educators, scholars, and students across a wide range of creative disciplines.
• Build Broad Higher Education Expertise: Develop experience across academic administration, faculty personnel processes, budgeting, policy interpretation, and student services.
• Take Ownership of Your Work: Exercise independent judgment and problem-solving while managing meaningful processes with School-wide impact.
• Support Academic Success: Contribute directly to the programs and operations that enable faculty to teach, students to learn, and the School of Art and Design to thrive.

Position Information

PROBATIONARY

• This is a full-time (1.0 time-base), benefits eligible, permanent/probationary position.
• This position is designated non-exempt under FLSA and is eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs.
• This position is approved for one day of telecommuting after the one-year probationary period.

As part of the California State University (CSU) system, San Diego State University helps power one of the largest and most impactful public university systems in the nation. See what it’s like to work at the CSU—watch our video and imagine your future here: Working at the CSU.

Department Summary

The School of Art and Design is a comprehensive academic unit within the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across multiple disciplines, including Applied Design, Art Education, Art History, Graphic Design, Interior Architecture, Multimedia, Painting and Printmaking, and Sculpture. The School supports approximately 1300 undergraduate and graduate students, employs approximately 16 tenured/tenure-track faculty, more than 50 temporary faculty and teaching associates, and maintains active instructional, exhibition, and community engagement programs. The administrative office provides operational, academic, fiscal, personnel, and student support services that ensure the effective delivery of the School's instructional mission. The School is staffed by administrative, technical, and information technology professionals who coordinate academic operations, fiscal management, facilities, technology, and student services.

For more information regarding the School of Art and Design, click here.

Education and Experience

Entry to this classification requires a fully functional knowledge of and skill in standard office procedures and practices, as well as an ability to understand and operate in a variety of organizational structures. Additionally, incumbents are expected to have a thorough knowledge of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation and be able to clearly communicate orally and in writing. Some positions may require a knowledge of business mathematics beyond basic arithmetic. The ability to use and quickly learn new office support technology systems and software packages is also a prerequisite.

These qualifications would normally be obtained through a high school program, technical/vocational program, or their equivalents combined with several years of related office work experience.

Key Qualifications

• Experience working in Higher Education or related field
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience managing complex calendars and schedules.
• Experience managing spreadsheets and analyzing data. 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to provide a welcoming and professional first point of contact for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Compensation and Benefits

San Diego State University offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth.

Compensation:
Step placement will be determined based on relevant qualifications and professional experience, in alignment with the department’s budget and equity guidelines.

• Initial step placement is not expected to exceed Step 1 ($4,367) per month
• Salary step placement for internal applicants will follow the CSUEU Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• CSU Classification Salary Range: $4,367 – $6,362 per month (Step 1 – Step 20).
• Future increases, including step advancements, are subject to contract negotiations.

Full Benefits Package Includes:

• Generous Time Off: 15 paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
• Retirement: CalPERS pension plan with retiree healthcare, and reciprocal agreements with other California public retirement systems, including the UC.
• Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision options at low or no cost.
• Education Support: CSU tuition fee waiver for employees and eligible dependents.
• Optional Offerings: FlexCash, life and disability insurance, legal and pet plans.
• Campus & Community: Access to the library, campus events, employee groups, and volunteer and social activities.

Our benefits are a significant part of total compensation. Learn more at the SDSU Benefits Overview.

SDSU Values

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community.  Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment.  We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university. 

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another. 

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. 

SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Apply by October 5, 2026 to ensure full consideration. Applications submitted after this date will be reviewed on an as-needed basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. 

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. 

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Taylor Smith at tjaress@sdsu.edu.