Administrative Assistant

Role overview

The American University in the Emirates (AUE) is looking for a polished, highly organized Administrative Assistant to deliver day-to-day administrative and operational assistance to designated departments and offices. The role is centered on keeping office processes running smoothly, supporting communication between stakeholders, maintaining accurate documentation, and helping departments carry out their activities effectively in a fast-paced university setting.

What the role involves

• Support assigned departments and team members with routine administrative tasks.
• Coordinate calendars, meetings, appointments, and schedules as needed.
• Draft correspondence, presentations, reports, and other office documents.
• Keep both digital and paper filing systems, records, and databases organized.
• Arrange meetings, prepare agendas, capture minutes, and track follow-up actions.
• Assist with information gathering, data entry, and report compilation.
• Handle sensitive records and information with care and confidentiality.
• Track office inventory and raise procurement requests when supplies run low.

Communication and coordination

• Act as a contact point for students, faculty, employees, and outside stakeholders.
• Answer queries and route requests to the right people or department.
• Help manage communication flow between departments and support administrative procedures.
• Assist with planning and coordination of university events, seminars, workshops, and meetings.

Operational support

• Help maintain department records and support adherence to university policies and procedures.
• Provide assistance with budget monitoring, invoice handling, and administrative paperwork where needed.
• Contribute to departmental projects and special tasks.
• Support efficient office operations and smooth administrative workflows.

General expectations

• Maintain accurate records and documentation at all times.
• Help sustain a professional and welcoming office atmosphere.
• Prepare and circulate departmental communications and reports.
• Support university and departmental initiatives as assigned.
• Carry out additional duties assigned by the direct supervisor.

Qualifications and experience

This position is intended for candidates with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, or a related discipline preferred, along with 2 to 4 years of experience in administrative support. Experience in higher education or a corporate setting is preferred. Familiarity with university office procedures and general office operations will be an advantage.

Skills and attributes

The ideal candidate should bring strong planning and time-management ability, excellent written and spoken English communication, and the professionalism needed to manage confidential information responsibly. Arabic language ability is an advantage. The role also calls for confidence with Microsoft Office tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, plus the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Strong interpersonal and customer service skills, adaptability, and a willingness to learn new systems are also important.

Work setting

This is an on-campus role based at AUE’s Dubai International Academic City location. Occasional presence at university events, workshops, and meetings may be required, and working hours may need to be flexible depending on departmental and university needs.

About the university

The American University in the Emirates (AUE) is a higher education institution in Dubai Academic City that serves as a hub for learning, innovation, and growth. The university includes seven colleges: Law, Education, Design, Business Administration, Health Science, Media and Mass Communication, Computer Information Technology, and Security and Strategic Studies. AUE is accredited by SACSCOC to award bachelor’s and master’s degrees, is licensed by the Ministry of Education in the UAE through CAA accreditation, and holds additional program accreditations including AACSB for select business programs, ABET for its Bachelor of Computer Science, and NASAD substantial equivalency for selected design programs.