Operations & Administrative Specialist

The College of Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is a distinguished institution known for its excellence in teaching, research, and community service. It stands out for its innovative and entrepreneurial spirit, which drives forward scholarly activities and practical engineering applications. With a student body of approximately 1,500 undergraduates and 700 graduate students, the college boasts a permanent faculty of 165 members. It offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs across seven departments including Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials, Mechanical Engineering, and Technology Management.

One of the key facilities within the College of Engineering is the OASIS Building, an innovation hub that spans 105,000 square feet and is strategically located adjacent to the UCSB campus in Goleta, California. OASIS is designed to accelerate the journey from discovery and prototyping to technology deployment. It bridges a crucial gap between academic research and scalable manufacturing, supporting critical technological advancements across diverse fields such as aerospace, defense, energy, quantum systems, and advanced computing. This facility fosters collaboration among academia, industry, and government entities, creating a vibrant environment for innovation.

The role of Operations and Administrative Specialist at the OASIS Building is a pivotal position that ensures the seamless operation of this cutting-edge facility. This full-time, in-person position, based at 71 S. Los Carneros Rd., Goleta, CA, is classified as a career staff appointment under union code CX with non-exempt FLSA status. The position offers a competitive hourly salary range from $29.35 to $42.06, commensurate with qualifications and experience, and comes with full benefits eligibility.

As the primary point of contact for the OASIS Building, the Operations and Administrative Specialist provides comprehensive administrative, financial, and logistical support. The role involves managing the reception desk, coordinating visitor access, and maintaining professional common spaces including conference rooms and the café. Financial responsibilities include facilitating purchasing through the University’s Gateway system, processing travel and entertainment reimbursements via Concur and Connexxus, handling equipment inventory and audits, and overseeing necessary paperwork for equipment transfers.

Unique to this role is the management of incubator business service agreements and startup membership agreements, which supports the vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem within OASIS. Additionally, the Specialist administrates the reservation system for seminar and collaborative spaces, providing essential support for events held in the facility. Event coordination duties extend to managing on-site logistics such as audiovisual setups, catering, room configurations, and working alongside the College of Engineering’s Events Manager to ensure smooth execution of workshops, networking sessions, and board meetings.

The position also plays a key role in marketing efforts by collecting content for social media channels to highlight building achievements and ongoing projects. Oversight and possible supervision of student assistants contribute to the operational excellence of the building. This multifaceted role demands a high level of independent judgment, initiative, and analytical skills to maintain the facility’s smooth and professional operation.

The Operations and Administrative Specialist at UCSB’s OASIS Building embodies the university’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration. This role offers an exciting opportunity to be involved in the operational side of a cutting-edge engineering hub, contributing to the advancement of technology and supporting the academic and research community in meaningful ways.