Business Specialist – Workforce and Economic Development

Location: Frankfort, KY, with limited telecommuting
Travel: Occasional in-state travel required
Compensation: $50,000 - $55,000
Retirement: TIAA
Priority deadline: Preference given to applications received by Oct. 3, 2025

Overview

The Council on Postsecondary Education is leading transformation in our workforce, economy and quality of life by advancing progress in educational attainment across Kentucky. As the state’s higher education coordinating agency, we champion high-quality, accessible, and affordable postsecondary opportunities that prepare students for civic engagement and sustainable careers. That’s why we are undertaking the 60x30 goal, an ambitious effort to raise the percentage of working-age Kentuckians with a postsecondary degree or certificate to 60% by the year 2030. At CPE, we believe that higher education matters – for everyone.

Workforce and Economic Development Initiatives

The primary purpose of Kentucky’s postsecondary education institutions is to produce adaptive, highly skilled workers to fuel the economy. To strengthen the system’s outcomes, the Council’s Workforce Initiatives Unit focuses on aligning state workforce needs with higher education’s initiatives, programs and curriculums.

Function of Position

The position will support calendaring, communication, and report assimilations and perform other operational and administrative duties for the Vice President as well as other staff members of the unit. This position also manages the day-to-day administrative operations of the unit.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to the Vice President; assist in day-to-day operations with ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others in a fluid environment, using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, TEAMS, ZOOM, and PowerPoint.
• Manage the calendar for the Vice President by planning and scheduling internal/external meetings, teleconferences, conferences, and travel.
• Prepare travel authorizations and process travel reimbursements.
• Prepare purchase order for the unit.
• Provide administrative support for conferences and events by assisting with planning the event; managing invitations; managing registration; preparing conference materials and name tags; assisting with speaker arrangements; coordinating direct-bill rooming; attending the conference; summarizing the conference evaluations; and assisting with billing.
• Produce correspondence, reports, memoranda of agreements, and other documents for Vice President and unit staff by inputting, formatting, editing, proofing, retrieving, copying, and transmitting text and data with accuracy and efficiency.
• Serve as primary administrative support staff for committees and work groups staffed by Workforce. This includes making meeting arrangements, preparing materials, attending the meetings, and preparing minutes.
• Create/maintain records management system, unit mailing lists, and agency contact lists.
• Manage deadlines by tracking deadlines and sending staff reminders when deadlines are approaching.
• Maintain and update master calendars for both staff leave time and staff-planned events to alert the Vice President of any possible gaps in staffing and to ensure that major events are not scheduled too close together.
• Initiate requests for information and data on the office's behalf; collect and collate such information; follow-up; and provide the Vice President with reports.
• Perform other tasks as requested by the Vice President.

Education and Experience

• Minimum of 3–5 years of progressive administrative support experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing executive calendars, travel coordination, and meeting logistics.
• Proven ability to draft, edit, and prepare correspondence, reports, and presentations.
• Experience handling confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and virtual meeting platforms (Zoom, Teams).

Preferred:

• At least two years of executive or senior-level administrative support experience, beyond required experience.
• Experience in higher education, government, or nonprofit sectors.
• Prior work coordinating projects and special initiatives.
• Familiarity with state or organizational finance systems.
• Experience supporting a board, commission, or executive leadership team.

Application Information

Interested applicants should send a letter of application specifically addressing the responsibilities and qualifications of the position, a resume, and the names, titles, and contact information for at least three professional references to CPE.HR@ky.gov.