Provides administrative support to the FST Department Head including accurate calendar maintenance and event planning. As a representative of the FST department head, maintains frequent contact with the department's faculty and staff, and provides services to visitors, callers, and others in the department; Provides operational and program support associated with the daily activities of the department; Handles human resources responsibilities related to recruitment, hiring, salary adjustments, and termination of faculty, staff, research faculty, and visiting scholars, and work visa paperwork; Prepares graduate student contracts, coordinates Graduate student evaluations and maintains accurate and time records of students progress; Prepares and coordinates scholarship and other award payment requests in collaboration with the Graduate and Undergraduate Program directors. Works closely with Assistant Director of Business operations to ensure accurate and consistent coordination between offices. Serves as a backup for requests for payments, travel reimbursements, and scholarship payment requests from department VT Foundation accounts and prepares monthly reconciliations of those accounts; Coordinates FST Department Head's office activities with other clerical staff; Assists the department head with preparation of reports, staff evaluations, and establishment of office policies and procedures.