*Internal Candidates Only* Student Assistant - California State Payroll System Support - Hybrid

The State Controller's Office is seeking to hire a motivated and dependable student assistant to work in its Project Management Office (PMO) to work under the direct supervision of the IT Manager I.

The student assistant will support the California State Payroll System (CSPS) Project by performing a variety of entry-level project management, research, analytical, administrative, and documentation activities. The CSPS Project is a multi-year effort to modernize and replace the State’s current personnel and payroll systems and deliver a modern Human Capital Management (HCM) solution.  In this role, the student assistant will have the opportunity to develop effective communication, critical thinking, professional etiquette, and research skills.

Internal Candidates Only. External Candidates will not be considered.

Conditions of

Employment

This is a part-time, temporary, non-benefited, student position. Employment in all positions with University Enterprises, Inc. is dependent upon the mutual consent of University Enterprises, Inc. and the employee. This means that either University Enterprises, Inc. or the employee can, at any time, terminate the employment relationship at will, with or without cause.

Depending on the type of position you are applying for, a pre-employment background check consisting of one or more of the following may be conducted: employment history, professional references, criminal check: educational verification (degree, license, or official transcript) or DMV clearance. Applicants will be required to pass required pre-employment checks to the satisfaction of University Enterprises, Inc. (UEI) and the hiring Agency or Department.

UEI does not allow students to hold more than one UEI Job at a time, or work in more than one account per pay period. UEI employees who are considering leaving their current UEI student assistant position for a different UEI student assistant position should inform their supervisor in writing and provide at least a week’s notice.

UEI is not a multi-state employer. UEI only employs candidates who live and work in the state of California. If selected for the position you must reside in California and all work must be performed in the state of California throughout the course of employment.

Prerequisites

Students must be enrolled in at least: 12 semester units or 12 quarter units for Undergraduate Students; 8 semester units or 12 quarter units for Graduate Students. 
Students declared major must match the major(s) listed in the job posting and students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Majors/Fields of Study

Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Administration, Finance or Economics

Work Schedule

Hybrid work schedule. Flexible workdays and work hours, Monday – Friday, between 8 AM – 5 PM. The final work schedule will be determined by the supervisor. 

Additional Work Schedule

Student Assistant and Graduate Assistant employees generally work up to 24 hours per workweek (Sunday – Saturday) during the academic year and up to 40 hours per workweek during breaks; (winter, spring, and summer).

Compensation

$18.00 - $26.00 per hour.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must complete each term with minimum unit requirements for Undergraduate and Graduate student classifications. Proof will be collected at the end of each Spring and Fall term.
• Strong communication skills, including active listening and the ability to prepare clear and concise emails, memorandums, and reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external parties and convey complex information in a correct, clear, and professional manner.
• Ability to adapt and remain flexible in response to changing workloads and priorities.
• Demonstrates initiative and self-motivation, including taking ownership of projects and maintaining a positive professional attitude.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills, including the ability to analyze situations, evaluate data, and draw sound conclusions.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, including the ability to prioritize workload effectively, maintain strong organization, work under pressure and time constraints, and remain proactive and adaptable.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively as part of a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of the principles of public administration and executive & organizational communication.
• Experience with purpose-driven writing and editing that is clear, concise, and accurately explains the complexity and services of the SCO.  
• Ability to complete deadline-driven project management assignments and translate complex financial and government information into plain language for diverse audiences. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Learning Objectives

The Student Intern will gain practical experience in project management and information technology project delivery while supporting PMO staff in executing and maintaining project management processes, tools, and artifacts.

Project Management Support

• Provide foundational administrative and operational backing to the Project Management Office (PMO).

• Maintain project plans, logs, trackers, and artifacts across essential areas like risk, scope, schedule, and change control.

• Keep documentation accurate and up to date.

• Conduct research to gather data, identify trends, and compile relevant findings for PMO leadership.

Reporting, Documentation and Analysis

• Track progress and facilitate clear project communications.
• Gather and analyze data from multiple sources to create status reports, dashboards, and presentations.
• Format official project documentation.
• Contribute to the creation and standardization of PMO tools, templates, and procedures.

Project Management Support

• Provide foundational administrative and operational backing to the Project Management Office (PMO).
• Maintain project plans, logs, trackers, and artifacts across essential areas like risk, scope, schedule, and change control.
• Keep documentation accurate and up to date.
• Conduct research to gather data, identify trends, and compile relevant findings for PMO leadership.

Professional Development and Special Projects

• Support ad hoc PMO initiatives.
• Expand knowledge of state IT project management practices, governance, and project delivery methodologies.
• Research specialized topics.
• Contribute to targeted projects that align with broader PMO and CSPS goals.

Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment including computer workstations, telephones, calculators, copiers, printers, and scanners with or without reasonable accommodation. 

Work is performed in a hybrid environment.

Students/Employees will be required to work according to the current UEI remote workplace policy and sign a UEI Work from Home Agreement. The decision to permit an employee to work from home is at the discretion of the supervisor or employer and may, at any time and with or without cause, unilaterally terminate the option to work from home.

Please complete all fields of the employment application. Include your educational history in the "Educational Experience" section and any employment history in the "Employment Experience" section of our application. 

In addition to your resume, please upload the following documents: 

1. Resume.
2. List of two references.
3. Cover Letter.
4. Current GPA.
5. Transcript (Unofficial is accepted).

Apply by: October 6, 2026

Internal Candidates Only. External Candidates Will Not Be Considered.