This position is located in the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Research, Operations, & Management, Office of Communications, Office of the Director in Beltsville, MD. The Program Support Assistant will support communications projects, programs, and overall OC efforts by providing technical and administrative assistance on a variety of administrative and program-related tasks.

Duties

Provides technical and administrative assistance to the OC Leadership Team (supervisors and non-supervisors) and other OC staff members in developing and executing ARS's communications related programs. Establishes and maintains effective and professional liaison with Agency management officials, researchers, program leaders, and others from Federal, State, universities, and other organizations engaged in ARS research. Manages general day-to-day administrative functions for the office such as preparing documents, processing mail, responding to phone calls and emails from consumers and other OC customers, and maintaining and ordering office supplies. Prepares documents using a variety of software packages. Uses spreadsheets, presentation applications, databases, and other software to support the program planning process. Participates in program planning support work such as project coordination, travel documentation, budget coordination/tracking, agreements, and purchasing/procurement of supplies and equipment, and human resources administration. Prepares documents for various agreements, contracts, proposals, and other program and administrative needs. Manages office mail and information distribution. Prepares and handles packages; tracks mail and other information and, product distribution for intimal and external sources. Coordinates human resource planning efforts with OC Leadership Team and ARS Human Resources staff. Establishes and maintains timelines for staff's performance planning and evaluation cycle. Provides program and administrative support to OC staff by preparing spreadsheets, personnel actions, correspondence, and other documents. Assists with coordinating communication efforts and by gathering and retrieving data from various sources to help OC Leadership Team and staff capture, process, and evaluate the effectiveness of OC communication efforts. Prepares correspondence and coordinates distribution and mailing of program materials for OC staff to external customers. Prepares and coordinates all required paperwork and documentation for OC Leadership Team for staffpe1formance efforts. Works with ARS human resources staff on processing required documentation for performance and awards per Agency timelines. Assembles and distributes communications and outreach materials and program information to OC customers. Works closely with staff to gather materials and information for use in OC communications efforts. Arranges and coordinates international and domestic travel; manages procurement process; manages general office inventory and reporting; and prepares other administrative actions for OC staff. Mails and arranges for pick up and receiving of OC exhibit, outreach, and other materials needed to support OC communications efforts.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below: Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. GS-07: Qualifying experience for GS-07 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-05 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience includes experience support communications projects, programs, and overall OC efforts by providing technical and administrative assistance on a variety of administrative and program-related tasks. **Your resume and application materials must support the typing certification or self-certifying tying speed in your resume. If, after a complete review of your application package, a determination is made that you failed to provide this information, you will be rated ineligible for this position.*** Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 5601 Sunnyside Ave Beltsville, MD 20705 US
• Name: Prasad Elayath
• Phone: (301) 837-8964
• Email: [email protected]