Business Analyst (AO-2)

Innovative Consulting & Management Services, LLC•Manhattan, KS

About The Position

The Business Analyst provides administrative and business-management support to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Bio-Agro Defense Facility (NBAF) Administrative Officer in Manhattan, Kansas. NBAF conducts research, diagnosis, and training related to animal diseases foreign to the United States, with the aim of protecting American agriculture and domestic food sources. The role supports NBAF’s biocontainment facilities and may require entry into BSL-3, BSL-3e, BSL-3ee, BSL-3 Ag, and BSL-4 laboratories, as well as additional personnel security requirements. The position provides financial, budgetary, administrative, and analytical support to NBAF management. Work includes preparing and reconciling financial data, supporting annual budget preparation and forecasting, reviewing obligating documents, monitoring federal agreements, maintaining property accountability, coordinating performance-management processes, and tracking background investigations. The Business Analyst also develops reports and business plans, advises managers on administrative-management matters, and helps ensure compliance with USDA and federal requirements. This is a full-time, day-shift position, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The stated pay rate is $75,000 per year.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least 2 years of experience working as an Administrative or Executive Assistant.
Understanding of human-resource processes and documentation processing.
Understanding of federal laws and regulations.
Ability to prepare and manage procurement requests.
Ability to prepare status reports upon request by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).
Ability to serve as an initial point of contact for questions, information, and problem resolution concerning office functions, policies, and procedures.
Ability to gather documentation supporting conclusions reached.
Experience scheduling meetings and coordinating with staff.
Ability to serve as a timekeeper for facility staff.
Strong Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency with Microsoft Word or financial-management systems.
Ability to follow step-by-step instructions.
Ability to prepare and manage travel requests.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat, and MS Teams for communications and project management.
Effective written and oral communication skills.
Demonstrated mastery of office-administration skills through work experience.
Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver’s License required.
Drug test required.
Financial disclosure required.
Department of Justice Security Risk Assessment approval required.
National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) clearance required.
Immunizations may be required.
Respirator fitting and certification required.

Responsibilities

Provide administrative, technical, and analytical support to the Administrative Officer and NBAF management team for business-management planning and coordination.
Access and maintain confidential information for detailed business analysis of operational management matters.
Coordinate work-study programs, including contacting universities and providing information to identify eligible participants.
Monitor, review, and provide advisory services on federal agreements and material transfer agreements to ensure compliance with applicable policies and procedures.
Compile, consolidate, check, and arrange funding data for requests covering projected annual operating expenses.
Review, analyze, and prepare financial data and estimates for annual budget documents using historical data, recurring costs, and annual guidance.
Investigate account issues, correct errors, report discrepancies, and incorporate pending allocations and estimates.
Use multiple systems to create, modify, and reconcile data; interpret conflicting information and develop solutions to budgetary issues.
Analyze expenditures, funding arrangements, and cost trends, including services, utility consumption, building operations and maintenance, and inflation, to support program management and forecasting.
Review purchase orders, travel vouchers, utility documents, requisitions, and contract documents for accounting-code information and make corrections as needed.
Conduct monthly reconciliations, verify accounting-data completeness and accuracy, and take timely corrective action.
Support performance management, real property, personal property, travel, and personnel-security requirements in coordination with the Administrative Officer.
Participate in formulating and implementing administrative-management policies, procedures, operations, goals, and objectives.
Work with the Administrative Officer and NBAF management officials to meet customer business needs.
Ensure compliance with USDA and federal regulations for reporting and disposing of federal assets.
Maintain personal-property accountability, including barcoding accountable assets and updating USDA’s inventory-management system.
Advise managers and employees on performance-management policies; coordinate rating-period processing and quarterly reviews, and ensure mandatory requirements are met.
Track background investigations to ensure individuals retain access to containment areas; review documents and create portal tickets for reinvestigations.
Ensure equipment functions properly and required IT updates are completed.
Develop reports and performance analyses to assess organizational needs, prepare technical or non-technical reports, and develop business plans for NBAF administrative operations.
Advise the Administrative Officer and management officials on proposed solutions and discuss potential problems or anticipated changes in administrative-management methods or requirements.