Program Support Assistant (OA)

Agricultural Research Service • Wyndmoor, PA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

These positions are with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Field Organization, Northeast Area, in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania. The Program Support Assistant serves as a personal assistant to the Research Leader and other professional staff, coordinating administrative and clerical work essential to the Management Unit’s program administration. The role is the primary unit-level administrative business-process contact for two management units, providing administrative oversight and procedural guidance across multiple business functions.

The position processes financial, procurement, extramural agreement, property, personnel, and other administrative instruments; submits documents electronically through ARIS and other systems; and follows paperwork through the chain of command. It also manages unit attendance information, leave and travel schedules, emergency attendance tracking, travel arrangements and requests, and business calendars. The position may be eligible for flexible work arrangements under agency policy and applicable collective bargaining agreements. A one-year probationary period is required unless prior federal service is creditable.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Must use direct deposit for federal payments.
• Must successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period unless previous federal service is creditable.
• Must be able to type at least 40 words per minute.
• For GS-06: One year of specialized experience at the GS-05 level or equivalent, including applying guidelines involving program and administrative processes; assisting with development and execution of an annual budget, such as financial plans, reports, and tracking; and providing customer service to visitors and staff.
• For GS-07: One year of specialized experience at the GS-06 level or equivalent, including applying guidelines involving program and administrative processes; assisting with development and execution of an annual budget, including developing financial plans, monitoring spending, preparing reports, and tracking; providing customer service to visitors and staff; operating a personal computer, printers, scanners, word processing, spreadsheets, or presentation software; and coordinating all aspects of travel for staff or supervisors.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary administrative business-process point of contact for two management units.
• Provide administrative oversight of business processes, following the chain of command.
• Process financial, procurement, extramural agreement, property, personnel, and other administrative instruments related to unit management.
• Provide technical and procedural advice to management and staff on administrative processes.
• Maintain efficient administrative processes to meet the units’ needs.
• Identify, restructure, and recommend ways to eliminate, combine, simplify, or improve administrative and clerical procedures and processes.
• Submit documents electronically through the Agricultural Research Information System (ARIS) and other systems.
• Follow up on paperwork processing through the chain of command.
• Maintain unit-level attendance status and prepare employee leave and travel schedules.
• Serve as a point of contact and track attendance for employees in two units for emergency purposes.
• Arrange unit-level travel and process domestic and foreign travel requests.
• Use electronic calendar, database, or spreadsheet software to document employee leave and travel schedules.
• Coordinate the Research Leader’s and unit-level business schedules.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package for employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.
• Flexible work arrangements may be available under agency policy and applicable collective bargaining agreements.
• Recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized at the hiring official’s discretion.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed