Secretary (Office Automation)

Agricultural Research Service • Manhattan, KS

10d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), USDA, in Manhattan, Kansas, in the NBAF Director’s office. The Secretary serves as a personal and confidential assistant to the NBAF Director, coordinating work with Research units, the Area Director’s office, other ARS Research Centers, and the Office of National Programs (ONP).

The role provides procedural, clerical, program, and coordination support to the Director. It involves reviewing incoming directives, regulations, correspondence, and publications; handling incoming mail and calls using independent judgment; directing important matters and high-profile visitors or callers appropriately; and maintaining the Director’s daily calendar and arranging appointments, conferences, and meetings based on knowledge of the Director’s workload and priorities.

Requirements

• One year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07, directly related to the position.
• Specialized experience must include secretarial and administrative support functions such as coordinating meetings or conferences; arranging office travel; composing or managing office correspondence and ensuring it conforms to policies and procedures; and receiving or directing phone calls or visitors for an office.
• Ability to type at least 40 words per minute.
• U.S. citizenship or U.S. National status.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
• Current federal employees applying for promotion must have 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression.
• Must satisfactorily complete applicable background investigation and/or fingerprint check and pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, depending on appointment type, unless previous federal service is creditable.

Responsibilities

• Provide confidential procedural, clerical, program, and coordination support to the NBAF Director.
• Review incoming directives, regulations, correspondence, and publications, determine which matters can be handled personally, and assign necessary follow-up actions.
• Receive and review incoming mail and phone calls for the Director, exercising independent judgment in handling important business and high-profile visitors or calls or directing them to the Director.
• Maintain the Director’s daily calendar and schedule appointments and arrange conferences and meetings without specific prior approval, based on knowledge of the Director’s workload and current priorities.
• Coordinate work with Research units, the Area Director’s office, other ARS Research Centers, and the Office of National Programs.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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