Program Support Assistant

Summary These positions are located in the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Field Organization, Midwest Area, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research located in Peoria, IL. In these positions, you support the research unit by coordinating administrative operations, managing documentation and business processes, maintaining records and correspondence, and providing essential administrative assistance to ensure efficient and compliant program management. Duties

• Maintains calendars, schedules, leave records, and electronic documents.
• Maintains and revises office filing systems.
• Logs, routes, and tracks incoming correspondence.
• Performs project coordination, travel documentation, budget tracking, agreements, procurement, and HR tasks.
• Processes routine administrative transactions (financial, procurement, agreements, property, personnel).
• Maintains tracking logs and administrative suspense items.
• Coordinates research documentation and maintains project files.
• Independently manages calendars, schedules, leave, and electronic communications.
• Manages correspondence control and prepares responses requiring policy interpretation.
• Develops or improves administrative systems and office procedures.
• Prepares and processes travel authorizations and vouchers, provides technical guidance on travel regulations, and ensures regulatory compliance.
• Advises staff on CRIS, research plans, annual reports, manuscripts, agreements, grants, and travel documentation. Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. GS-06 Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-06 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 is experience performing routine program support such as coordinating project or travel documentation, maintaining administrative records, and processing financial, procurement, or agreement actions using established procedures. GS-07 Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-07 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-06 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 is experience independently performing complex program support such as coordinating research projects, reviewing and verifying financial or budget data, preparing travel or procurement actions, and managing research documentation or agreements requiring interpretation of guidelines. In addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements listed above, all applicants must be able to type 40 words per minute. 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. Physical Demands Work is essentially sedentary, however, requires some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as papers, books, or small parts. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. Work Environment The work environment involves the everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, libraries, or commercial vehicles, e.g., use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.