Administrative Support Assistant

Serves in one of Plant Protection and Quarantine's (PPQ) various Core Functional Area locations by performing and coordinating a variety of support work to include budget and fiscal, travel, procurement and supply, property, personnel, data processing, program record-keeping, and miscellaneous administrative duties.

The duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Prepares monthly budget estimates, salary and benefit reports, and spreadsheets to assist SPHD in developing workload forecasts.
• Prepares travel authorizations/ advances and assures travel reimbursements are accurate.
• Orders and purchases equipment and supplies for the office.
• Assists with the development of annual acquisition, construction, and vehicle procurement plans.
• Ensures timely and accurate Time and Attendance (T and A) reporting.
• Prepares or directs the coordination of a wide variety of program reports, involving compilation of a large volume of statistical data relating to plant health.

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National

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.

FOR THE GS-7 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-6 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Performing administrative processes for an office (e.g., purchasing, supply management, personnel administration, data processing, files management, etc.).
• Experience using/creating word processing documents, spreadsheets, and database systems in order to compile information and produce tables, charts, and reports.
• Make travel reservations and arrangements, preparing travel authorizations and travel vouchers using online travel systems, reviewing and resolving errors in travel vouchers.
• Maintain records of attendance, leave and overtime authorized by supervisors, and advising and assisting employees, supervisors and managers in the completion of Time and Attendance.
• Purchased routine and specialized supplies, equipment or services using established procurement methods. This includes reviewing and evaluating proposals and quotes, performing price analysis, and serving as point of contact for state contract holders.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. This means you will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses to the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), and other characteristics):
 

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12400438