Staff Assistant

Full Job Description

As Staff Assistant to the Administrator you will play a vital and critical role in advising the Administrator and other top Agency and Department officials.

Topics and initiatives include key management and program issues and decision-making processes based on an expert knowledge of the substantive program and administrative activities of the Agency.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

FOR THE GS-15 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-14 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Participating in the development of policies, instructions, methods and programs applying appropriate laws, regulations, policies and procedures with impact across a national or international program or organization.

Identifying and proposing solutions to management problems that are characterized by their breadth, importance, and severity, and for which previous studies and established management techniques are frequently inadequate.

Independently determining courses of action for providing information - whether routine reports on in response to ad hoc queries - that is accurate, clear, complete and appropriate for the intended audience.

Managing inquiries that are complex, confidential, and/or have significant impact to the operations of the organization or cut across organizational boundaries.

Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level.

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. Major Duties:

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• Participates with the Administrator and top-level staff in formulating the policies and programs of the Agency.
• Advises the Administrator and other top officials of the Agency on matters in broad program areas.
• Serves as liaison to Secretary's and Under Secretary's Office and other Departmental offices on a daily basis.
• Organizes and facilitates efforts of multiple task groups/teams focused on implementation of numerous major program initiatives.
• Serves as a liaison between the Administrator and other managers throughout the organization in identifying issues or problems for management consideration.
• Researches, analyzes, and writes materials relating to cross-program issues, or those for which there is no clear program direction.