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Management Support Assistant (Pathways Recent Graduate Program), Rural Development

The Pathways Program offers students and recent graduates opportunities in the federal government. The Recent Graduate Program targets individuals who graduated from accredited institutions within the last 2 years, and veterans up to 6 years. The Recent Graduate Program lasts 1 year, where upon conclusion you may be converted to a career position in the federal service.




Summary

Serves as a management assistant in an office of Rural Development (RD), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The organization mission/function is complex and requires wide-ranging analytical support in such areas as organization, records, reports, forms, file, communication, human resources/staffing planning, and directives management. The position provides substantive and technical administrative assistance and support to the staff of the organization.


Responsibilities

  • Performs and coordinates a variety of administrative support functions for the organization.
  • Receives and screens incoming correspondence and documents and takes action on routine requests or refers to appropriate staff member when necessary.
  • Applies advanced capabilities of office software to prepare complex material in support of the operations of the organization.
  • Maintains a wide variety of complex substantive records, e.g., of office productivity, project status, costs/expenditures, etc.

Qualifications

To be eligible, applicants must meet one of the following requirements;

  • Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) years; or

  • Individuals who, due to military service obligation, were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described above shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. This eligibility period cannot extend more than 6 years from the date on which the requirements for the academic course of study were met.

In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements above, applicants must possess the experience requirements as follows:

  • For the GS-05 level: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: Experience planning and managing the office's daily administrative functions, maintaining automated systems to record, reconcile, validate, and track data; and experience gathering and compiling available data and information for aspects of a program and reports findings to a higher level employee OR 4 full years of education above high school. Equivalent combination of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

  • For the GS-06 level: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: Experience planning and managing the office's daily administrative functions, maintaining automated systems to record, reconcile, validate, and track data; experience gathering and compiling available data and information for aspects of a program and reports findings to a higher level employee; and experience monitoring and reviewing established administrative procedures and program operations and assisting in the preparation of memoranda, reports and charts; using word processing, spreadsheet and database software to prepare documents and to enter, revise, manipulate, sort, calculate, store and retrieve data.


  • 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.

Education

  • This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

  • Recent Graduate appointments are intended to last for 1 year. Recent Graduates who satisfactorily complete all the USDA Recent Graduates Program requirements may be non-competitively converted to a Term or Permanent appointment in the competitive service. Conversion is not guaranteed. Recent Graduates converted to Term appointments may later be non-competitively converted to a Permanent competitive service position.
  • Upon successful completion of the Recent Graduate Program requirements in accordance with 5 CFR 362.205 (qualifications, one year continuous work experience, satisfactory performance, mandatory training completion, etc.) you may be non-competitively converted to a term, careerĀ­ conditional or career appointment within 120 days to a:

  • Management Support Assistant, GS-0344-05/06/07 career ladder position. The full performance level (FPL) of the position to which converted may be up to the GS-07 level.
  • NOTE: An agency is not required to convert any individual in a Pathways position, to a position in the competitive service, whether upon completion of degree requirements or otherwise. Conversion to a competitive service position is not an entitlement.

  • NOTE: Students who will be graduating in the Spring/Summer 2020 are eligible to apply for Recent Graduate positions. However, candidates cannot be appointed to a Recent Graduate position until proof of graduation on an official transcript is provided.