Summary This position is located in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC), Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS), Science and Technology (S&T) Deputy Area. The primary purpose of the work is to serve as an Executive Assistant and to provide staff assistance, analytical and management expertise in support of the Science and Technology Deputy Area. Responsibilities Represents the agency as a visible and key liaison between the executives and other stakeholders requiring a knowledge of program policies and directives while also ensuring for timely flow of information and good communication. Reviews all outgoing correspondence for proper format, consistency, grammatical accuracy, completeness, and clarity, and ensures they are properly routed. Leads and coordinates administrative teams, providing guidance and support, and ensuring effective communication and collaboration among staff members. Develops an understanding of major issues, current and long-term, which are being pursued compiles data for reports, briefings, recommendations, and presentations of issues that are of particular interest to the agency. Conducts research, compiles data, and prepares papers for consideration and presentation by executives and other agency personnel. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications 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 REQUIREMENTS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-07 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-09 level. One year at the GS-09 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level. (Please submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. No Award or General Adjustment SF-50's will be accepted). Time-in-grade requirements also apply to VEOA applicants having held a GS position in the past year. See addition information. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level(s) in which you are applying: GS-9 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Providing administrative assistance to senior management, including scheduling meetings, managing calendars, and prioritizing tasks; Drafting, reviewing, and editing correspondence, reports, and other documents, ensuring accuracy and adherence to organizational standards; Assisting with or managing projects and initiatives, including organizing project timelines, tracking progress, and coordinating with various stakeholders; Utilizing office software and tools to create presentations, manage data, and streamline processes; and Acting as a liaison between executives and internal/external parties, handling confidential information with discretion, and conveying messages. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience.) OR Education: Successful completion of at least a master's or equivalent graduate degree; or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or, LL.B. or J.D. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (You MUST submit supporting academic transcripts.) OR Combination: Combination of the specialized experience and graduate education described above that when combined totals 100 percent. First, determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determine your education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education in excess of 1 year (18 semester hours) may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-09 level. (MUST submit copies of transcripts). GS-11 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Providing administrative assistance to senior management, including scheduling meetings, managing calendars, and prioritizing tasks; Organizing and managing high-profile meetings, conferences, and events, including logistics, travel arrangements, and protocol; Utilizing office technologies and software to create, manage, and analyze documents, presentations, and databases; Serving as a primary liaison between executives and internal/external stakeholders, handling communications and issues; and Overseeing and managing strategic projects and initiatives, including setting objectives, tracking progress, and ensuring timely and successful completion of projects. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience.) OR Education: Successful completion of at least a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or, LL.M. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (You MUST submit supporting academic transcripts.) OR Combination: Combination of the specialized experience and graduate education described above that when combined totals 100 percent. First, determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determine your education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education in excess of 2 years (36 semester hours) may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-09 level. (MUST submit copies of transcripts). IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). 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. The OPM Qualification Standards for this position can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series Education You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov) Additional Information If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. This position is open to Competitive Merit Promotion, Non-Competitive, and Special Hiring Authority eligibles. You must meet the requirements for one of the below categories to be eligible. 1. A current permanent competitive service employee; former Federal employee who achieved career status in the competitive service; or former Federal employee who served on a career conditional appointment without achieving career status in the competitive service who was separated less than three years ago. You must submit an SF-50 that reflects career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND status in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1). Please submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. No Award or General Adjustment SF-50's will be accepted. 2. A Veteran applying under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing an honorable discharge. To be eligible, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed 3 or more years of active service. NOTE: Time-in-grade requirements also apply to VEOA applicants having held a GS position in the past year. 3. A 30% or more Disabled Veteran. You must submit your DD214, a completed SF-15, and letter from the VA dated 1991 or later. 4. Military Spouses. You are eligible if: 1) you are the spouse of an active duty member of the Armed Forces; 2) you are the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated with a disability rating of 100 percent; or 3) you are the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active duty status. Please submit supporting documentation to be considered (e.g. active duty orders, marriage verification, SF-15, DD-214, disability letter from VA, etc. 5. Schedule A: USDA welcomes and encourages applicants from persons with disabilities and is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advance on the basis of merit. Documentation of eligibility under Schedule A can be obtained from a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e. state or private); or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. Territory that issues or provides disability benefits. This letter must be separate from any Veterans Preference documentation. 6. A Former Peace Corps or VISTA Volunteers Appointment. Please submit documentation to be considered. 7. Veterans eligible for a Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA). You must submit a copy of your DD-214. (only applies to positions at the GS-11 level and below). 8. Other non-competitive authorities (please see announcement language for applicable authorities) 9. A current or former Land Management Bureau employee who has served at least 24 months under a time-limited competitive appointment who is eligible for appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act.