SECRETARY (OFFICE OF
AUTOMATION)
GS-0318-5
This position is located in the immediate office of the Regional Director and/or Field Office Director. The incumbent(s) assigned to this position are responsible for performing work of a general clerical, secretarial, or office support nature and/or providing direct support of an administrative area or technical program.
As a worker trainee, the incumbent
of this position coordinates administrative processes related to the operation
of the assigned office, such as personnel, supply, and/or budget process. As
directed, performs secretarial duties in support of front office staff, by
performing general office work auxiliary to the work of the organization.
1.
Public Contact Work. Receives, schedules, refers and contacts members
of the staff, agency and persons outside the agency ranging from other
government agencies to the public. Screens the supervisor and staff members’
calls and determines if the call(s) require their immediate attention. Supplies
the requested information when the question concerns information the employee
is familiar with or can easily obtain (e.g., status of reports, suspense dates,
procedural requirements, etc.). Provides general clerical public contact
support services such as answering the telephone, referring visitors, providing
information about the office, its functions, and standard operating procedures,
as well as similar information. Screens calls and personally answers calls when
the requested information concerns routine and procedural requirements.
2.
Mail Correspondence and Reports. Processes incoming and outgoing materials
such as correspondence, reports, memoranda, and other forms of written
communication. Under supervision, performs the following types of duties: edits
letters, composes letters and reports, reviews correspondence for accuracy and
completeness, prepares public presentation outlines, and develops standard or
form letters and replies to inquires. Researches files and assembles background
information on the subject of incoming material before referral. Provides
general clerical mail and correspondence services such as preparing a variety
of recurring reports, reviewing outgoing correspondence for proper attachments,
or consolidating/coordinating submissions of information.
3.
Office Automation. Performs office automation duties using such
software applications as electronic mail, desktop publishing, calendar,
spreadsheet, database, and/or graphics. Integrates several types of software to
generate specific working documents and forms such as spreadsheets, database,
word processing, desktop publishing, graphics, and other similar products.
4.
Maintaining Calendars, Appointments, and Schedules. Schedules appointments,
coordinates meetings, and/or schedules conferences. Independently schedules
supervisor/staff member time based on knowledge of preferences and current
commitments. Provides general calendar maintenance clerical services such as
maintaining calendars and recording appointments, or arranging for meeting and
small conference administrative details.
5.
Office Supplies and Equipment. Obtains and monitors the use of services,
supplies, or equipment for the office. Justifies and requests replacements for
outdated equipment by identifying the outdated equipment, gathering relevant
information on office equipment, or requesting office equipment for own work
area.
Performs
other duties as assigned.
Knowledge
Type IV
Work
Situation _____
- Basic knowledge of the duties, priorities, commitments, policies, and program goals of the staff sufficient to perform non-routine assignments
-
Basic
knowledge of office automation hardware and software sufficient to create,
manipulate and modify files, create databases, spreadsheets and graphics; and
create, receive and send electronic mail.
-
Sufficient
skill to recognize which information is or is not relevant to the problem at
hand
-
Basic
understanding of grammar, punctuation and spelling utilization to review
written material for accuracy and adequacy; and to compose, and edit
-
Ability
to use tact, diplomacy and discretion in dealing with a variety of diverse
individuals.
The supervisor provides close supervision, defines the overall objectives and sets priorities of the work in the office, and assists the secretary with special assignments. Under direct supervision, the secretary carries out the assigned work and handles routine problems and deviations in accordance with well established instructions, priorities, policies, commitments and program goals of the supervisor, and accepted practices.
Guidelines include a number of unwritten policies, precedents, and practices which may not be completely applicable to the work or may not be specific and which deal with matters relating to judgment, efficiency, and relative priorities rather than with procedural concerns.
The work includes various duties, most involving routine and related steps, processes, and methods. Decisions regarding what needs to be done, and how to accomplish them, are based on the guidance of his/her supervisor’s knowledge of the duties, priorities, commitments, policies, and program goals of the supervisor and the staff and involve routine analysis of the subject, phase, or issues involved in each assignment. The chosen course of action is selected from a number of alternatives.
The purpose of the work is to carry out specific procedures. The work affects a wide range of agency activities, operations and other agencies, or a large segment of the public or business community.
The personal contacts are with employees in the same agency, but outside the immediate organization. People contacted are engaged in different functions, missions, and kinds of work than are people in the secretary’s organization. The contacts are with members of the general public, as individuals or in groups, in a moderately structured setting. Visitors and callers contact the office or are contacted by the office for several different purposes; to receive one of several different services, or to find several kinds of information. The secretary must clarify the reason for the contact with the office.
The purpose of the contacts is to obtain, clarify, or give facts or information directly related to the work, like exchanging information on leave balances for the staff and providing telephone or receptionist services.
The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortable to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items like papers or books. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.
The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts and requires normal safety precautions typical of such places as meeting and training rooms, libraries, or commercial vehicles. The work is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated.
NOTE:
position is
at the full performance level