INTRODUCTION

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.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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.

FACTOR 1 – KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION

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.

FACTOR 2 – SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

The supervisor defines the overall objectives and 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.

FACTOR 3 – GUIDELINES

Guidelines include a large body 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.

FACTOR 4 – COMPLEXITY

The work includes various duties involving different and unrelated 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 analysis of the subject, phase, or issues involved in each assignment. The chosen course of action is selected from many alternatives.

FACTOR 5 – SCOPE AND EFFECT

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.

FACTOR 6 – PERSONAL CONTACTS

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.

FACTOR 7 – PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

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.

FACTOR 8 – PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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.

FACTOR 9 – WORK ENVIRONMENT

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