Administrative Support Assistant

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); Starkville (MS); On-site; USD 56,044,000 - 72,695,000; Full time

Job summary

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in Starkville, MS is seeking a staff member to support procurement and supply, data processing, property, time and travel, personnel support duties, and program record-keeping.

The position is a GS-5 level with qualifications including a year of specialized experience or four years of higher education. Primary duties include timekeeping, travel assistance, purchasing, recruitment support, and maintaining records and reports.

Qualifications

• Requires one year of specialized experience at GS-4 level or four years of higher education, or a combination of education and experience.
• Experience using multiple electronic platforms (Windows, Adobe Pro, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Prepares operational and administrative reports for management.

Responsibilities

• Serves as timekeeper for Time and Attendance processing (WebTA).
• Assists employees in the use of the travel system.
• Serves as purchasing agent for expendable items.
• Assists with recruitment by initiating SF-52s and personnel actions.
• Maintains control systems for miscellaneous payment documents.
• Prepares and submits vehicle reports/information.
• Maintains administrative and program files per federal records policies.
• Serves as office/program unit receptionist.
• Responds to routine correspondence on own initiative.

Job description

Find Your Future With Us at USDA – Animal Plant Health Inspection Service

Job Summary: If selected, you will be responsible for performing and conducting a variety of support work in the areas of procurement and supply, data processing, property, time and travel, personnel support duties, and program record-keeping.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. FOR THE GS-05 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-4 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Follows established procedures to maintain and update various databases and systems. Experience in the use of multiple electronic platforms (I.E. windows, adobe pro, excel, word, power point, etc.). Prepares operational and administrative reports for use by management. OR Education: Four years above high school. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-05 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that 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

• Serves as timekeeper for Time and Attendance processing, in accordance with appropriate system (i.e., WebTA) policies and procedures.
• Assists employees in the use of the travel system.
• Serves as purchasing agent for expendable items for the office/program unit.
• Assists with recruitment by initiating SF-52s, Requests for Personnel Actions, required for the office/program unit in accordance with established procedures.
• Maintains control systems for miscellaneous payment documents.
• Prepares and submits the necessary vehicle reports/information.
• Maintains administrative and program files in accordance with Federal records management policies, procedures.
• Serves as office/program unit receptionist.
• Responds to routine correspondence on own initiative.

Position Start Date

09/01/2026

Position Close Date

09/08/2026

Salary Offered

19.52 - 25.37 USD Per Hour

You can make a difference! The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) needs bright, energetic and committed professionals to facilitate the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and to protect the health and care of animals and plants in the United States. We operate in domestic and global markets. Be part of an organization that protects the health and agriculture of the American people. Join our team! To learn more about what it's like to work at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, what the agency does, and the types of careers, please visit the APHIS careers site. APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. For details click: APHIS Emergency Response