Program Assistant

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 53,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

USDA APHIS is seeking a coordinator for regulation of biotechnology as it relates to plants and plant pests. The role serves as a liaison within USDA and with governmental and private organizations, handling inquiries, data analysis, and documentation for program operations.

The position covers development and implementation of regulatory functions, advocacy for process improvements, and support across internal teams to ensure accurate, timely briefs and reports.

Qualifications

• Qualified applicants must meet all qualifications by the closing date, including specialized experience for the GS-07 level.
• Experience includes identifying urgent inquiries, screening requests, and resolving non-routine or technical issues aligned with agency priorities.
• Proven ability to edit correspondence, surveys, charts, and briefing materials to professional standards.
• Experience developing administrative procedures to improve office efficiency, workflow, and record management.
• Strong verbal and written communication to respond to inquiries, coordinate activities, and assist stakeholders with a solutions-oriented approach.
• Proficiency with office automation tools to prepare forms, reports, graphics, and charts; maintain program databases; and process electronic submissions.

Responsibilities

• Analyzes program information and data for the Biotechnology Risk Analysis Programs to identify trends and prepare findings.
• Develops administrative and automated support procedures to improve consistency and workflow.
• Reviews monthly accounting and financial reports to identify discrepancies and support documentation.
• Prepares visual materials and assembled program documents for meetings and briefings.
• Researches and synthesizes information to produce correspondence, reports, and regulatory documents.
• Maintains clerical, administrative, and technical processes, recommending procedural improvements.
• Responds to inquiries by providing technical information and directing callers to needed materials.
• Prepares correspondence, personnel documents, travel actions, and procurement requests; monitors progression through processing channels.

Job description

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

Job Summary

If selected you will be responsible for the coordination, development, and implementation of all matters and functions pertaining to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) regulation of biotechnology as it relates to plants and plant pests, and acts as liaison on matters involving biotechnology between agencies within USDA and between USDA and governmental and private organizations.

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-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-GS 06 grade level) that demonstrates:

• Utilized understanding of Agency's or program's structure and needs to: identify urgent or sensitive inquiries, screen requests for information, and resolve non routine or technical issues in alignment with agency priorities.
• Applied spelling, grammar, and formatting standards to prepare and edit correspondence, surveys, charts, and briefing materials, ensuring professional quality and adherence to Agency or program's communication guidelines.
• Recommended process improvements and developed administrative procedures that enhanced office efficiency, workflow, and record management, supporting stronger overall program operations.
• Communicated effectively in both verbal and written formats to: respond to inquiries, coordinate activities with team members, and assist internal and external stakeholders with a customer focused, solutions oriented approach.
• Operated office automation tools-including word processing, database management, and spreadsheet software-to prepare forms, reports, graphics, and charts; maintain program databases; and process electronic submissions.

Note: There is no education substitution for this 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

The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.The duties may include, but are not limited to:Analyzes program-related information and data for the Biotechnology Risk Analysis Programs (BRAP) to identify trends, validate accuracy, and prepare findings for reports and briefings.Develops administrative and automated support procedures by gathering, organizing, and evaluating information to improve consistency, transparency, and workflow effectiveness.Reviews monthly accounting and financial transaction reports to identify discrepancies, compile supporting documentation, and submit corrected information to Resource Management Services.Prepares graphic materials, visual aids, and assembled program documents for meetings, conferences, and briefings, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and timely availability.Researches and synthesizes information from files, documents, and databases to design, produce, and edit correspondence, reports, publications, regulatory documents, and other program materials.Maintains clerical, administrative, and technical processes for the unit, recommending and implementing procedural improvements to support operational efficiency and quality assurance.Responds to internal and external inquiries by providing technical information, resolving routine issues, and directing callers to appropriate staff with needed background materials.Prepares correspondence, memoranda, personnel documents, time and attendance reports, travel actions, and procurement requests, and monitors their progression through agency processing channels.

Position Start Date

09/18/2026

Position Close Date

09/24/2026

Salary Offered

52693 - 68502 USD Per Year

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