Program Support Assistant

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS); Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory (MN, WI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Saint Paul, MN, seeks a personal assistant to the Research Leader and professional staff, providing secretarial, administrative, and program support to allow focus on the organization’s primary mission.

You will handle a range of administrative duties, coordinate travel for staff, and assist with financial documents and reports, while maintaining records and supporting mission-critical activities.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience related to office administration and financial forms.
• Experience using word processing and spreadsheet software to prepare documents.
• Ability to coordinate travel for staff and maintain office records.
• Typing speed of 40 words per minute.

Responsibilities

• Assist Research Leader and staff with secretarial, administrative, and program support.
• Prepare, review, and organize financial documents and reports.

Skills

Typing 40 wpm

Office software

Job description

Summary

This position is located within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Midwest Area, Cereal Disease Research Unit in Saint Paul, MN. In this position, you will serve as a personal assistant to the Research Leader and other professional staff providing various secretarial, administrative, and program support duties, allowing them to focus on the organization's primary mission.

Duties

This position is located within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Midwest Area, Cereal Disease Research Unit in Saint Paul, MN. In this position, you will serve as a personal assistant to the Research Leader and other professional staff providing various secretarial, administrative, and program support duties, allowing them to focus on the organization's primary mission.

Requirements

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, 10/20/2026, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Specialized Experience

• GS-06: Qualifying experience for GS-06 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-05 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience preparing or reviewing financial documents; using computer programs to prepare and review written documents; and providing information on policies, procedures, or guidelines.
• GS-07: Qualifying experience for GS-07 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-06 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience preparing or tracking financial forms or reports; maintaining detailed records or files for an office environment; coordinating all aspects of travel for staff or supervisors; and ensuring compliance with regulations for all program administrative procedures.

Applicants must be able to type 40 words per minute.

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.

Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Our job is finding solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table. What we do matters in science and the world. For more information about Agricultural Research Service, go to https://www.ars.usda.gov/.