Staff Specialist

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 62,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

USDA APHIS in Fort Collins, CO is seeking a Staff Support Specialist to assist the Director of the Logistics Center and staff in deploying veterinary resources within 24 hours. You will help plan, train, and exercise rapid response for stockpile resources, and support administrative and logistical operations across the center.

The role emphasizes coordination of travel, schedules, and contracts, plus maintaining administrative procedures and internal controls to ensure efficient operations.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience at GS-07 level or master’s/graduate degree
• Developed/modified guidelines, work processes, and administrative practices
• Organized and monitored paperwork for contracts, grants, MOUs
• Planned mail operations: receipt, routing, and vouchers, guiding staff as needed
• Transcripts required if qualifying based on education
• Combination of education & experience can qualify for GS-09

Responsibilities

• Participates in planning, designing, conducting, and coordinating training/exercise events
• Manage Director’s travel, schedules, and workflow; ensure continuity in absence
• Guide staff on travel issues; review travel authorizations and vouchers for compliance
• Support personnel actions, advising on staffing, performance, and workforce planning
• Lead and motivate staff; improve processes and implement internal controls
• Develop and update administrative procedures; communicate and support adoption
• Coordinate tasks, deadlines, and communications with field operations and leadership
• Support executive protocol, committees, meetings, and prepare materials
• Provide administrative and logistical support to the Director and represent views to staff and stakeholders

Skills

Travel coordination

Administrative support

Documentation management

Guidelines development

Office procedures

Education

Master's degree in Business/ Public Adminor related field

Education + Experience combinations

Job description

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

Job Summary

If selected, you will perform staff support duties in support of the Director of the Logistics Center and staff in its goal of deploying critical veterinary resources within 24 hours and assisting States, Tribes and Territories plan, train, and exercise for the rapid receipt of the stockpile's resources

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-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
• Coordinated a variety of functions related to travel, administrative tasks, and logistical support.
• Developed and implemented new or modified guidelines, work processes, and administrative management practices.
• Worked with staff to organize and monitor paperwork associated with contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and memoranda of understanding.
• Planned all aspects of mail operations, including receipt, routing, dispatch, and control of packages, mail, and other written or printed communications, and provided guidance and assistance to staff personnel when needed.
• OR a Master's or equivalent graduate degree; or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in Business, Business Administration, Business Management, Communications, Management, Organizational Management, Public Administration or other related fields, or LL.B. or J.D.
• 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-09 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

The duties described are for the full-performance level. The duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Participates in the planning, designing, conducting, and coordinating training and exercise events with primary and support agencies.
• Manage Director’s travel, schedules, and workflow; ensure continuity in their absence.
• Guide staff on complex travel issues and review all travel authorizations and vouchers for compliance.
• Support personnel actions, advising on staffing, performance, and workforce planning needs.
• Lead and motivate staff, improve processes, and implement internal controls for efficient operations.
• Develop and update administrative procedures; communicate and support adoption across the Center.
• Coordinate tasks, track deadlines, and maintain communication with field operations and senior leadership.
• Support executive protocol, committees, meetings, and prepare correspondence and informational materials.
• Provide administrative and logistical support to the Director and represent their views to staff and stakeholders.

Position Start Date:

11/03/2026

Position Close Date:

11/09/2026

Salary Offered: 61722 - 89470 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