Clerical
and Office Support Positions
CLERICAL AND OFFICE SUPPORT POSITIONS
(PRIMARILY GRADES GS-2 TO GS-8)
Category
-
Office Automation Clerk, GS-2/3/4. Employees
perform a variety of general office duties, e.g., perform word-processing
and computer data entry; sort and distribute mail; screen telephone
callers and visitors; and maintain office records and files.
-
Program
Clerk (Office Automation), GS-2/3/4. Employees maintain
computerized data files; assemble material for mailing; perform
word processing; assist telephone callers and office visitors;
prepare travel documents; and assist in the processing of grant
proposals.
-
Program Assistant (Office Automation),
GS-5/6. Employees assist program managers
by personally handling the technician work associated with
a research grant program. Employees process grant awards, declinations
and withdrawals, e.g., review, verify, monitor and track proposal
activities; examine budgets for adjustments; prepare grant
packages; coordinate panel meetings; maintain grant files;
generate computerized reports; perform data entry; assist callers;
prepare travel documents; and prepare word-processing assignments.
-
Secretary
(Office Automation), GS-4/5/6. Employees serve as personal
assistants and perform a variety of general office work,
e.g., maintain the supervisor's calendar; review and control
incoming and outgoing correspondence; establish and maintain
office files; greet and screen callers and visitors; coordinate
meetings and make travel arrangements; draft and type a variety
of correspondence; and perform liaison functions.
Features
- Office Automation Clerk positions are normally filled at
grades GS-4 and below.
- A written examination may be required
for appointment to positions at grades GS-4 and below.
- A written
examination is not required for Secretary and Program Assistant
positions at grades GS-5 and above. Eligibility for these levels
is based on related experience and/or education.
- Appointments are made under the NSF delegated examining authority.
- NSF
Standing Registers of qualified candidates may be maintained
for the immediate referral of candidates for jobs which frequently
occur at grades GS-6 and below. Other positions are advertised
by individual vacancy announcements.
- Office support positions usually have promotion potential
to grade GS-6. Other opportunities at GS-7 and above (e.g.,
Senior Program Assistant, Personnel Assistant, Computer Assistant,
etc.) are periodically available and are normally filled by
internal competition.
Recruiting Sources
NSF standing registers, educational institutions, job fairs, placement
offices, employment services, other Federal agencies and advertisements.
Eligibility
- Candidates for positions at grades GS-4 and below must have
successfully passed the written clerical examination, when required,
and have a valid Notice of Results.
- Candidates must meet qualification
requirements.
- A typing speed of 40 words per minute, with
3 or fewer errors, is required for all positions.
- Candidates
must be a citizen or national of the United States.
The following table shows the minimum eligibility requirements
for office support positions at grades GS-2 to GS-6.
Grade |
Experience |
Or
Education |
General |
Specialized |
|
GS-2 |
3 months |
None |
High school graduation or
equivalent |
|
GS-3 |
6 months |
None
|
1 year above high school |
|
GS-4 |
1 year |
None |
2 years above high school |
|
GS-5 |
None
|
1 year |
4 years above high school |
|
GS-6+ |
None
|
1 year |
Generally, not applicable |
General experience is progressively responsible clerical, office, or other
work that indicates ability to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to perform
the duties of the position.
Specialized experience is experience in or related to the position that equipped
you with the knowledge and skills to successfully perform the duties of the
position. Specialized experience must have been equivalent to the next lower
grade level. Equivalent combinations of post-high school education and experience
may be used to meet total requirements at grades GS-5 and below. The civil
service written test is generally required for appointments at grades GS-4
and below. Call our personnel office, 703-292-8182, for testing locations.
All applicants must be able to type at least 40 words per minute, based on
a 5-minute sample, with no more than 3 errors.
|