Staff Assistant

Summary This position is located in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), OPERATIONS DIVISION (OC). This position(s) primary purpose is to serves as the principal administrative and operational support assistant to the Associate Chief of Operations (ACO). Responsibilities As a Staff Assistant, your typical work assignments may include: Manages the ACO's calendar, appointments, correspondence, travel, and daily administrative priorities; prepares briefing materials, itineraries, agendas, and correspondence; and tracks delegated actions to ensure timely completion. Coordinates information and administrative guidance between the ACO, Field Division SAC offices, District and Resident offices, headquarters components, and other stakeholders to promote consistent communication and regional alignment. Compiles, reviews, and analyzes staffing, workload, travel, resource, and operational data from multiple field divisions; prepares summaries, status reports, and briefing materials to support regional oversight, planning, and executive decision-making. Plans and coordinates regional meetings, conferences, inspections, and special events; develops agendas and supporting materials; documents outcomes; and supports sensitive or high-priority projects and agency initiatives. Assists in implementing and monitoring compliance with agency policies and procedures; reviews administrative processes and recommends improvements; maintains official files, records, and databases; and ensures sensitive information and travel documentation are properly managed. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications For more information on eligibility requirements see: DEA Employment Eligibility Applicants must meet all of the required qualification requirements described below by the closing of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education or if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application. Applicants applying for the GS-09 level must meet one of the following requirements: A) Have at least one full year of qualifying specialized experience that is at least equivalent in difficulty and complexity to work performed at the GS-07 grade level and your experience includes performing at least three of the tasks below as part of your regular duties. Specialized 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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Qualifying experience must demonstrate at least three of the following: 1) Providing administrative support, including calendar management, travel coordination, correspondence, briefing materials, and action-item tracking. 2) Compiling workforce, operational, workload, travel, and resource data to support management planning and decision-making. 3) Coordinating administrative guidance, communications, and activities among multiple offices, organizational components, and stakeholders. 4) Assisting with improving administrative procedures, monitoring compliance, maintaining official records and databases, and handling confidential information. 5) Coordinating meetings, conferences, inspections, special events, and high-priority administrative or operational projects. OR B) Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.B or J.D., if related. NOTE: Graduate education must provide the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. OR C) A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. Applicants applying for the GS-11 level must meet one of the following requirements: A) Have at least one full year of qualifying specialized experience that is at least equivalent in difficulty and complexity to work performed at the GS-09 grade level and your experience includes performing at least three of the tasks below as part of your regular duties. Specialized 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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Qualifying experience must demonstrate at least three of the following: 1) Managing executive workflows and institutional knowledge by screening and prioritizing high-level correspondence, evaluating critical action items, and ensuring alignment with organizational priorities. 2) Analyzing and evaluating workforce, operational, workload, and budgetary resource data to identify systemic trends, forecasting errors, or resource shortfalls. 3) Serving as the principal administrative liaison and advisor to integrate policies, communications, and operational activities across diverse organizational components. 4) Developing or improving administrative procedures, monitoring compliance, maintaining official records and databases, and handling confidential information. 5) Coordinating complex, high-profile conferences, comprehensive inspections, and critical operational projects. OR B) Education: Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree NOTE: Graduate education must provide the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. OR C) A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. Additional information on the position qualification requirements are located in the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Qualifications Standards Handbook. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education See the qualification section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials, visit: If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Additional Information Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. ( Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to similar positions in any Division/Office listed in this announcement. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions. Recruitment and/or Relocation Incentives may be considered and approved under conditions specified provided the agency has determined that the position is likely to be difficult to fill in the absence of an incentive and funding for such an incentive is available. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period, during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period OR trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. If eligible, telework and/or remote work agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Please note that any approved remote work arrangement is subject to the locality pay area of the alternative telework worksite.