Administrative Specialist 1 (Program Assistant)

Initial Posting Date: 02/23/2024 Application Deadline: 03/05/2024 Agency: Department of Agriculture Salary Range: 3,218 - 4,755 Position Type: Employee Position Title: Administrative Specialist 1 (Program Assistant) Job Description: Are you looking to put your computer experience and database knowledge to use, also being detail oriented and accurate when it comes to working with many reports? If so, this job is for you, the Natural Resource Program Area is currently recruiting for two (2) Administrative Specialist 1 (Program Assistant) positions.
Learn more about the Oregon Department of Agriculture: At ODA, employees work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with ensuring healthy natural resources, environment, and economy for Oregonians now and in the future through inspection and certification, regulation, and promotion of agriculture and food.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are embedded in ODA’s core values.
Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Learn more about what we do here! An Administrative Specialist 1 (AS1) position performs a variety of administrative support functions for the Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) program in the Natural Resources Policy Area.
This position is a member of the CAFO team in the department’s program to prevent and control water pollution and watershed degradation from livestock operations.
This position requires judgement in analyzing situations and selecting the most appropriate course of action within established procedures.
The position will acquire and maintain up to date working knowledge of the CAFO Program in addition to a good general knowledge of ODA and other agency programs.
Click here to view a full description of this position.
The Administrative Specialist 1 (AS1) for our Product Registrations program area will provide administrative and computer-based support to the department’s regulatory programs for pesticides, fertilizers, agricultural minerals, limes, agricultural amendments.
Most work of this position pertains to pesticide and fertilizer registrations, but support is provided to all program areas as needed.
Such support includes: the development and maintenance of databases regarding program activities; developing and distributing printed information on programs to the public and affected individuals; responding to information inquiries, generally by telephone and emails, from the public and affected individuals regarding program requirements and activities.
Click here to view a full description of this position.
The Administrative Specialist 1 (Program Assistant) is a full-time permanent position located in the Salem office, and is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
This position follows a Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM work schedule.
Working conditions: Daily contact with agency staff, public, industry, and government cooperators to provide information and resolve problems relating to division programs, policies, rules, and laws.
Occasional contact with angry or concerned public regarding division projects or policies.
Limited overnight travel.
This is what you need to qualify: Required: Attach a resume to your application.
Demonstrate how you meet the qualifications and requested skills in your application.
Applications without both requested documents attached will not move forward in the recruitment process.
Minimum Qualifications: Two years of secretarial or basic administrative support experience that includes records processing, generating documents, and gathering and sorting data; OR An associate degree in general office occupations and one year of experience with records processing, generating documents, and gathering and sorting data; OR An equivalent combination of education and experience.
What we are looking for (Desired Attributes): Bilingual in Spanish Skill in performing a variety of clerical functions.
Skill in communicating orally and in writing with a variety of people, answering questions and gathering and exchanging information.
Skill in organizing work efficiently and exercising independent judgment in making appropriate decisions concerning work methods.
Skill in applying specific, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to work performed.
Excellent attention to detail.
Ability to remain objective and analyze a problem from multiple angles before coming to a conclusion.
Focus on providing excellent service to both internal and external customers.
Teamwork requiring good communication and respectful behavior toward customers, coworkers, and supervisors is important.
Demonstrated work experience in Microsoft Office.
How to apply: Ensure your application shows your relevant work experience and/or related education; this may be in the form of a filled-out application and/or through an attached resume.
Ensure your cover letter includes specific examples of how your background and experience relate to this position.
Upon submitting your application, please be sure to check your Workday account for additional tasks to complete such as questionnaires and to request veteran’s preferences (if applicable).
What’s in it for you.
The State of Oregon offers a competitive and affordable health and benefits package, including excellent medical, vision and dental coverage, paid holidays off, and personal business leave, as well as paid and accrued vacation leave and sick leave.
In addition to standard medical benefits and employee leave, the state also provides additional optional benefits, such as basic life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, deferred compensation savings program, and flexible spending accounts for health care and childcare expenses.
More information is available from the Public Employees Benefit Board.
Additional Information: Current state employees, please apply through your employee Workday account.
Per the Pay Equity Law passed in 2017, a pay equity analysis will be conducted to determine what pay step the successful candidate will be offered.
The analysis will be based on the relevant experience, education, training, and certifications documented in the application materials.
On average, candidates new to state service will most likely be offered compensation in the lower to mid-level of the salary range.
Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details on the classification, or you may visit our website for information on the job offer process following pay equity.
Prior to making a job offer, an internal pay equity assessment will be completed.
The successful candidate’s professional experience and education will be compared to the state employee workforce performing work of a comparable character to determine appropriate placement in the salary range.
Candidates new to state service typically receive a salary within the first half of the salary range.
NOTE: Please ensure you’ve provided a thorough and updated application as it pertains to the position for which you are applying.
Your application materials will be used to determine salary based on a pay equity assessment.
For further information, please visit the Pay Equity Project homepage.
United States Employment Eligibility: The Oregon Department of Agriculture does not offer visa sponsorship.
Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States.
The Oregon Employment Department is an E-Verify employer.
If you are the successful candidate, you must present your I-9 acceptable documents (See page 3) for employment verification.
Questions/Need Help? If you have questions about the recruitment or need an accommodation for the recruitment process, please contact Lee Whiting at lee.
whiting@oda.
oregon.
gov or call 503-986-4585.