Clarification from the agency

Open to all qualified candidates eligible to work in the United States.

The Program Assistant serves as the principal clerical and administrative assistant for the Africa Program and is responsible for planning, executing and closing out the Program’s events, workshops, conferences, seminars, and meetings-

Specific duties may include but are not limited to: 

• Provides administrative, logistical, and research support for all Africa Program activities and events such as in-person and virtual meetings, conferences, briefings and working groups
• Performs research related to program activities and event topics related to African governance, development, security and U.S.-Africa relations
• Researches and conducts outreach to potential event speakers and identifies key policymakers, practitioners and subject matter experts on various issues related to U.S.-Africa relations
• Arrange travel and accommodations for the Director as well as the Program’s invitational travelers and scholars, preparing travel authorizations and vouchers to reimburse speakers and staff members for travel expenses
• In coordination with the Program Associate, tracks and reconciles travel-related expenditures for Africa Program accounts
• Provide support for all aspects of the Africa scholar program, including planning and executing associated events, virtual and telephonic meetings, handling all the pre-arrival preparations like travel logistics, liaising with communications staff on pre-arrival promotion and editing written materials, and overseeing the scholarship competition process
• Drafts, sends, and tracks invitations for meetings and events via email, books rooms and prepares all materials for meetings and events, including program agendas, signage, and tent-cards
• Coordinates the audio visual requirements for Program activities with the Wilson Center External Relations department
• Drafts and prepares a variety of correspondence, including letters, talking points, event summaries and reports, and other materials related to Project activities
• Organizes, maintains and regularly updates electronic files on all events, meetings, contacts, ongoing projects, and funding sources
• Assists with the production of meeting/conference reports, grant reports, impact assessments, briefing notes, grant applications and concept notes, and publications
• Assists with the recruitment, orientation, supervision, and out-processing of interns
  
  

Performs other duties as assigned

Conditions of employment

Trust-funded (this is not a federal government position). This position will not confer employment status in the federal government

• May be required to serve a one-year probationary period
• Pre- appointment background investigation
• Must participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds for salary payment
• Must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you meet the required specialized experience, or education as described, for the respective grade level in which you are applying:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicant must have at least 12 months of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-06 level, or equivalent pay band in other pay systems in the Federal government. This experience may also have been obtained in the private sector, but must demonstrate that it is comparable to the GS grade indicated. This experience must include activities such as:

Experience that provided you with a working knowledge of administrative functions; Experience working independently and setting priorities with very little supervisory control; experience arranging international and domestic travel, and logistical aspects of conference coordination; personal computer skills including the ability to use a variety of software packages, especially Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint, to perform/automate office work; ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including drafting a variety of documents, reports, and summaries for a professional audience; knowledge of formal, professional communication, proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style; and basic accounting, grant management, and budgetary skills and basic project support and calendar management skills; organizational and research skill

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

For more information on the qualifications for this position, link to OPM Qualification Standards

Volunteer Experience: 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.

You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applications will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described. The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:

• Ability
• Knowledge 
• Skill
• Competency