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Administrative Support Assistant (OA)

Department of Commerce
National Institute of Standards and Technology

Summary

NIST is seeking highly qualified and motivated Administrative Support Assistants to provide comprehensive administrative support services. This role drives organizational efficiency by coordinating and executing a wide range of administrative tasks, including managing calendars, arranging conference rooms for meetings, preparing timecards, and purchasing supplies and equipment.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/08/2026 to 04/21/2026
Salary
$45,420 - $83,119 per year

The salary range is an approximation and will be subject to location and pay band at the time of selection.

Pay scale & grade
ZS 3 - 4
Locations
30 vacancies in the following locations:
Boulder, CO
Gaithersburg, MD
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
4
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
NIST-26-12929360-MP
Control number
864289000

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Duties

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In this position, you will:

  • serve as the principal office contact for phone calls and visitors
  • schedule meetings
  • process travel authorizations and vouchers
  • assist with onboarding and out-processing of staff
  • prepare timecards
  • manage time and attendance
  • serve as a bankcard holder and purchase equipment, supplies, and services
  • prepare documents, reports, and correspondence

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. citizenship
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Suitable for Federal employment
  • Merit applicants must meet time-in-grade/band requirements, as applicable
  • Must be able to type 40 words per minute
  • Bargaining Unit Position: No

Qualifications

To qualify for the ZS-III, applicants must meet one of the following:

Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 (ZS-II at NIST) level. Specialized experience is defined as experience scheduling meetings, answering phones, greeting visitors, and arranging and reserving conference rooms for meetings.

OR

4 years of education above high school

OR

A combination of education and experience

To qualify for the ZS-IV, applicants must possess 1 year ( 52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS- 06 ( ZS- III at NIST) level. Specialized experience is defined as experience preparing travel requests, managing calendars, reviewing and editing written communications, and completing bankcard purchases.

AND

In addition to the requirements above, all applicants must be able to type 40 words per minute.

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.

The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook.

If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration

Education

This position allows applicants to qualify with education. Transcripts must be submitted to validate that the education requirement has been met. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. However, an official copy will be required before a final offer of employment.

Use of foreign education for qualifications. An accredited organization must evaluate education completed outside of the U.S. to ensure that it is comparable to education received in accredited institutions in the U.S. Click here to view a listing of accredited organizations from the Department of Education's website. A copy of the foreign education evaluation (containing the results with course-by-course listing) is required with your application.

Additional information

This position is covered under NIST's Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS), a pay-for-performance system with excellent HR flexibilities to help NIST recruit and retain top talent Learn more about the APMS here!

  • We may share your application package with other selecting officials. Additional selections may be made through this vacancy.
  • Click all links in this vacancy announcement to view additional information or instructions.
  • You MUST select at least ONE ELIGIBILITY to be considered for this position.
  • All documents submitted for this announcement must be legible to make qualification or eligibility determinations.
  • A probationary period may be required.

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 here: Reasonable Accommodation Overview - Agency Resource Center

NIST strives to build a flexible and encouraging work environment to bring out the best in our employees. To help our employees balance responsibilities at home and at work, NIST offers a variety of work-life flexibilities. For more information, please visit our Careers website.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Please prepare a resume that is no longer than two pages; only the first two pages will be considered during the review process. Ensure your font is 11 points or larger and upload your resume as a .pdf document. This helps ensure your formatting looks exactly the way you intended.

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

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability, Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reading Comprehension, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork

To preview the questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12929360

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed in this announcement. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Referral: If you are among the top-qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview. You will be referred based on your eligibility (e.g., Merit candidate, veterans' preference, etc.). Please review the Evaluation Process on how applicants are reviewed and referred based upon how they wish to be considered for the position.

National Institute of Standards and Technology

NIST works with industry and science to advance innovation and improve quality of life.

Agency contact information

Lauren Beyer
Phone
(202) 738-2101
Email
lauren.beyer@nist.gov
Address
Applied Chemicals and Materials Division
100 Bureau Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at National Institute of Standards and Technology, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.nist.gov/careers

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