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Administrative Technician (OA)

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
NIAID

Summary

If you enjoy working across a variety of administrative functions like office operations, budgeting, procurement, HR, and travel coordination, this could be a great opportunity for you. In this role, you'll help keep the office running smoothly by managing records, coordinating meetings, and supporting staff and leadership with day-to-day needs.

If you're organized, detail-oriented, and enjoy supporting a busy team, consider applying and making an impact in a fast-paced environment!

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/04/2026 to 05/08/2026
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$46,610 - $75,059 per year

Salary displayed is the absolute maximum and minimum allowed.

Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 7
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Montgomery County, 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
7
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
NIH-GR-MP-26-12946684
Control number
867024000

Duties

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GS-05 Grade Level:

  • Develop and maintain filing systems.
  • Ensure that the maintenance of records meets policies, procedures, and unwritten guidelines.
  • Provide support in the areas of space, facilities and parking.
  • Monitor and acquire office supplies for the workplace, ensure adequate stock of all purchases, and reorders supplies as appropriate.
  • Monitor the use and rate of expenditures of select items in program budgets.
  • Perform a variety of human resource related duties such as preparation of personnel packages and updates, assistance with the recruitment process, assistance with in-and-out processing of staff, and maintenance of updated reports on personnel actions.
  • Arranges travel for staff members, including scheduling transportation, arranging hotel accommodations; keeping in touch with staff en-route; and preparing travel vouchers, travel orders, and requests for travel advances.
GS-06 Grade Level:
  • Attend meetings and prepare and distribute the minutes of the meetings.
  • Assist in coordinating the logistics of meetings for senior staff by scheduling conference rooms, ensuring audiovisual support, making copies of handouts, sending out packets.
  • Prepare and assure that procurement requests for supplies, materials and services are documented, justified and cleared appropriately. Communicate with vendors to ensure that products and services meet program requirements.
  • Identify, compile, and provide a wide variety of detailed budgetary data related to different accounts, object classes, and line items in support of human resources, procurement, travel, etc.
  • Perform a variety of human resource related duties such as preparation of personnel packages and updates, assistance with the recruitment process, assistance with in-and-out processing of staff, and maintenance of updated reports personnel actions.
  • Perform office service processes and requirements such as document preparation, printing, copying, fax, mail, telephone and other communications services.
  • Arrange travel for staff, including scheduling transportation, arranging hotel accommodations; keeping in touch with staff en-route; and preparing travel vouchers, travel orders, and requests for travel advances.
GS-07 (full-performance) Grade Level:
  • Advise supervisor on the practical and technical aspects of office administration, to include procurement, budget, human resources, office automation, training, timekeeping, and travel, and performs staff support work in each of these areas.
  • Serve as main point of contact for property control. Ensure that inventories are accomplished according to schedule, that sensitive items are signed for, and that property identification tags are affixed to the property.
  • Update the office's supply sources catalogues; purchases supplies, equipment, and services through open market purchase by blanket agreement, cash or field purchase order, or similar methods; and processes and tracks purchase documents. Communicate with vendors to ensure that products and services meet program requirements.
  • Provide technical assistance in the formulation and development of budget estimates.
  • Perform a variety of human resource related duties including preparation of personnel packages and updates, assistance with the recruitment process, assistance with in-and-out processing of staff, and maintenance of updated reports on personnel actions.
  • Manage inventory of automation hardware, applications software, operating systems software, testing instrumentation, and other related items.
  • Arrange travel for staff, including scheduling transportation, arranging hotel accommodations; keeping in touch with staff en-route; and preparing travel vouchers, travel orders, and requests for travel advances.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
  • Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing date of this announcement, including time in grade.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
  • The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
  • Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Based on your appointment, a one or two-year trial/probationary period may be required. A decision regarding your continued employment with NIH will be made as you near the end of this period.
  • This position requires the skill of a qualified typist (at least 40 or more words per minute with 3 or fewer errors in a 5 minute sample).

Qualifications

In order to qualify for an Administrative Technician (OA), GS-0303 position at the GS-05 level, you must have:

A. completed 4 years of education above high school; OR

B. 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: (1) maintaining an office filing system; (2) managing office supplies (i.e., checking stock, determining inventory levels, and verifying receipt of delivered items); (3) maintaining timekeeping records; AND (4) receiving and directing telephone calls and visitors; OR

C. a combination of post high school education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

In order to qualify for an Administrative Technician (OA), GS-0303 position at the GS-06 level, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: (1) preparing procurement requests for supplies, materials and services; (2) tracking the use and rate of expenditures of select items in program budgets; (3) coordinating meeting and travel logistics (e.g., creating itineraries, finding affordable airfare and hotels, identifying meeting locations, etc.); AND (4) responding to customer or client inquiries (e.g., forwarding/directing messages, confirming customer orders, keeping customers informed of order status).

In order to qualify for an Administrative Technician (OA), GS-0303 position at the GS-07 level, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: (1) serving as an office records custodian by sorting, classifying, maintaining, and, purging official files; (2) gathering data for use in budget allocations; (3) performing a variety of personnel related duties, such as preparing personnel packages or in-processing new staff; (4) placing procurement orders and following up with vendors for status updates; AND (5) coordinating meeting and travel logistics (e.g., creating itineraries, finding affordable airfare and hotels, identifying meeting locations, etc).

In addition, at all grade levels, you must be able to type at least 40 or more words per minute with 3 or fewer errors in a 5 minute sample.

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

Do not copy and paste the duties or specialized experience from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.

Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12946684

Education

If you qualify based on education in lieu of specialized experience, you are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application packages. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.

Additional information

  • This position is designated as a "non-emergency/teleworker" position and the selected candidate will be considered a "non-emergency/teleworker" employee. In the event of a closure, you must be available to telework or request leave.
  • Visit Help Applying for helpful information on the application process.
  • 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 Information
  • NIH may repay certain outstanding Federally insured student loans to facilitate the recruitment and retention of highly qualified people. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
  • A newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for prior work experience or active-duty uniformed service that otherwise would not be creditable for the purpose of determining his or her annual leave accrual rate. All creditable service must be directly related to the duties of the position being filled and decisions to allow for such credit must be finalized prior to the selectee's entrance on duty. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations
  • A newly appointed or reappointed individual may receive a recruitment incentive. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
  • Veterans' Preference only applies to Schedule A (disability appointment), HHS Reemployment Priority List (RPL) Eligibles, HHS Priority Reemployment List (PRL) Eligibles, and Veterans Recruitment Appointments (if applicable).
  • At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities: telework compressed schedules, flexible schedules.

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies:

  • Accountability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork

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 position(s) advertised in this announcement are covered by the agency's Reemployment Priority List (RPL). RPL candidates will be rated, placed into one of the quality categories below, and referred to the hiring office, once veterans' preference is applied.

  • Qualified
  • Well Qualified
  • Best Qualified

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least 80 points on the assessment(s) and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the largest biomedical research funding organization in the world. NIH is made up of 27 Institutes and Centers, each with a specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems. NIH employs approximately 18,000 employees in varied occupations, all supporting research efforts that improve health and save lives. For more information on NIH's mission and goals, and its 27 Institutes and Centers, visit the NIH website.

Virtually explore the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Bethesda campus, learn about scientific research, and get to know NIH community members who are working to help people live longer, healthier lives: https://www.nih.gov/virtual-tour/.

Agency contact information

Global Jobs
Email
globaljobs@mail.nih.gov
Address
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
US

Visit our careers page

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

https://hr.nih.gov/working-nih/work-life

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