Program Support Assistant

Location: Manhattan, KS (Onsite)
Employment Type: Full-Time (40 hours/week)
Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (excluding Federal holidays)
Contract: USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) – Center for Grain and Animal Health Research (CGAHR)

Position Summary

Cetechs is seeking a highly organized and professional Program Support Assistant to provide administrative support to multiple research units at the USDA Agricultural Research Service's Center for Grain and Animal Health Research (CGAHR) in Manhattan, Kansas. This position supports scientific and administrative staff by ensuring daily office operations run efficiently while maintaining compliance with federal administrative procedures.

This is an onsite position supporting the following USDA research units:

• Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit (ABADRU)
• Hard Winter Wheat Genetics Research Unit (HWWGRU)
• Grain Quality & Structure Research Unit (GQSRU)
• Stored Product Insect & Engineering Research Unit (SPIERU)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The selected candidate will provide administrative and office support including:

• Answer telephones and greet visitors
• Manage calendars and schedule appointments
• Coordinate meetings and conference rooms
• Prepare correspondence, reports, memoranda, invoices, and other documents
• Draft, edit, and proofread communications
• Maintain electronic and paper filing systems
• Process incoming and outgoing mail
• Assist with bookkeeping and account tracking
• Maintain office records and documentation
• Support multiple managers and scientific staff with day-to-day administrative functions
• Perform other administrative duties as assigned in support of USDA operations.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent (Associate's degree preferred)
• Minimum 2–3 years of administrative or executive support experience
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Professional customer service and interpersonal skills
• Ability to prioritize multiple assignments independently
• Experience maintaining confidential information
• Strong attention to detail
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 including:
  • Outlook
  • Word
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Teams
• Basic accounting, bookkeeping, or invoice processing experience
• Ability to quickly learn new computer systems and software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Federal Government offices
• Experience working in scientific, laboratory, university, or research environments
• Knowledge of federal administrative procedures

Security Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be a U.S. Citizen
• Successfully obtain and maintain a USDA Public Trust background investigation
• Meet all USDA personnel security requirements prior to beginning work.

Work Environment

• 100% onsite
• Standard office environment
• Government-furnished workstation and equipment
• No travel required.

Desired Skills

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Excellent organizational abilities
• Independent decision-making
• Professional written communication
• Strong customer service skills
• Attention to detail
• Reliability and dependability
• Ability to manage competing priorities
• Collaborative teamwork
• Professionalism in a Federal work environment.

Why Join Cetechs?

Cetechs is a trusted federal contractor dedicated to supporting government agencies with exceptional professionals. We offer a collaborative work environment, competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, paid federal holidays, and opportunities to contribute to the mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its nationally recognized agricultural research programs.