All employees performing on this task order require a Top-Secret Security Clearance

Administrative Assistant for the Bureau of Legislative Affairs (H) to provide schedule management, travel planning, public and customer contact support, mail and correspondence support, reporting assistance, and other administrative duties as assigned.  The purpose of the task order is to provide a professional service employee to serve as a Legislative Management Officer (LMO) for the H Congressional Travel Office (H/CTO) under the supervision of the Director of CTO, and to provide two professional service employees to serve as Administrative Assistants. These positions are eligible for telework, as determined by agency and further by bureau and office policy. 2) Task Purpose: The LMO is required to provide support services to the Bureau of Legislative Affairs Congressional Travel Office (H/CTO) to resolve a wide range of unanticipated and complex administrative problems encountered by posts worldwide in managing official Congressional foreign travel, and to support official Congressional travel overseas. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as a liaison between the H Assistant Secretary and senior officials both within and outside the Department, keeping them informed of actions taken by the Assistant Secretary or views on problems with which they are concerned and follow up on actions requested of other offices or administrative commitments made; keeps the Assistant Secretary continually informed. Transmits and interprets instructions from the Assistant Secretary to members of staff and others in the Department.
• Manages the Assistant Secretary’s travel, sensitive correspondence flow, changing schedules, senior-level visitors and fast paced multiple office complexities in a highly visible office environment.
• Carries out special and confidential assignments which require a high degree of tact and diplomacy, a comprehensive knowledge of the operations of the Department and of problems with which the Assistant Secretary is concerned, and a personal knowledge of the Assistant Secretary’s views. On such matters, gathers information and material, analyzes it and prepares recommendations or reports for signature.
• Providing administrative and clerical support to bureau management and staff as assigned
• Maintains and coordinates the Assistant Secretary’s calendar of substantive appointments and ensures that priority needs are considered and met.
• Receives and processes all requests for meetings, speaking engagements, and invitations which are directed to the Assistant Secretary. Follow up to ensure proper execution of commitments and obligations incurred in telephone conversations, meetings and invites. He/she makes final commitments, refers matters to staff members or reschedules appointments as the incumbent, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary, deems necessary.
• Advises of appointments and other commitments which might have a bearing on future decisions. The incumbent handles requests for meetings and appointments and decides the distribution of time and, working closely with the Special Assistant, as needed, prepares or requests preparation of briefs indicating purpose of briefings by appropriate officers; performs necessary research for materials relevant to 

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

• A basic foundation of administrative concepts and practices sufficient to perform independently such duties to enable timely and efficient communications. • Four years of senior government administrative or secretarial support experience.
• One year of State Department experience, preferred.
• One year experience with dealing with the Departments travel system.
• Experience with arranging travel for Department employees preferred.
• Operational knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Excel, Word, Microsoft Windows, and related computer-based programs.
• One year of Office 365 experience preferred.
• E2 travel software training/experience preferred.
• Ability to quickly learn other computer-based programs, e.g., WebTatel with minimal external assistance.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing in order to effectively communicate with staff in American embassies and consulates, Congressional offices and others involved in foreign travel arrangements, requests, issues and conflicts. Experience expressing complex, sensitive subject matter both orally and in writing in a clear, logical, concise, and persuasive manner.