The administrative officer position is utilized in most executive department agencies and with military units such as the National Guard. The federal government employs 9,285 administrative officers in all cabinet level agencies and most large independent agencies. There re 340 working overseas. The largest employer is the Veterans Administration with 1,809 followed by Health and Human Services with 1,301. The Departments of the Army, Navy and Air Force employ a combined 2,272. This article covers the relevant duties, qualifications, and education requirements for this position.

Administrative Officer (GS-0341) (Military Unit)

Eric Brenner, is a GS-0341-11, administrative officer who is stationed at HQ/41 Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) in Clackamas, OR.

Brenner was originally hired as a training specialist stationed at state headquarters in Salem OR. He transferred to Clackamas as a way to broaden his current assignment. Brenner is involved in day-to-day operations of a brigade and he has direct influence over plans and policies for the betterment of the brigade.

Brenner remarks that, “the job is ideal for someone that enjoys operational planning and execution at the brigade level, understands National Guard personnel budgets, and can manage multiple projects at the same time. They must understand fiscal law, budgeting practices, the Army’s force generation model, and Army training priorities and make recommendations to the commander and senior staff members.” 

Brenner serves as an administrative officer in a military unit, and he cites “that it is considerably different than other governmental positions. My duties as an administrative officer mostly resemble those of a staff major in the operations section of an IBCT headquarters. It is a rewarding career that carries the potential for upward mobility and compliments my National Guard career.”

An administrative officer is associated with a military unit is considered a civilian employee and is placed in an Excepted Service position. It requires membership in a state’s National Guard or Reserve component and is a requirement for employment. The employee will be required to wear a military uniform and this is a condition of employment.

They are the officer in charge and serve as the principal staff officer and primary advisor to the Commander for providing leadership, oversight, information, analysis, guidance, and recommendations on readiness and day-to-day matters of the command.

Major Duties

The administrative officer is a full-time representative of the commander and there are numerous responsibilities involved. They ensure goals are in accordance with higher headquarters directions. Oversee the development and execution of both long and short-range plans and programs. Provide instructions and guidance to staff sections in conducting daily activities. They are responsible for making day-to-day decisions for the commander relevant to personnel and equipment assignments, instructions to staff members. Directs, coordinates, trains and oversees the work of employees.

The administrative officer has oversight in the development of unit goals, provides readiness reports. Evaluates organizational readiness reports and will provide recommendations for improvement or modifications to the organizational priorities based upon the ever-changing needs of the organization. Finally, they make sure that the National Guard armories and facilities under the control of the command are properly utilized and cared for. Arranges for repair, upkeep, and custodial services for the facilities.

General Experience

The employee is responsible for providing a variety of management services that is essential to the direction and operation of the organization. The most important qualifications are an extensive knowledge and understanding of management principles, practices, methods and techniques, and skill integrating management services with the general management of the organization.

Specialized experience

At the GS-12 level, either you must have a Bachelors Degree or must have 3 years of general and specialized experience. This can include education or training in analyzing problems, identifying significant factors, gathering relevant data and providing solutions. You will need to have experience in preparing reports, plans, policies, and various correspondence. You should be able to evaluate objectives and develop appropriate plans. Understand the utilization of the organization, its mission, and the organizational staff procedures. Experience in the use of quantitative and qualitative techniques for analyzing and measuring effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of administrative and technical programs. Finally, have experience in both analytical and investigative techniques. You must be able to lead, direct, and assign work to personnel.

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply. The salary range for a GS-0341-12/12 is $73,265.00– $95,243.00 per year.

LTC Kotz, is a GS-1102/12 administrative officer, assigned to HHD, Joint Force Headquarters, and Oregon Military Department.

Kotz indicates, “the most exciting thing about being an administrative officer is the flexibility within the series to conduct different types of jobs. He would recommend this to any officer early in their career. Finally, I would tell a young officer to make sure that they have a plan “B” and continue to diversify their work experience”.

Administrative Officer (GS-0341) (Non-Military)

The administrative officer in the competitive service isn’t associated with a military unit and they do not have to report to a commander, nor wear a uniform.

Duties

The employee assists a supervisor, other office personnel, or managers in providing various management activities. The activities generally include Federal operations management, human capital management, contract administration, property and space management and other functional areas. Other additional functions and responsibilities include assisting in research and investigating new ways to improve programs, employee recruitment, performance management, employee recognition, contract initiation, office moves, evacuation planning/emergency preparedness, and team building.

Maintains complete files on employees, contracts and recruitment programs. Serves as a liaison on various matters such as recruitment, placement, payroll, performance appraisals, awards, initiating personnel actions and collaborates with personnel specialists in personal related matters. Can advise management on such topics as contract administration, acquisition, recruiting operations, social media strategy, web content and branding, effective performance management and workplace diversity. They can also serve on various task forces.

Qualifications

At a GS-09 level, you must have at least 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-07 level or a Masters Degree or equivalent degree. At the GS-11 level you must have 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-09 level. The specialized experience can include performing a variety of management and administrative services in the operation of an office. This includes professional and support staff recruitment, operations and management reports, property management issues, organizational practices, procurement, and human resource allocation. You must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate degree.

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position. A GS-0341-09/11 salary range is $52,668.00 to $82,840.00 per year. 

Credits

• Christopher L. Ingersoll, Public Affairs Specialist, Oregon Military Dept.
• The Oregon Military Dept. public relations department supplied the photographs used in this article.

Administrative Officer Job Description & Vacancy list

Administrative Officer

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In part 1 of this series we discussed the history and some of the important programs relevant to the BLM. In part 2 of this series, we will explore the Petroleum Engineer (GS-0881) career path.

Pinedale, WY Well, photograph provided by the Bureau of Land Management.

Adrienne Brumley is a GS-0881-13, who works in the BLM New Mexico State Office in Santa Fe, NM. Brumley states, “I was always interested in science generally and for a career. Petroleum engineering requires knowledge of geology and includes designing wellbores that will be used to produce oil and gas”.

Brumley is excited because, “she is able to design wellbores and I get to see the results of that design immediately. I enjoy the dynamic nature of working in different areas geologically and in adapting wellbore design for individual circumstances. While some things can be predicted in oil and gas, there are aspects such as anomalies in geology, subsurface pressures, the nature of horizontal drilling, and the evolving technology of hydraulic fracturing that provide challenges (excitement!!) that keep my job interesting and rewarding”.

Brumley on the education aspects: “the field of study requires basic skills and knowledge in areas such as fluid dynamics, rock mechanics, geology, structural design, and principles of reservoir management. Some other areas of specialization include as reservoir management, drilling, production, pipeline and plant management, research, stimulation technology and law”.

Petroleum Engineers

This career path involves a unique set of skills. The petroleum engineer provides professional and technical support and makes recommendations relevant to oil and gas operations on both Federal and Indian lands. They are responsible for investigating accidents from drilling, blowouts, and fires to determine the cause and provide recommendations for issuance of safety alerts when required. Additionally, they will review applications for permits to drill, ensure that the designs will protect the environment and personnel from hazardous materials. The petroleum engineer makes sure that rigs and the equipment is safe and can stand extreme pressures, and that abandoned wells are properly plugged, to protect against subsurface formation sand and other issues.

The education requirement is at least a Bachelor’s degree in professional engineering. The courses required include differential and integral calculus, courses in at least 5 of the following 7 areas of engineering science or physics, statics, dynamics, strength of materials (stress-strain relationships), fluid mechanics, hydraulics, thermodynamics, electrical fields and circuits, nature and properties of materials or other comparable area of fundamental engineering science, physics, soil mechanics, or electronics.

Two employees were interviewed for this article. Their unique insight gives valuable information on what is it like to be a Petroleum Engineer.

William Tambekou, is a GS-0881-11, who works in the BLM Farmington Field Office in Farmington, NM. Tambekou points out, “As a teenager, I was really intrigued by the science behind the extraction of oil and natural gas. In addition, the influence that oil and natural gas had socially and politically was impressive to me and created an element of curiosity which led me to choose it as a career”.

Tambekou suggests, “The most exciting part of being a petroleum engineer is that the oil industry is regularly evolving; there is a constant emergence of new technologies, which gives one the opportunity to learn every day. It is very diverse, you have the opportunity to work is such areas as drilling, production, reservoir, etc”.

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply. The salary range for a GS-07/12 is $43,328.00 to $99,920.00 / Per Year. You must also have 1 year of professional engineering experience at the next lowest grade in Federal service

In the final installment of this series, we will examine the planning and environmental coordinator (GS-0301) and hydrologist (GS-1315) career paths.

Job Listings

• Petroleum Engineer

Credits

• Samantha Storms, Public Relations Officer, National Office of New Media, BLM Washington D.C.
• The Bureau of Land Management’s public relations department supplied the photographs used in this article.
• The BLM web site at http://www.blm.gov

Helpful Career Planning Tools