PROGRAM ASST., VETERANS & HEROES to AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM (Guthrie Agricultural Center, Guthrie, WV)

Job Summary

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture seeks a Program Assistant to support the Veterans & Heroes to Agriculture Program at the Guthrie Agricultural Center in Guthrie, WV.

Responsibilities

• Affords veterans with membership information and facilitates program enrollment.
• Aids the veterans' community and program members by directing them to the appropriate resources.
• Affords relevant and timely information to membership.
• Affords project specific scheduling and tracking time, expenses and project progress.
• Affords methods or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance.
• Creates project tracking spreadsheets for ease of data collection.
• Affords work priorities to accommodate shifts in program priorities.
• Works in coordination with partners and WVDA staff to ensure program/project deliverables.
• Demonstrates professionalism in all communications with veterans, their families, minorities, displaced workers or any other demographic we serve.
• Tracks performance of grant and project activities and compiles reports.
• Develops relationships with project participants, contractors, subject matter experts and groups to facilitate communications and assist with their activities.
• Answers calls, routes to the appropriate person, takes messages, greets in-person inquiries and answers questions about the program as necessary.
• Maintains an inventory of all supplies for projects; ensures that any items that are required to be recorded in OASIS is properly tagged.
• Protects the confidentiality of all personal information including military discharge records and medical history.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in agriculture related field, administration, business, project management, or a related field, preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in either administration, project management or agriculture/business administration. Some knowledge gained through education and/or practical application/experience in a medical field or the health care industry preferred. Veteran status preferred.
• Valid driver’s license is required.
• Satisfactory completion of pre-employment drug testing.
• Satisfactory completion of pre-employment law enforcement background investigation, including DMV records.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong customer service orientation.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills; demonstrates ability to use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling in verbal or written communications.
• Ability to develop/compile and communicate information that is timely, accurate, clear and concise.
• Knowledge of standard office equipment and practices and procedures.
• Ability to work collaboratively or independently as needed.
• Ability to adapt quickly to change; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternative solutions.
• Thorough knowledge of security requirements related to confidentiality of personal information.
• Proficient computer skills including website construction and maintenance, word processing, publication creation, spreadsheets, databases, and email.
• Proficient in the use of various communications technologies to arrange meetings via Skype, Teleconference or other media.

Education and Experience

• Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in agriculture related field, administration, business, project management, or a related field, preferred.
• Experience: Demonstrated experience in either administration, project management or agriculture/business administration. Some knowledge gained through education and/or practical application/experience in a medical field or the health care industry preferred. Veteran status preferred.

Additional Requirements

• Valid driver’s license is required.
• Satisfactory completion of pre-employment drug testing.
• Satisfactory completion of pre-employment law enforcement background investigation, including DMV records.
• Maintain a positive image of the Commissioner, West Virginia Department of Agriculture, and the State of West Virginia.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity employer.