Special Assistant to Deputy Secretary (Administrative Officer 3)

THE POSITION

Are you looking for a unique opportunity to work directly with the Deputy Secretary and play a meaningful part in advancing the Commonwealth's mission to expand opportunities for small and diverse businesses? As Special Assistant, you will gain direct exposure to executive level decision making, lead and support high impact projects, collaborate across agencies, and help shape initiatives that strengthen supplier diversity statewide. Our ideal candidate will be data-driven, a strategic thinker, leader, and experienced with small business programs and/or procurement and economic development initiatives. This is an ideal position for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment, enjoys strategic problem solving, and is looking to grow quickly through hands on experience, visibility, and leadership development.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This role provides broad administrative, strategic, and operational support to advance the priorities of the Office of Business Inclusion and Supplier Development. It supports high level coordination, planning, and communication across the Deputate. As a Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary, you will perform the following duties:

• Policy Support: Assist with developing goals, shaping administrative procedures, and guiding their implementation across bureaus
• Project Coordination: Oversee major initiatives, track progress, and maintain clear communication among stakeholders
• Meeting Preparation: Prepare agendas, attend meetings on behalf of leadership, and document key follow-up actions
• Communication Management: Draft written materials, screen incoming inquiries, and determine proper routing or escalation
• Operational Review: Examine procedures, suggest improvements, and help streamline daily operations
• Calendar Oversight: Coordinate schedules, anticipate conflicts, and ensure leadership is prepared with necessary information

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday, with 30-minute lunch.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, two (2) days remote and three (3) days in office. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Harrisburg. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• One year as an Administrative Officer 2 (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• Four years of experience in progressively responsible and varied office management of staff work in public or private organization, including experience in personnel management budgeting or procurement; and such training as may have been gained through graduation from a four-year college or university; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training.

Additional Requirements:

• You must have two years of experience regularly interacting with executive leadership, employees, external stakeholders, or members of the public in a professional setting that required you to communicate effectively, build collaborative working relationships, and resolve sensitive or complex issues.
• You must have two years of experience working collaboratively with diverse groups of stakeholders who have differing or competing priorities, including situ