Program Support Associate

Posting number: 27-00227

Department: 542 Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Job classification: Administrative Support Assistant 2

Posting type: Open

Categories: Clerical & Data Entry, Natural Resources, Office and Administrative Support

Summary

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages all applicants to upload a current resume and cover letter to their online application.

The Iowa DNR is seeking an organized and detail-oriented professional to serve as an Administrative Support Assistant 2 (ASA2) for the Field Services & Compliance Bureau within Field Office 2, located in Mason City, Iowa. Working under the direct supervision of the Public Service Manager 1, this full-time position performs essential, high-volume administrative duties that directly support environmental protection programs and technical field staff.

Primary Responsibilities The core focus of this role involves program-specific support and data compliance management. The successful candidate will independently manage the Field Office 2 Monthly Operating Report (MOR) and Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) inboxes, which support hundreds of active public water supply systems and permitted facilities. Responsibilities include reviewing incoming environmental compliance reports for data errors, inputting records into state and national EPA databases, and helping facility operators troubleshoot report submission issues. Additionally, this position assists senior staff by independently managing the administrative cycle of approximately 100 non-compliance letters annually gathering documentation, drafting formal correspondence, and tracking certified mail receipts.

A significant portion of time is also dedicated to public records management and digitization. Serving as the primary public records liaison for the field office, the ASA2 prioritizes and digitizes active files in accordance with bureau scanning guidance and state records retention schedules. The position manages both paper and electronic filing systems, handles file searches for office staff, and directly responds to open records requests.

As the primary initial point of contact for Field Office 2, this position delivers vital customer service by greeting visitors, screening incoming telephone calls, and answering routine inquiries. The ASA2 ensures the public is promptly connected to the appropriate technical staff and drafts standardized email responses for common programmatic questions.

Finally, this position manages essential office logistics. This includes sorting and processing incoming and outgoing mail, drafting and proofreading general correspondence, and scheduling meetings, appointments, and public outreach events. Under the oversight of the supervisor and the office Administrative Assistant 2, the employee will also schedule and proctor operator certification testing, record incoming application fees, order office supplies, process invoices, and coordinate basic maintenance for office equipment and state vehicles.

Essential Functions:

To be successful, the individual in this role must communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with a diverse range of public and professional customers. The position requires the ability to independently compile and enter environmental data with high accuracy under strict deadlines, organize multiple competing priorities, and explain basic DNR program information clearly. Infrequent travel is required.

Critical Job Competencies:

The ideal candidate demonstrates strong core values of accountability, integrity, high productivity, and a collaborative, team-oriented approach to maintaining positive working relationships within the agency.

What You Get From Us:

• A competitive pay plan and rewarding work. 
• Insurance benefits that start the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
  (Premiums can start as low as $64/month for single and $210/month for family coverage).
• Separate vacation and sick leave accruals that start on the first day and can roll over annually.
• Nine paid holidays/year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) retirement package with employer match.
• Optional deferred compensation (457/401A) plan with employer match.
• Professional training opportunities.
• Family friendly and professional work environment.
• Employee Discount Programs (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling)
• The State’s total compensation package features benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. For a list of additional benefits, please visit the DAS website for more information.
• Flexible work schedules (as approved by the supervisor).
• Opportunities for hybrid telework (as approved by the supervisor).

Comments:

 

The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected to be at the base of the pay range. Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months, and then annually (if applicable). The State’s total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. Visit the DAS website for more benefit information.

Ensure you are kept up-to-date on the status of this position by checking your email regularly for emails from info@governmentjobs.com. This is a system generated email from the DAS application system and it may be sent directly to your Junk/Spam folder.

DNR Application Tips

For more information about DNR Employment Opportunities and position specific notices, please visit the DNR Employmentwebsite.

The State of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

E-Verify and Right to Work
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Iowa DNR Mission:

To conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.

QualificationsApplicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:  

1. One year of full-time work experience in general office, clerical, data entry/processing, or related work.
2. A total of one year of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience.
3. Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes six months of full-time work as an Administrative Support Assistant 1.

For more information click on this link to view the job description Supplemental informationWithin a period of time after hire, as determined by the appointing authority, employees in this class may be required to type at least 40 WPM net as demonstrated by the completion of a typing examination.