Administrative Specialist III: DOE Office of Science - ASCR

Aleut Federal, an Alaskan Native-owned company, supports its shareholders, the Unangax people of the Aleutian Islands, while delivering high-quality service to federal clients. They emphasize mentorship, growth opportunities, strong benefits, and a commitment to diversity and accountability, guided by the motto “We are One.” They’re hiring in Washington, DC for a full-time, onsite Administrative Specialist III to support the DOE Office of Science and its senior leadership as a contractor.

The role sits at the intersection of executive support and government administration, dedicated to assisting the DOE Office of the Director and the Director’s leadership team. It’s a chance to contribute to a high-profile federal office, coordinating complex schedules, travel, communications, and administrative policies in a fast-paced environment.

If you enjoy delivering polished, confidential support to senior leaders, coordinating with government officials, and keeping critical operations running smoothly, this could be a strong fit.

Day-to-day rhythms in the Office of Science

In this position you’ll be the primary conduit for input from DOE staff and outside groups for the Director, Office of Science, and you’ll act as a gatekeeper for the schedules of political and senior executives, balancing needs with professionalism. You’ll help assemble background materials for meetings, coordinate events, and ensure communications requiring the Director’s signature are proofread and routed correctly. You’ll implement administrative policies, greet visitors, and handle telephone inquiries with care. A big part of the day is managing calendars and supporting meetings and video conferences, always with an eye toward strategic scheduling for a busy leadership team. You’ll provide travel support for the Office of Science Director, using AdTrav and Concur to arrange flights, lodging, and transportation, and you’ll prepare travel authorizations and vouchers. You’ll also coordinate, distribute, scan, and file copies of completed correspondence and draft routes for comments as requested.

Throughout, you’ll handle multiple tasks with composure, ensuring that communications are clear and that information is organized so leaders can make informed decisions. The workload can shift quickly, so being adaptable and able to prioritize urgent requests while maintaining accuracy will matter every day.

What you’ll need to bring to the role

Must-haves for this role include a solid track record as an executive assistant supporting senior leadership for at least three years, plus experience working with political leadership. You should be able to exercise sound judgment in the absence of direct supervision and anticipate issues, connecting disparate events to identify potential problems early. Strong organizational capabilities are essential, particularly for keeping multiple calendars straight and coordinating conferences and business travel with proactive, strategic scheduling. You’ll need excellent communication and teamwork skills to convey complex information clearly and prevent misunderstandings. Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite and Outlook is required, with strong PowerPoint and Word skills, and you should be comfortable learning DOE systems quickly if you’re new to the department. Experience interfacing with senior government officials and their administrative staff, and the ability to multitask in a fast-moving environment, are also important. Finally, you must be able to adapt to shifting priorities and maintain composure under pressure.

• At least three years’ executive assistant experience supporting senior leadership, with exposure to political leadership
• High-level judgment and independence in decision-making
• Clear ability to anticipate needs and connect events to spot potential issues
• Exceptional organizational skills for managing multiple calendars and travel plans
• Strong written and oral communication and teamwork abilities
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Outlook, including PowerPoint and Word, and a ability to learn DOE systems quickly
• Experience coordinating with senior government officials and their staff
• Comfort with multitasking and shifting priorities in a fast-paced office

Pay, benefits and the practical details

Aleut offers a benefits package to eligible employees that includes health, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, and 401(k) with matching. The job is onsite in Washington, DC, and is a full-time contractor role supporting the Office of Science’s leadership. The company emphasizes equal employment opportunities and promotes a nondiscriminatory workplace, with a policy that covers recruitment, hiring, promotion, termination, compensation, and training without regard to protected characteristics. As with many government-adjacent roles, technical systems and processes for travel, foreign visitor access, and other administrative tasks are part of the daily workflow, and candidates from outside DOE should be prepared to learn DOE-specific systems quickly.

Guidance for applicants who want to stand out

Show you’ve got the right background by detailing at least three years of executive-support work for senior leaders, and highlight any experience that involved political leadership or working with top government officials. When you describe your calendar management and travel coordination, include a concrete example that demonstrates strategic prioritization and a successful outcome for a high-priority request. Prepare a short anecdote about proofreading and routing Director-level communications for approval, so you can illustrate your attention to accuracy and governance. Finally, be ready to discuss how you learn new systems quickly, especially if you’re coming from outside DOE, and how you’d approach adapting to DOE travel and visitor protocols in a new environment.

Ask about how the team balances calendar conflicts and what success looks like for this role in the Office of Science. If you’re exploring the systems side, inquire how AdTrav and Concur are used day-to-day and what the typical turnaround is for travel authorizations and vouchers. And consider a question about how the role collaborates with the Secretary and Deputy Secretary offices to keep administrative staff aligned and informed.