Head Start Administrative & Customer Service Support

Important Information About This Talent Pool

This posting is intended to identify qualified candidates for anticipated ACF/OHS opportunities.

Submission of an application does not guarantee employment or placement into a specific position. Qualified candidates may be contacted for additional screening as staffing needs, labor categories, work arrangements, and project requirements are finalized.

Peers and Partners, Inc. (Peers) is building a talent pool of experienced administrative and customer service professionals to support anticipated opportunities with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS). Anticipated work may support OHS federal staff, Regional Offices, Head Start and Early Head Start grant recipients, and other stakeholders through administrative coordination, meeting and event support, document preparation, inquiry management, scheduling, records maintenance, data entry, and customer service activities. Peers is seeking highly organized professionals  who can manage multiple priorities, communicate professionally with internal and external stakeholders, maintain accurate documentation, and provide responsive administrative and operational support in a complex program environment. Direct Head Start/Early Head Start experience is highly valued but is not required for every administrative support assignment. Candidates with strong experience supporting federal, public-sector, nonprofit, early childhood, or other complex organizational environments are encouraged to apply.

This posting is being used to establish a qualified candidate pool for anticipated ACF/OHS opportunities. Specific responsibilities, work arrangements, and hiring timelines will be determined as project requirements are finalized.

Position

Administrative Assistant / Administrative Support

Administrative support professionals may provide a combination of administrative, operational, customer service, documentation, meeting coordination, and data support to OHS teams.

Potential responsibilities may include:

• Coordinate meetings, schedules, appointments, activities, and logistics.
• Schedule meetings and manage calendars and related communications.
• Prepare agendas, meeting materials, notes, summaries, and action items.
• Coordinate meeting rooms, virtual meeting arrangements, and other logistical needs.
• Support planning and coordination of OHS meetings, events, trainings, and other activities.
• Prepare and format correspondence, reports, spreadsheets, presentations, and other documents.
• Draft, edit, proofread, and finalize program and administrative documentation.
• Conduct basic research on program topics and issues as assigned.
• Maintain administrative records, files, tracking systems, and documentation.
• Perform data entry and assist with database and system updates.
• Track requests, assignments, deadlines, and follow-up activities.
• Route external inquiries and complaints to the appropriate staff.
• Track grant-recipient requests and assist with timely follow-up.
• Support preparation of accurate responses to inquiries.
• Document inquiries, requests, and follow-up activities in required systems.
• Communicate professionally with federal staff, grant recipients, contractors, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Assist with preparation of training materials, webinars, presentations, and meeting resources.
• Provide additional administrative and operational support as assigned.

Competitive Candidates Will Typically Have

• An associate degree or higher in a field related to the work.
• At least two years of relevant professional administrative, operational, customer service, or program-support experience.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating meetings, schedules, logistics, and follow-up activities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience preparing professional reports, correspondence, spreadsheets, presentations, meeting materials, and other documents.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines accurately.
• Experience working with web-based systems, databases, tracking tools, or other business applications.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Experience providing customer service or stakeholder support.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience supporting federal, state, local, nonprofit, early childhood, or other public-sector programs preferred.
• Head Start/Early Head Start experience highly desirable.

Head Start and Federal Experience

Direct Head Start/Early Head Start experience is highly valued because many assignments may involve interaction with OHS staff, Head Start grant recipients, and Head Start-related documentation and terminology.

Particularly competitive candidates may have experience with:

• Head Start and/or Early Head Start programs.
• OHS or ACF operations.
• Federal or federally funded programs.
• Head Start grant recipients.
• Federal contractors.
• Customer or stakeholder support.
• Program or grant documentation.
• HSES, GrantSolutions, AMS, Smartsheet, or other federal/program information systems.

Core Qualifications

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Professional written and verbal communication.
• Ability to provide responsive and courteous customer and stakeholder support.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and documentation.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong judgment when handling inquiries and sensitive information.
• Ability to follow established procedures and workflows.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and web-based collaboration tools.
• Ability to work professionally with Government staff, grant recipients, contractors, and other partners.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must be able to satisfy applicable federal background, security, and system-access requirements.

Work Arrangement

Work arrangements will be determined based on the requirements of individual assignments and may include remote, telework, travel, or on-site support. Candidates nationwide are encouraged to apply. Specific work-location requirements will be communicated as positions are finalized.