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- CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS
We are searching for versatile and experienced Office Assistants to join the Undersea Systems Office (USO) at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. USO serves as a research center of excellence in undersea weapons, unmanned undersea vehicles, and advanced sonars supporting our national security and undersea warfare sponsors through the development and demonstration of science and technology with the expertise, tools, and processes to take concepts from the early developmental phase through transition to industry and the fleet. We support our national security and undersea warfare sponsors through the development and demonstration of science and technology with the expertise, tools, and processes to take concepts from the early developmental phase through transition to industry and the fleet.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You will:
Coordinate a large volume of complex domestic and international travel in support of program engineers (researching visit requirements, booking reservations, arranging schedules, and reconciling travel expenses)
Provide support for a wide variety of meetings (scheduling rooms, preparing agendas/ meeting materials, overseeing meeting logistics including audio-visual setups, security, refreshments, and vendor-delivered meals)
Manage data, files, and calendars
Provide coordination and oversight for external visitors, ensuring that security guidelines and requirements are followed
Communicate with and provide exceptional customer service for internal and external stakeholders (government, industry, University, and ARL-specific)
Assist with all administrative aspects of hiring and onboarding of new hires
Additional responsibilities for the higher-level position include:
Prepare classified material including presentations, engineering documents, mailings and data transfers in compliance with requirements of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA)
Proofread documents for appropriate security markings, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and basic formatting
Required skills/experience areas include:
Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook)
Agility in managing multiple competing priorities
Resolve issues and prioritize work, both independently and as a team member, in support of multiple unit and program leaders
Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion and confidentiality
Success in an office environment, where various forms of communication and organizational skills were crucial to be effective
Current eligibility to obtain a clearance at the Secret level
Application Instructions:
To be considered for this role, you are required to include a resume/CV and a cover letter outlining why you feel you would be the best candidate for this role.
Your working location will be fully onsite, located in State College, PA.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
If filled as Office Assistant (ARL) - Senior Support, this position requires: Associate Degree 4+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted Required Certifications: None If filled as Office Assistant (ARL) - Intermediate Support, this position requires: General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or High School (HS) 2+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted Required Certifications: None
ARL’s purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Intel Community (IC).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our web site at www.arl.psu.edu.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL): Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $46,800.00 - $77,304.00.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster
PA State Labor Law Poster
Penn State Policies
Copyright Information
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Skills Required
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook)
- Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and resolve issues independently
- Demonstrated discretion and ability to handle confidential information
- Success in an office environment with strong communication and organizational skills
- Current eligibility to obtain a U.S. government Secret security clearance
- U.S. citizenship (required to apply)
- Resume/CV and cover letter required with application
- Education/experience for Senior Support: Associate degree plus 4+ years relevant experience or equivalent
- Education/experience for Intermediate Support: High school diploma/GED plus 2+ years relevant experience or equivalent
- Willingness to complete background checks, drug testing, and comply with monitoring requirements
- Ability to work fully onsite in State College, PA
Penn State University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Penn State University and has not been reviewed or approved by Penn State University.
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Retirement Support — Employer contributions to SERS and the TIAA Alternate Plan are described as significant, with supplemental retirement options available. Feedback suggests these choices and contributions create strong long‑term value.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Full‑time employees accrue over 24 sick and vacation days annually, with additional university holidays and a winter break. Feedback suggests this depth of leave supports work–life balance.
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Inclusive Benefits Coverage — A 75% tuition discount extends to employees, spouses, and dependent children up to age 26 across resident instruction, World Campus, and Penn College courses. Feedback suggests this broad eligibility meaningfully enhances total rewards, especially for families.
Penn State University Insights
What We Do
There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. Across 24 campuses, our nearly 88,000 students and 17,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom—it’s the positive impact made on communities across the world. From access to state-of-the-art resources to interdisciplinary pursuits in collaborative atmospheres, a Penn State degree is more than an education. The experiences and knowledge gained here will form the foundation for the lives our students build. Their contributions to the world begin with a Penn State degree. We Are Penn State.
