Administrative Assistant 2 - Polk Co

Posting number: 27-00281

Department: 009 Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Job classification: Administrative Assistant 2

Posting type: Open

Categories: Administration, Agriculture

Summary

The approximately 345 employees of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)are responsible for programs that impact the quality of life of every Iowan. From supporting Iowa agriculture to protecting consumers and ensuring food safety, the work of IDALS touches communities across the state every day. Your work behind the scenes helps ensure Iowa consumers have access to safe, high-quality meat and poultry products.

The Meat & Poultry Inspection Bureauis seeking a full-time Administrative Assistant 2 to join our team at the Hoover State Office Building in Des Moines.

In this role, you will provide administrative and operational support that helps advance the Bureau's mission of inspecting locker plants, small packing plants, and other meat processing facilities to ensure compliance with food safety and humane animal handling standards under the Iowa Meat and Poultry Inspection Act. Your work will help keep Iowa's food supply safe while supporting one of the state's most important industries.

What You'll Do

• Provide administrative support to the Bureau Chief, assisting with bureau operations, program coordination, and communication with other bureaus, agencies, industry partners, and the public.
• Serve as the Bureau's primary coordinator for information technology needs, including onboarding new employees, coordinating hardware and software updates, and administering higher-level user roles within Workday and the USDA Public Health Information System.
• Collect, review, and maintain bureau data, including field staff reports, plant production totals, inspection records, and laboratory sample results while organizing data through spreadsheets and reporting tools.
• Assist in developing and managing the Bureau's annual budget requests by tracking expenditures, fees, and costs in partnership with the Accounting team.
• Coordinate the Bureau's laboratory sampling programs by serving as the primary liaison with laboratory staff, communicating sampling needs, and tracking testing results.

What Will Help You Succeed

• Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to build positive working relationships with coworkers, partner agencies, industry representatives, and the public.
• Be highly organized, self-motivated, and capable of managing multiple priorities while working independently in both office and remote environments.
• Have experience managing and analyzing data using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, or similar programs, and presenting information in clear, meaningful reports.
• Possess experience developing, monitoring, or supporting budgets and funding requests.
• Have experience onboarding and training employees, coordinating user access to systems, and managing agency technology resources and equipment.
• Be comfortable using Workday or similar human resource information systems to support staff and troubleshoot routine personnel or system-related questions.

Applicants are encouraged to attach a resume and cover letter during the application process. Documents may be uploaded in the Attachments section of the application.

Why IDALS?

At the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, our work matters. Every day, our employees help protect Iowa's food supply, support agricultural innovation, promote environmental stewardship, and serve the people who make Iowa a national leader in agriculture.

Joining IDALS means becoming part of a collaborative team dedicated to public service, continuous improvement, and meaningful work that makes a difference across the state. Whether you're supporting our inspectors behind the scenes or working directly with stakeholders, your contributions help strengthen Iowa's agricultural future.

Benefits

As a State of Iowa employee, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Affordable, high-quality health insurance with low monthly premiums.
• Dental insurance at no cost for single coverage.
• Employer-p