Joyce Turner Burrus

I serve as personal assistant to two (2) staffs the Research Leader and approximately 27 scientific staff of the Produce Safety & Microbiology (PSM) Research Unit and the Center Director and approximately 20 scientific staff. I provide technical support for two Food Safety and GEnetics/Germplasm, respectively related research programs by identifying and analyzing issues taking appropriate actions using established agency guidelines. I serve as initial point of contact for all questions and information, resolving problems in the areas of budget, accounting, agreements, travel, human resources, correspondence preparation, payroll office automation systems, purchasing and procurement. I supervised and trained Office Automation Assistants. I provide program management and administrative assistance to the research units.

Responsibilities:
➢ Prepare travel request and vouchers for foreign and domestic travel and provide advice on travel allowances and requirements adhering to agency travel regulations.
➢ Primary timekeeper for the unit I maintain Time and Attendance biweekly for 25-35 staff members.
➢ Coordinate the submission of RPES case write-ups for mandatory review advising staff of current requirements and schedules. Review write-ups for format, accuracy and conformance to current policies and procedures.
➢ Participate in annual Resource Management Plan (ARMPS) by assisting in the development and execution of the unit’s annual budget.
➢ Submit Personnel actions for new hires, extensions, summer students and foreign nationals.
➢ Administer annual Performance documents for the unit and input data in the agencies Performance tracking system so compliance reports can be run by the agency.
➢ Track agreements, purchase and procurement requests for large purchases. I procure office supplies and lab materials for the unit
➢ Use RL electronic calendar to commit RL’s time for appointments and meetings.
➢ From published reports I obtain data to update author reports doing literature
searches on the web.
➢ Screen calls, answering most questions on established policy and routine matters
for the unit. On occasion I answer telephone calls for the other admin staff.
➢ Schedule conferences and meetings, I assist in the preparation of agendas and
notify participants.
➢ Maintain office filing system including Personnel, Project and Manuscript files.
➢➢ Supervise and delegate work assignments to Office Automation Assistants.

• Coordinated logistics for research projects, ensuring timely delivery of materials and resources.
• Managed scheduling and calendar activities for multiple research teams to optimize workflow efficiency.
• Communicated clearly with research staffs through written and digital correspondence.
• Efficiently managed multiple competing priorities under tight deadlines by utilizing strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Served as a liaison between the research unit(s) and other departments, fostering strong working relationships and ensuring clear communication channels.

• Coordinated scheduling and logistics for meetings, ensuring smooth operations within the office.
• Managed confidential documentation, maintaining compliance with civil rights regulations and policies.
• Facilitated communication between departments, enhancing collaboration on civil rights initiatives.
• Developed training materials to educate staff on civil rights principles and procedures.
• Streamlined administrative processes, improving efficiency in document management and workflow.
• Contributed to staff projects aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion within the workplace environment.
• Maintained confidentiality of sensitive information by adhering to strict privacy policies and implementing secure filing systems.
• Delivered excellent customer service through prompt responses to client inquiries, addressing concerns effectively, and building strong relationships.
• Promoted a positive work environment through effective communication skills and fostering professional relationships among colleagues.
• Assisted with human resources tasks such as updating employee files or submitting time-off requests per company policy guidelines.
• Organized office events such as holiday parties or team-building activities; promoting a positive company culture and boosting employee morale.
• Managed expense reports for executive staff members, ensuring accurate documentation of spending for budgeting purposes.
• Coordinated travel arrangements for staff, ensuring cost-effective and timely accommodations and transportation.
• Contributed to policy updates, researching regulations to ensure company compliance.
• Maintained confidentiality of sensitive information, adhering strictly to data protection regulations.
• Supported recruitment processes, scheduling interviews and communicating with applicants to improve hiring timelines.
• Volunteered to help with special projects of varying degrees of complexity.

• Coordinated recruitment processes, ensuring timely communication with candidates and hiring managers.
• Assisted in onboarding new employees, facilitating training sessions and orientation programs.
• Supported performance review processes by organizing documentation and scheduling evaluations.
• Efficiently managed personnel files, maintaining confidentiality while keeping records up-to-date and organized.
• Answered and redirected incoming phone calls for the office.
• Assisted in payroll processing to ensure timely delivery of paychecks to all employees.
• Created and completed personnel action forms for hires, terminations, title changes and terminations.
• Processed employee termination paperwork at the direction of supervisory staff.
• Developed strong relationships with employees through consistent communication and support.
• Facilitated open lines of communication between management and staff, fostering a positive work environment.
• Maintained compliance with federal and state labor laws by conducting regular audits of HR practices and documentation.
• Maintained compliance with employment laws and regulations, conducting regular audits of HR practices.
• Played a key role in conflict resolution efforts, resulting in improved workplace harmony.
• Addressed employee grievances, facilitating conflict resolution and maintaining a positive work atmosphere.
• Managed confidential employee records, safeguarding personal and professional information.
• Provided HR policy guidance and interpretation to employees and management, ensuring consistent application.
• Supported payroll processing, ensuring accurate and timely salary distribution.
• Responded to employee inquiries regarding benefits and other HR topics.
• Participated in job fairs to recruit new talent.
• Checked references for potential candidates.
• Aided staff with employee performance review paperwork and documentation.
• Assisted with developing and maintaining HR policies and procedures.
• Assisted with creating employee handbooks and manuals.
• Tracked various statistics related to conflict resolution and kept detailed records to support human resources department.
• Assisted in performance evaluation processes, providing administrative support to ensure timely completion of reviews.
• Facilitated communication between national level, forest level, and regional staffs improving collaboration and information flow across the organization.
• Ensured accurate record-keeping with diligent data entry and database management for vital staff and agency information.
• Supported executive staff through scheduling meetings, coordinating travel arrangements, and preparing crucial documents.
• Coordinated office supply inventory management, proactively ordering necessary items before depletion to avoid workflow disruptions.
• Optimized calendar management for executives by scheduling appointments strategically while considering priorities and minimizing conflicts.
• Collaborated on special projects as assigned by leadership, contributing research findings or coordinating event logistics as needed for success.
• Managed filing system, entered data and completed other clerical tasks.
• Assisted coworkers and staff members with special tasks on a a daily basis.
• Built and maintained excellent customer relationships through timely response to inquiries and going above and beyond to accommodate unusual requests.

• Maintained accurate records of all financial transactions processed within the staff ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Spearheaded process improvement initiatives aimed at eliminating redundancies and increasing overall efficiency within the organization.
• Collected, arranged, and input information into database system.
• Optimized customer experience by delivering superior services and effectively troubleshooting issues.
• Cultivated positive relationships with vendors to deliver timely and cost-effective supply of services and materials.
• Responsibilities:
  ➢ Prepared travel request and vouchers for domestic travel and provide advice on travel allowances and requirements adhering to agency travel regulations.
  ➢ Primary timekeeper for the unit, maintained Time and Attendance biweekly for 25-35 staff members.
  ➢ Coordinated the submission of case write-ups for mandatory review advising staff of current requirements and schedules. Review write-ups for format, accuracy and conformance to current policies and procedures.
  ➢ Participated in annual Resource Management Plan (ARMPS) by assisting in the development and execution of the unit’s annual budget.
  ➢ Submitted Personnel actions for new hires, extensions, summer students and foreign nationals.
  ➢ Administered annual Performance documents for the unit and prepared annual files for supervisor and employee signatures.
  ➢ Tracked purchasing and procurement requests. I procure office supplies for the unit.
  ➢ Used Director's electronic calendar to commit Director's time for appointments and meetings.
  ➢ Screened calls, answering most questions on established policy and routine matters
  for the unit. On occasion I answered telephone calls for the other admin staff.
  ➢ ➢ Scheduled conferences and meetings. Assisted in in the preparation of agendas and notified participants. Maintained office filing system including Personnel, complaint cases and disciplinary files.