Clarification from the agency

This announcement is only open to current, permanent employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) including Title 38, Hybrid Title 38, and VCS employees covered by VA/OPM Interchange Agreements and those eligible under CTAP. This does not include temporary, term, or intermittent appointments. CTAP eligibles are current Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees that are surplus or displaced from the VA. All others (including ICTAP) will NOT receive consideration.

Major Duties:
Receives telephone calls and greets visitors to the office. Uses judgment and initiative to screen or refer as appropriate. Screens callers/visitors by ascertaining name, affiliation, and purpose of call/visit, and based upon subject matter, determines whether matter should be referred to supervisor or other appropriate staff members, or whether information can be supplied personally. Obtains needed background information before referring calls to supervisor, and uses independent judgment in referring, initiating, or disposing of Inquiries and requests. Arranges for personal interviews and receives applicants reporting for interviews.

Acts as liaison to other managers and staff within the organization and provides accurate advice on procedures, reports, requirements, and other matters necessary to implement the supervisor's policies, directives, and Instructions. Informs them of the supervisor's views on current issues and programs.

Maintains a master chronological list containing the names and background information of recurrent civilian dignitaries, Federal, state, and county community leaders, and local affiliated organizations· correspondents in the surrounding communities. Information is available to the staff for the planning of special hosted events, activities, and programs at the Medical Center, to prepare guest lists, invitations, and related data for official functions.

Receives and processes all correspondence and documents transmitted through the Executive office for review, approval, and signature, establishing controls on certain items (to Include Medical Advisory Opinions and Board of Veteran Appeal Claims, performance appraisals, and awards).

Ensures correspondence conforms to regulations and special policies of the Medical Center, is in proper format, contains correct grammar, and if applicable, that staff coordination has been completed. Returns Inadequate transmissions to the sender; attaches previous correspondence and background information to incoming correspondence; selects material that requires the attention of superiors; determines the appropriate staff activity for action; forwards correspondence; uses tracking system; follows up to assure action is taken; enforces rigid timelines; and assures receipt of pertinent information. Composes and types, in final form, official correspondence such as personal acknowledgements, Congressional inquiries, and report transmittals, based on a knowledge of supervisor's views, desires, and past precedent cases; and from verbal instructions, prepares special reports, data, or correspondence using a personal computer with a wide variety of software.

In the absence of the supervisor, the incumbent assumes responsibility for ensuring requests for action or Information from the Executive Office are made known to the personnel responsible to satisfy the request. Monitors resulting activities for the purpose of briefing the supervisor and deciding whether matters should be brought to the supervisor's attention. Serves as liaison between the management staff and supervisor by providing accurate, timely information and advice on procedures, reports, requirements, and other matters necessary to implement policies, directives, and instructions for the VAMC.

Reviews communications and develops standard paragraph and form letters. Develops Internal routing and flow patterns for communications. Establishes Executive Office secretarial policies and procedures and provides guidance for subordinate clerical staff. Incumbent conducts regular meetings with subordinate functional secretaries to advise them of required administrative changes. Plans and directs office procedures and formulates instructions for implementation of new office procedures. Conducts training sessions for clerical and administrative personnel.

Take notes and transcribe personal and telephone conversations. Assumes full responsibility for clerical functioning of all committees/boards of which the Executive Team member Is the chair. Records, transcribes, and edits the minutes of various meetings (staff meetings, boards and councils); prepares the minutes for distribution, singling out the action items, and follows up as required.

Initiates personnel actions such as Board Actions, recruitment, appointments, promotions, special advancements, transfers and separations, for personnel aligned to the supervisor's office. Maintains competency folders and training flies, and ensures appraisals, standards, etc., are done on a timely basis for the supervisor's subordinate staff.

Other duties as assigned.


Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Executive Secretary (OA)/PD081010
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/30/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-0318-08 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-0318-07. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Specialized Experience: you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinating administrative support across executive and subordinate offices.
• Preparing reports, correspondence, and responses based on leadership priorities.
• Communicating effectively with medical staff and addressing patient-related concerns using medical terminology.
• Assisting with accreditation activities, including report preparation for The Joint Commission.
• Managing office systems using computers and software; performing advanced typing and document preparation.
• Ensuring proper grammar, formatting, and guiding clerical staff on office procedures and correspondence standards.
• Processing timekeeping in compliance with federal rules and regulations.
• Coordinating official travel arrangements in accordance with VHA/VISN policies.
• Supporting community relations by coordinating with local organizations and dignitaries.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

• Accountability
• Administration and Management
• Attention to Detail
• Computer Skills
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Planning and Evaluating
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork
• Writing

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Other
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

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