Clarification from the agency

Only open to VHA Nationwide employees.

Major Duties
- Performs a full range of technical functions to process patient admissions, discharges, and manage referrals for in-home care services.
- Maintains and manages HBPC program data systems by collecting, tracking, and correcting data to ensure accurate reporting.
- Assists leadership in analyzing program data to identify opportunities for improving performance and operational efficiency.
- Provides administrative support to HBPC leadership and team members by coordinating services and assisting with documentation processes.
- Coordinates with community agencies to initiate services and provides specific guidance regarding billing, documentation requirements, and program expectations.
- Exercises independent judgment to prioritize tasks and resolve administrative issues that arise during daily operations.
- Serves as the first point of contact for Veterans, caregivers, and medical center personnel regarding program information.
- Acts as a liaison between HBPC and other internal VA services, as well as external healthcare organizations, to facilitate continuity of care.
- Uses tact and diplomacy to handle sensitive situations and triage urgent requests from field clinicians, patients, and caregivers.
- Receives and processes referrals while assisting in the resolution of communication gaps between all parties involved in patient care.
- Maintains organized filing systems and ensures all records are accurate, confidential, and compliant with VA policies.
- Performs general clerical duties including scanning, faxing, and managing program-related correspondence.
- Supports timekeeping, report preparation, and other logistics necessary to maintain an efficient office workflow.
- Utilizes various VA systems-including CPRS, VistA, HSRM, and EC-FAX-to complete daily administrative requirements.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant/PD0903400 and PD090340
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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 or trial 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, 05/07/2026.

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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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 as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: The following specialized experience and technical competencies are required for this position:
  - Experience processing admissions, discharges, and managing referrals within a healthcare or program-support environment.
  - Proficiency in collecting, tracking, correcting, and reporting data within specialized electronic systems to support program evaluation.
  - Working knowledge of Department of Veterans Affairs systems, specifically CPRS, VistA, HSRM, and EC-FAX.
  - Experience serving as a liaison with community agencies, including providing guidance on billing processes and service requirements.
  - Ability to utilize Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to create charts, reports, and data programs for clinical services.
  - Knowledge of federal timekeeping regulations and systems, such as VATAS and PAID.
  - Understanding of medical terminology and patient administration principles to ensure accurate documentation and reporting.
  - Ability to interpret and apply complex guidelines (e.g., VHA Directives, Joint Commission standards) to resolve administrative issues with minimal supervision.
  - Experience interacting with patients and caregivers in sensitive situations and triaging urgent requests for clinical staff.
  - Proficiency in general clerical tasks including scanning, faxing, maintaining confidential filing systems, and managing formal correspondence.

Preferred Experience: Experience in Geriatrics Home Based Primary Care and or PACT Clinic teams. Preference in working with Spreadsheets in Microsoft office.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Clerical
• Communications
• Computer Skills
• Manages and Organizes Information

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.

Note: 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.

Work Environment: The work is performed primarily in a clinical administrative office setting within a medical center environment. The position requires frequent interaction with Veterans, caregivers, clinical staff, and community agencies. The work environment is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. The incumbent must comply with all medical center safety policies, infection control procedures, and emergency preparedness requirements.

Physical Requirements: The work is partly sedentary, using the computer for most of the day. Some bending and standing is required.

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.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

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.

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

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.

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

• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

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
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• 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.

Next steps