Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205)(b) for this occupation.

The Program Support Assistant coordinates internal and external customer service requests and actions for GEC/HBPC programs. Provides assistance with telephone coverage and analyzes call to act when appropriate in referring calls to the appropriate staff members. Interacts with GEC patients as needed and all visitors to service to provide support. Major Duties of this position include but are not limited to:

• Thorough knowledge of clerical duties to include style guides for communications, policies, and correspondence. Skilled in communicating, evaluating, planning, and organizing workload.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word to execute office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files; printing; inserting and deleting text; formatting letters, reports and memoranda; and transmitting and receiving e-mail.
• Possess knowledge and skills in Microsoft Excel or Access to develop and change spreadsheets.
• Must have knowledge in designing, implementing, cleaning, analyzing, and reporting data projects assigned.
• Thorough knowledge of Vista packages, directives and polices relating to Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) and the Hospital that relate to the HBPC program.
• Must have the ability to problem solve, prioritize and follow through on requests from administration in a timely manner.
• Must have skills in diplomacy, and strong Interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge both patient health care and VA system efficiencies may; administrative duties directly impact the operation of the HBPC program and patient care.
• Must have knowledge of a wide variety of applications, operating systems, protocols and equipment used in the organization sufficient to provide advice and assistance to customers.
• Must be able to perform multiple tasks using multiple sources of information and guidelines/policies/directives, ranging from office and clerical duties to data management and analysis to inform HBPC and GEC Management.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Program Support Assistant (OA)/PD13904A
Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Typically, sitting comfortably to do the work assigned. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying light items such as papers, books, small parts; or driving an automobile, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

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.
• 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)
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• 5 CFR 330.502 - General restriction on movement after competitive appointment applies.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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.

Specialized Experience: Specialized Experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

To be creditable, applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to grade level of a GS-04 for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience for this position includes but is not limited to........

• Thorough knowledge of clerical duties to include style guides for communications, policies, and correspondence. Skilled in communicating, evaluating, planning, and organizing workload.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word to execute office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files;
• printing; inserting and deleting text; formatting letters, reports and memoranda; and transmitting and receiving e-mail.
• Possess knowledge and skills in Microsoft Excel or Access to develop and change spreadsheets.
• Must have knowledge in designing, implementing, cleaning, analyzing, and reporting data projects assigned.
• Thorough knowledge of Vista packages, directives and polices relating to Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) and the Hospital that relate to the HBPC program.
• Must have the ability to problem problem solve, prioritize and follow through on requests from administration in a timely manner.
• Must have skills in diplomacy, and strong Interpersonal skills.
• Must have knowledge of a wide variety of applications, operating systems, protocols and equipment used in the organization sufficient to provide advice and assistance to customers.
• Must be able to perform multiple tasks using multiple sources of information and guidelines/policies/directives, ranging from office and clerical duties to data management and analysis to inform HBPC and GEC Management.

Prefers Excel, Vista and CPRS systems, within the VA. Former VA experience with scheduling software along with CTM.

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

Education: Applicants may also qualify for this position at the GS-05 level based on their education. Applicants must have successfully completed four (4) years of post-high school education. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school. OR,

Combination: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification for this position at the GS-05 level. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.

Note: All experience must be clearly annotated on your resume under your job history as applicable. If you are basing your qualification on education, you must provide a transcript from an accredited institution of higher learning. Failure to do may result in an unqualified rating.

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/.

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.

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. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

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.

Documents Accepted:

• Cover Letter
• Other (1)
• Performance Appraisal
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Documents Required:

• Resume

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

Next steps