Clarification from the agency

This position is open to

Duties:

In accordance with meeting the criteria of a Lead position, the Lead Transportation Assistant will lead a minimum of 9 full-time employees in the following areas 3 (GS-0679-05) and 6 (GS-0679- 06), at least 25% of their regular and recurring work responsibilities.

• Communicate with the status and progress of work, and make day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities, obtaining assistance from the supervisor on problems that may arise, such as backlogs that cannot be disposed of promptly.
• Estimate and report on the expected time of completion of work maintain records of work accomplishments and time expended and prepare production reports as requested.
• Instruct employees in specific tasks and job techniques and make available written instructions, reference materials, and supplies.
• Provide on the job training to new employees in accordance with established procedures and practices.
• Maintain current knowledge and answer questions from other employees on procedures, policies, directives, etc., and obtain needed information or decisions from the supervisor on problems that come up.
• Check on work in progress or spot-check work not requiring review (e.g. filing or direct services) and review completed work to see that the supervisor's instruction on work sequence, procedures, methods, and deadlines have been met.
• Resolve simple, informal complaints of employees and refer others to the supervisor.
• Report to supervisor on performance, progress, and training needs of employees, and on behavior problems.
• Ensuring the Beneficiary Travel office staff provides transportation at Government expense to beneficiaries and their attendants traveling to and from VA facilities and other places for examination, treatment, or care.
• Planning, assigning, reviewing, accepting/rejecting work done by subordinates, and providing initial training and remedial
  training when necessary.
• Distributes workloads equitably among the clerks, checks the status of work, and makes necessary adjustments.
• Shares the responsibility with the Supervisory Transportation Assistant for all beneficiary travel duties including determining the method of
  payment of authorized and unauthorized ambulance claims submitted for consideration.
• Have regular and recurring contact with personnel external to the agency for the obtainment of services, sharing of information and authorization, clarification, or denial of payment.
• Must have knowledge of and can apply extensive transportation regulations, methods, and practices to perform a wide variety of interrelated or nonstandard transportation support assignments and resolve a wide range of problems.
• Knowledge of how to extract information and mileage from online map services and the ability to interpret contracts for transportation services.
• Knowledge of how to organize and maintain documentation and records supporting beneficiary travel reimbursements and vendor
  payments.
• Must have office automation abilities, including knowledge of email systems, MS Office, spreadsheets, and other equipment.
• Meets the needs of customers while supporting the Medical Center and Service missions.

Work Schedule: Monday -Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Transportation Assistant/PD23131A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• 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, 05/05/2026.

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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Train new employees on various software and processes, Distribute and balance workload among employees in accordance with established workflow and rotation schedule, maintain information knowledge base to provide employee answers and obtain information for leadership decisions, competent interpretations of directives, regulations, and assist with staff members with creative problem-solving pertaining to a Travel and Transportation Program, provide suggestions and feedback concerning reassignments, training needs, recognitions, and personnel needs.

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

• Accountability
• Administration and Management
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
• Technical Competence

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.

Physical Requirements: The work requires no special physical demands but will require some physical effort such as
standing, walking, bending, or sitting.

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.

This announcement uses the Rule of Many set number of the highest rank eligible applicants method under 5 CFR § 332.402. If set number/percentage: All applicants tied at the cut line will be referred.

We will provide the selecting official a sufficient number of names, when available, to consider at least three candidates per vacancy. If fewer than three eligible and available candidates per vacancy result, we will expand the group in accordance with our pre-announced supplement strategy and OPM policy."

Simultaneous Listing: "Candidates may be referred simultaneously on multiple certificates for which they are interested, eligible, and within reach."

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
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• 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