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Health Aid - Health Technician

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

**THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING EXTENDED TILL TUESDAY 11/18/2025 DUE TO A LOW APPLICANT POOL. IF YOU APPLIED ALREADY YOU NEED NOT REAPPLY, BUT YOU MAY UPDATE YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE.

This position is located at the Portland VA Medical Center, Inpatient & Emergency Services, Patient Transport (Escort) Unit in Portland, OR.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/05/2025 to 11/18/2025
Salary
$31,712 to - $50,500 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 2 - 4
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Portland, OR
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
4
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CARZ-12828794-26-MJM
Control number
849449600

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Duties

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***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-4. At the GS-2 and GS-3 grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-4. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.

The primary purpose of this position is to deliver a broad array of health care services throughout the medical center and it's various locations that provide patient care, i.e., living centers, etc. duties will include, but may not be limited to the following:

  • Transports patients by stretcher, wheelchair, gurney and/or accompany the ambulatory patients who need assistance to areas within the Medical Center and OHSU.
  • Recognizes and reports significant changes in patients that are being transported. Maintains communication with Patient Transport Courier and Patient Support Team Supervisor at each delivery point.
  • Dispatches trips to all using services using computer systems/programs.
  • Prioritizes workload for Patient Transport and Courier Service.
  • Dispatches couriers to all areas within the medical center.
  • Prioritizes various transports based on patient care needs and logistics, including patient condition, treatment, modality, mode of transport and scheduling.
  • Gives guidance to Patient Transport & Courier staff/volunteers to promote efficiency and safe transport.
  • Collects and delivers all specimens, labs, x-rays, charts and all medical related materials and equipment throughout the Medical Center and OHSU.
  • Responds and assists in all emergencies, including, but not limited to codes (cardiac arrest, behavioral emergency and fire alert), and internal/external disasters throughout the Medical Center and the VA Bridge.
  • Provides a full range of services to VA staff in caring for expired patients which includes preparing and transferring the body, as well as transporting to the morgue.
  • Provides general clerical/administrative support coordination work for the unit.
  • Performs a variety of receptionists, record keeping, and miscellaneous duties.
  • Receives visitors, answers the telephone, and refers calls to appropriate staff or records messages. Plans. organizes and coordinates activities of the unit.
  • Communicates in a tactful and courteous manner with a wide variety of individuals with varying levels of understanding.
  • Utilizes software to produce specific printouts.
  • Uses word processing software to produce a variety of documents.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: 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 the VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

Work Schedule: Days Vary from 2pm - 10:30pm with every other weekends and holidays
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

Requirements

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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 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

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

AND

To qualify at the Health Aid GS-2 level, applicants must meet at least one (1) of the following minimum qualification requirements:

A. A least Three months of general experience in (1) Any type of work that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. (Refer to the duties section of this announcement for detailed related general experience information)
OR
B. Successfully completed high school or the equivalent. NOTE: Education cannot be credited without documentation. Provide documentation/proof that you have met the applicable educational provision, i.e., Transcript, or statement from the institution's registrar or appropriate official, or the equivalent, i.e., copy of diploma, GED certification, etc.

To qualify at the Health Aid GS-3 level, applicant(s) must meet at least one (1) of the following minimum qualification requirements:

A. At least six months (6) of general experience in (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. (Refer to the duties section of this announcement for detailed general experience information)
OR
B. Successfully completed one full year of education above high school that included study in medical, health, or related fields. (NOTE: Education cannot be credited without documentation. Transcript Required (unofficial or official)
OR
C. Equivalent combination of successfully completed general experience and post high-school education in excess of 6 months. (Transcript required)

To qualify at the Health Aid GS-4 level, applicant(s) must meet at least one (1) of the following minimum qualification requirements:

A. You must possess six (6) months of General Experience: (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation and, six (6) months of Specialized Experience. This experience equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that requires application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes safely transporting patients by stretcher, wheelchair, gurney and/or accompany the patients who need assistance. 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.
~OR~
B. You must have successfully completed 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in subjects related to the position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
~OR~
C. You must have equivalent combination of specialized experience and successfully completed education as described above to meet the total experience requirements to qualify at the GS-4 level. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

  • Decision Making
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Self-Management


IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.

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; religious; 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.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary but also requires some standing, walking, bending, lifting and carrying of light items. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The work may require heavy lifting of equipment or patients.

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/.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Additional information

Note: Per "Executive Order 14251: Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs", this position is no longer eligible for bargaining unit participation.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

  • Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
  • Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
  • Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.
Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category (except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher).

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.

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