Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Duties include but not limited to:

• Assists management in the implementation of best practices, addressing issues or questions regarding the program Suicide Prevention Program.
• coordinating referrals, and ensuring compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Responsible for data entry, reporting, recordkeeping, and other related administrative support tasks.
• Provides suicide prevention resources, materials, and referrals to veterans, staff, and community partners.
• independently resolves conventional problems within the parameters of work related to clerical operations and office automation.
• Refers unusual, difficult, or complex problems and inquiries to the supervisor or appropriate Suicide Prevention team members.
• Participates in community and VA staff meetings and outreach events.
• Assist management in providing program resources to community partners and stakeholders, including veteran service organizations, faith-based organizations, United Way, and other nonprofits, to enhance referrals and resource access for the program/
• Screens and assesses calls from internal team members, VA staff, customers, patients, visitors, community organizations, and other external stakeholders regarding program inquiries, requests, and concerns.
• Prepares files and charts in a timely manner, ensuring that all relevant correspondences and clinical material pertinent to SP are in place. Scans and uploads documents into the EHR and electronic systems, and files documents.
• Maintains the calendars of and schedules appointments and conferences for the supervisor and
  other staff.
• Tracks and keeps the supervisor informed of pertinent program budget information which includes program budgets for supplies, materials, travel expenses, and vehicles.
• Serves as the timekeeper for the unit, initiating and maintaining required time and attendance records.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Position Description Title/PD#: Program Support Assistant (OA) - Suicide Prevention/PD030130
Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary and is performed by sitting, standing, bending, and stooping. The employee is required to obtain records from files, and carry files, manuals, and other light objects.
Occasional travel is required to provide support at conferences, workgroups, outreach programs,
or meetings.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc. is required
• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

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

Qualifications

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

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-06 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 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-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: Establishes, updates, and maintains office files and records. Keeps/types meeting minutes, agendas and reports. Experience using Microsoft office and similar software packages to achieve daily work goals; interact with all levels of staff.

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

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 is principally sedentary; however, walking, bending, standing and lifting are customary physical demands of the position. The work may at times become highly stressful due to sensitivity of matters, complexity of tasks assigned, the number of staff within the Surgical Service requiring assistance and the volume of activities.

Working Conditions: The work is performed in a typical office setting, requiring the use of normal safety precautions necessary for an office environment. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. 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. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.