Clarification from the agency

1st area of consideration: CTAP eligible. 2nd area of consideration: Current, permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employees who are currently working for the VA.

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Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: not authorized
Telework: not authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant (Office Automation)/PD08402
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

The incumbent serves as the Program Support Assistant to the Director's Office with primary responsibility for coordinating all controlled correspondence. Receives all Action Items/ Controlled Correspondence/ Patient Inquiries for the VISN and/ or VACO; routes matters requiring action by Service Chiefs; and follows-up to ensure the actions are completed in the time frame established. Monitors such correspondence to ensure that actions taken are accurate and appropriate procedures are followed. Establishes and maintains a computerized tracking system on SharePoint for all congressional correspondence and ensures Service Chiefs are aware of and follow-up regarding due dates. Reviews all written correspondence for accurate spelling, grammar, punctuation, and correctness of response. Serves as a congressional liaison for the Director's Office to Congressional Offices regarding patient inquiries. Works with staffers of the Congressional Offices to resolve any patient related concerns that are brought to their attention. Assures that all sensitive and confidential information is appropriately safeguarded as prescribed by law, regulations, and good judgment. Receives and screens incoming correspondence and mail for appropriate distribution, establishing suspense dates and follow-up controls. Uses MS Office software for memos, policy and procedures, correspondence, letters, reports, spreadsheets, etc.; completes special projects as assigned, Maintains calendar of meetings and events for the Director's Conference Room as directed. Reads directives and instructional material pertaining to administrative practices and clerical procedures. Incumbent must be aware of new, revised, or amended procedures regarding preparation and processing of correspondence, reports, filing and mail procedures. Responds to personal and telephone inquiries relating to administrative and clinical issues.

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, 03/11/2026.

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-06. 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.

-AND-

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: .

• Experience with problem-solving techniques to analyze information for complex analysis.
• Experience implementing changes to procedures or regulations
• Advanced experience grammar, spelling, punctuation, and established formats is necessary to recognize and correct errors in correspondence and reports.
• Experience with various types of software (word processing, calendar, spreadsheets, databases, PowerPoint, etc.) to accomplish tasks.
• Experience in an office setting responding to phone calls and correspondence, arranging meetings, responding to emails and greeting customers.

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

• Communication
• Technology Application
• Written Communication

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 mostly sedentary: however, it occasionally requires carrying light objects such as files, books and papers. Some walking, standing and bending 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.