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Program Support Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Columbia VA HCS

Summary

The primary purpose of the position is to assist the Fisher House Manager in providing temporary lodging - "home away from home" - to family members of patients being treated at the Columbia VA HCS or affiliated facilities by participating in the direct, on-site management and administration of the Fisher House program. The organizational location of the position is under Community Relations and Engagement at the Columbia VA Health Care System.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/22/2026 to 04/28/2026
Salary
$40,736 - $52,957 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Columbia, SC
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
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
CBTB-12941493-26-MD
Control number
866232100

This job is open to

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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.

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Duties

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Major duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Performs administrative and program support functions to ensure effective day-to-day operation of the Fisher House in support of Veterans, Active Duty Service Members, and their families.
  • Assists with scheduling and coordination of available guestrooms, including guest check-ins, check-outs, and orientation of guests upon arrival.
  • Establishes, maintains, and updates automated databases and records related to Fisher House operations, including occupancy, census data, guest demographics, referral sources, average length of stay, volunteer hours, donations, and equipment.
  • Maintains accurate written and electronic records, reports, logs, and correspondence in accordance with established policies, procedures, and directives.
  • Ensures compliance with health, safety, sanitation, privacy, and security requirements by monitoring facility conditions and reporting concerns to management.
  • Provides customer service to Veterans, family members, staff, volunteers, and stakeholders, ensuring a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment.
  • Responds to urgent or sensitive situations involving guests by assessing circumstances and taking appropriate action or referring matters to the Fisher House Manager or Assistant Manager.
  • Works closely with Fisher House leadership to coordinate daily operations and support implementation of policies and procedures.
  • Uses office automation software (e.g., word processing, spreadsheets, databases) to enter, retrieve, track, and report program information.
  • Supports maintenance of a welcoming, non-clinical environment that promotes rest, recovery, and social interaction for guests.
Performs other related duties as assigned.


Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. Work Schedule subject to change based on agency needs.
Telework: Not Applicable
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description Title/PD#: Program Support Assistant/PD10851A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation
  • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • A complete application package; including 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 may 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.

  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Providing clerical or administrative support in an office, healthcare, hospitality, or residential support environment; maintaining records, logs, or automated databases by entering, tracking, and retrieving information; assisting with the scheduling, coordination, or tracking of rooms, services, resources, or program activities; preparing or reviewing routine correspondence and reports to ensure accuracy, proper format, and completeness; providing customer service and responding to inquiries from diverse populations; and following established policies, procedures, and safety or sanitation guidelines.
OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 4 years above high school. 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. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED).
OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year). Only education 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. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED).

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 minimally sedentary. Frequent walking, climbing stairs, standing, carrying household items and files and driving an automobile are required. The incumbent must pass initial and recurring physical exams to operate government vehicles to transport Veterans and families who lodge at our Fisher House.

Work Conditions: The work involves normal discomforts associated with an office and home environment. There may be occasional exposure to dust and dirty conditions of guests' rooms and other elements common to a home 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/.

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. 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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.

Additional information

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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.


The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

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.

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

Veterans Health Administration

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". How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define "who we are," our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries.
The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence ("I CARE").
As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips.

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

Agency contact information

Mendy Desir
Phone
404-321-6111 X573099
Email
mendy.desir@va.gov
Address
Columbia VA Health Care System
6439 Garners Ferry Road
Columbia, SC 29209
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Veterans Health Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.vacareers.va.gov/.

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