Clarification from the agency

Current students enrolled in an accredited college (including 4-year colleges/universities, community colleges, and junior colleges); professional, technical, vocational, and trade school; advanced degree programs; or other qualifying educational institution pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate.

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This position is being filled under the Pathways Internship Program. The program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school. The Internship provides managers a ready source of student employees and potential permanent employees upon completion of the program requirements. It also provides the student with work experience directly related to the curriculum studies or career goals while offering eligibility for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment upon completion. Potential noncompetitive conversion to the following occupations: Program Assistant (0344) Program Analyst (0343) Administrative Officer (0341) Health System Specialist (0671).For more information on Internship opportunities within the Department of Veterans Affairs, please visit: https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/pathways-internship-program/.

The Student Trainee provides technical, analytical, and administrative support to the Executive Offices of the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center. The position is part of the Pathways Internship Program and is designed to provide practical experience aligned with Master's level studies in Health Administration, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related fields. The incumbent supports the Executive Management Team-including the Medical Center Director, Associate Director, Chief of Staff, and Assistant Director, and Service Chiefs-by assisting with operational activities, data-driven projects, and organizational initiatives. The trainee spends approximately 50-60% of the internship period engaged in project-based work and is encouraged to participate in shadowing, observational experiences, and professional interactions with senior administrative and clinical leaders.

• Participate in assigned and self-developed projects that address operational, administrative, or clinical support needs of the medical center.
• Design, organize, and manage project work plans; collect and analyze data; prepare findings; and present recommendations to improve medical center operations.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses of operational processes, service needs, staffing data, and performance measures.
• Provide structured recommendations using data to support planning, priority setting, and program development efforts.
• Interact regularly with senior leaders including the Medical Center Director, Associate Director, Chief of Staff, Deputy Chiefs of Staff, Assistant Director, Chiefs of clinical services, and other medical center leaders.
• Participate in leadership briefings, service-level reviews, and clinical/administrative rounds, as appropriate.
• Engage in shadowing and observational learning experiences to gain understanding of executive decision-making, service line operations, and the integration of clinical and administrative leadership functions.
• Observe and participate in interdisciplinary interactions to understand how clinical and administrative functions align within a complex healthcare organization.
• Attend a range of medical center committees, councils, and workgroups, including the Leadership Council and other governance meetings.
• Provide staff support to committees by tracking action items, preparing agendas, producing meeting minutes, and managing follow-up tasks.
• Support leaders in gathering and synthesizing data or background information to inform committee discussions and decisions.
• Provide administrative and clerical support as needed within the Executive Offices.
• Assist with document preparation, scheduling, coordination of meetings, tracking deadlines, and maintaining organized electronic files.
• Support internal and external customer service needs in alignment with the VA mission, ensuring courteous, tactful, and respectful communication with veterans, visitors, and staff.
• Protect sensitive and confidential information in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 and all applicable VA policies.
• Ensure proper use of electronic systems, safeguard passwords and access codes, and follow all regulations governing access to computerized data.
• Adhere to standards of professional conduct, continuous learning, leadership development, and ethical responsibility.
• Demonstrate cultural competence and maintain positive working relationships across diverse teams.

Work Schedule: Part-time; 20 hours per week (40 hours per pay-period/bi-weekly); Monday - Friday, Day shift (exact hours of tour of duty to be determined by hiring manager)

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• You must be at least 16 years old (by closing date of this vacancy announcement)
• Selective Service Registration-required males (over 18) born after 12/31/59
• Must be accepted for/currently enrolled in a qualified educational institution
• 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.

Grade Point Average (G.P.A.). Students must possess an acceptable average G.P.A. as defined by the educational institution to be eligible for appointment and to remain eligible for participation in the Program. As applicable, at the time of appointment and upon request, students must demonstrate an overall Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale as recorded on the official transcript.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/26/2026.

Internship Program: To be eligible, applicants must be accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which you are enrolled.

To qualify you must meet the requirements below:

• You must be a current student that has been accepted for enrollment or are enrolled at least half-time in an accredited high school, college, professional, technical, vocational, or trade school pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate. You must remain enrolled and will be required to provide transcripts to be eligible for this program.
• Completed four full academic years of post high school leading to a bachelors degree or equivalent degree (transcripts must be submitted)
• In good academic standing with the college or university that you are enrolled in.

Preferred degree programs in the field of Health Care Administration.

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

• Attention to Detail
• Flexibility
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Problem Solving
• Self-Management
• Technology Application

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.

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/.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required.

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.

NOTE: You must include qualifying specialized experience in mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy format on your resume and indicate Full-Time or Part-Time (if Part-time, must include # of hours worked per week). AND, if you have held a Government position, that position's grade level MUST be listed on your resume

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.