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Program Support Assistant (Mail Clerk)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Benefits Administration
Veterans Benefits Administration

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Columbia Regional Office (VARO), Support Services Division (SSD) Mailroom, where the incumbent provides program, technical and administrative assistance to the SSD Chief and other subordinate management within the division.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 06/26/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 26, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$45,409 - $59,031 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 6
Promotion potential
6
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
Yes
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
319-26-12986079-FGG(BU)
Control number
873628800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to current permanent Federal employees, VEOA, Military Spouses eligible, 30% DV, VRA, People with Disabilities, Schedule A (Disabled/Sch A), Peace Corp eligible, current/permanent VA employees who are CTAP eligible, ICTAP eligible current/former federal employees, and Land Management eligible within the local commuting area of the Columbia Regional Office. Please note, eligible VEOA and LMWFA candidates are not restricted to commuting area.

Duties

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Major Duties:

This position is located in the Support Services Division of the Regional Office (RO), where the incumbent's primary duties are to process incoming and outgoing mail while actively assisting the supervisors and management of the Support Services Division (SSD) in performing administrative work. Specifically:

1. Sets up, operates, adjusts, maintains, and monitors the operation of single- or multiple function equipment typical of mail, duplicating and reproduction functions.

2. Process all priority mail by routing to the appropriate action elements, input data for shipments, tracking shipments and costs, and ensuring responses with proper reporting.

3. Executes control and preparation of reports by utilizing applicable computer programs.

4. Operates office automation equipment for the preparation of correspondence and reports, receiving and transmittal of electronic mail, and applications used.

5. Acts as liaison between Division Chief/1st Line Supervisors and other divisions' staff by providing guidance/assistance on procedures, and related matter for compliance.

6. Executes processing of incoming/outgoing mail, ensuring it is properly opened, logged, read, date stamped and sorted by established categories for distribution.

7. Review and research returned mail to determine the reason(s) for its return and routes mail to the appropriate unit for action.


Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am- 4:30 pm.
Compressed / Flexible: Not Available.
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description Program Support Assistant, GS-303-06/PD#37329A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Financial Disclosure Report:Not required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed.

Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.

Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.


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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/26/2026.

GS-6 Level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least to 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: Federal Service performing the following duties: maintains controls of and prepares designated reports; maintains control over priority mail; assists in the management of the unit mail management system to include diagnoses of equipment malfunctions, operating problems, and performs corrective adjustments; ensures adequate supplies are maintained within the division to support continuous RO operations; analyzes supply levels on a recurring basis to determine the rate of utilization, and advises the Support Services Specialist when supply orders are required; provides guidance and assistance on procedures, report requirements, deadlines and related matters to assure compliance with Support Services policies.

Competencies:

1. Technical Credibility: Knowledge of the organizational structure of business lines to analyze and route materials to organizational units.

2. Technical Application: Selects/understands procedures, machines, tools that will produce the desired results; identifies/solves problems in such as relate to tasks.

3. Planning and Evaluating: Knowledge of the duties, priorities, commitments, policies and program goals of the division sufficient to perform assignments as required.

4. Operations Support: Knowledge of special handling procedures required on various types of forms, correspondence or mail, specifically of a confidential nature.

5. Communication: Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, and interact with a wide variety of individuals within the organization and externally.

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/Working Conditions: Work requires some physical exertion such as extended periods of standing, frequent bending, reaching or similar activities necessary to set up, operate, adjust and monitor operation of the equipment. I he employee lifts a variety of moderately heavy materials and supplies such as mailbags or large quantities of paper stock.

Education

Education Substitution: No education for the GS-06.

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.


Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

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.

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

Financial disclosure not required.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

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.

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.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:

Veterans Benefits Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. 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.

Agency contact information

FRANK GORDON
Phone
(601) 368-4932
Email
Frank.Gordon3@va.gov
Address
Columbia Regional Benefit Office
6437 Garners Ferry Rd
Columbia, SC 29209
US

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https://www.va.gov/jobs/

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