Clarification from the agency

To be considered as a VHA/VISN employee, applicants must submit a current 2026 SF-50 with their application. First area of consideration is for VISN employees and second area of consideration is for VHA employees. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Lead Medical Support Assistant Trainer works as a member of consolidated float pool to develop and administer training programs for the staff of VISN and consolidated float pool as well as administrative employees throughout the facility, outpatient clinics and CBOCs. In this capacity, the incumbent coordinates orientation activities for new employees to consolidated float pool and prepares materials to acquaint new employees with the organization's mission, structure, history, objectives, and policies. The incumbent reports to the VISN 20 Business Implementation Manager (BIM) and works in close collaboration with VISN 20 services and service lines to achieve overall objectives of the MSA training. The Incumbent facilitates development and maintenance of standard operating procedures for all MSA positions within VISN and consolidated float pool.

The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following:

• The position of Lead Medical Support Assistant (LMSA) Trainer is integral to the implementation of education and training of MSA staff of the VISN and consolidated float pool as well as the 8 medical facilities as other VA staff who schedule appointments. The incumbent serves as a trainer and supports MSAs performing duties related to patient appointment scheduling, including activities encompassing scheduling, follow-up of appointment schedule, provider panel management, and maintenance of reports.
• The incumbent is responsible for a wide range of assignments and provides administrative, advisory, and technical support to MSAs. The incumbent has the primary responsibility of providing lectures, one-on-one training, on site mentoring, and support over the phone and/or web based.
• As a trainer, the incumbent is responsible for teaching and mentoring others on how to enter demographic, insurance, and income information into the Veterans Information systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) system.
• Develops, reviews, analyzes, implements, conducts and evaluates training courses and programs related to VISN 20 and consolidated float pool areas such as Eligibility/Enrollment, Access to Care, Scheduling, Admissions, Special Programs, Telephone Communications, Scanning, Release of Information, Insurance Collection, Privacy, Records Management, Consult Management.
• Incumbent assesses training program quality and effectiveness for continuous improvement. This requires the incumbent to monitor newly released Directives, Facility Policies, and released patches for their potential effect on VISN 20 Consolidated Float Pool end-users and employees on a regular basis.
• Conducts and evaluates employee training needs assessments to provide guidance to VISN 20 and BIM management and supervisory staff on establishing and operating internal training programs, developing or obtaining/purchasing training aids and selecting appropriate training resources. In addition, the incumbent coordinates requests for training funds in accordance with established service priorities on special interest training needs.
• Develops the training plan each fiscal year, as well as monthly training calendar of the days, times, and location of training programs for the service. Incumbent completes quality assurance studies of programs as required.
• Develop and updates courses (including web-based) policies, guidelines, instructional methods, materials, etc., for consolidated float pool training programs and provides instructions regarding on-line training methods. Serves as the consolidated float pool coordinator for tracking of all employee education and training hours utilizing established computer system software and will use this to prepare reports on the status of training hours and mandatory courses.
  

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0800-1630 PST.
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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 identification 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 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 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 announcement closing date 07/14/2026.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficient.
• Education: High school diploma OR high school transcript (unofficial or official) OR GED Certificate OR homeschooling completion OR proficiency certificate issued by a State or Territorial Board or Department of Education OR college transcript (official)
  • If selected, to meet the basic requirement of high school education or equivalent and prior to a firm job offer being extended, applicants must provide verification of the education requirement if not covered under the grandfathering provision.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)

Specialized Experience must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level collaborating with medical clinicians across multiple disciplines, scheduling interdisciplinary appointments, and possessing an advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community. **Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. **

At the GS -7 grade level education cannot be used as a substitution for the above specialized experience.

Candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below:

• 1. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology and a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or community resources.
• 2. Ability to utilize numerous advanced patient care systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting.
• 3. Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities to meet deadlines.
• 4. Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desires effect and coordinating with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff.
• 5. Ability to provide staff development and training.
• 6. Ability to manage staffing requirements, manage workflow priorities, and adjust the flow of work to meet team and patient needs. This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact if incomplete work across multiple clinics.

Preferred Experience:

• 3+ years experience as Medical Support Assistant. The incumbent must have knowledge of Human Resources Management, planning, scheduling, and conducting training and evaluating progress of such training. The incumbent is responsible for a wide range of assignments and provides administrative, advisory, and technical support to MSAs.
• Ability to provide clinical staff recovery aspects having a direct impact on the reimbursement of the facility. The incumbent has the primary responsibility of providing lectures, one-on-one training, on site mentoring, and support over the phone and/or web based. As a trainer, the incumbent is responsible for teaching and mentoring others on how to enter demographic, insurance, and income information into the Veterans Information systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) system.
• Develops, reviews, analyzes, implement, conduct and evaluate training courses and programs related to VISN 20 and consolidated float pool areas such as Eligibility/Enrollment, Access to Care, Scheduling, Admissions, Special Programs, Telephone Communications, Scanning, Release of Information, Insurance Collection, Privacy, Records Management, Consult Management, as well as training on new directives and processes that interrelate within Business Office sections/units and/or with other services.
• Develops the training plan each fiscal year, as well as monthly training calendar of the days, times, and location of training programs for the service. Incumbent completes quality assurance studies of programs as required.
• Serves as the consolidated float pool coordinator for tracking of all employee education and training hours utilizing established computer system software and will use this to prepare reports on the status of training hours and mandatory courses.

Veterans' Preference: Does not pertain to this announcement per the OCHCO bulletin, Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages. This bulletin is in effect through September 30, 2026.

References: VA Handbook 5005/117, Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standard, GS-679.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 7.

Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary but may require periods of standing or walking however, there are no physical requirements for the 0679 Medical Support Assistant occupation.

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 MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

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.

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.

Veterans' Preference: Does not pertain to this announcement per the OCHCO bulletin, Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages. This bulletin is in effect through September 30, 2026.