Clarification from the agency

DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation.

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The Program Support Assistant (PSA) serves within the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Specialty Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) to support programs in Birmingham, Alabama, and the surrounding areas of Jasper, Guntersville, Childersburg, and Huntsville Community Based Outpatient Clinics satellite teams.

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Performs routine administrative and miscellaneous clerical work.
• Resolves problems associated with the administrative, clerical, and clinical work of the office.
• Performs work involving the collection, compilation, and/or tracking of data and statistical information.
• Assists in planning, review, and reporting of data/statistical results of studies.
• Establishes protocols for incoming data, organizes computerized data sets and retrieves computerized data.
• Reviews documents, reports, and/or applications for omissions and inconsistencies.
• Completes special research projects in support of the policy development and/or technical activities of the program.
• Assembles and summarizes data, background information, and other materials from publications and other sources.
• Recognizes the need for, and coordinates, the work of the office with the work of other offices.
• Demonstrates knowledge of timekeeping package, Microsoft Word/Outlook/Excel, and other computer programs.
• Operates and performs routine maintenance on facsimile and copy machines as well as personal computers and printers.
• Retrieves information to assist field staff with information needs by phone.
• Adheres to patient privacy regulations and release of information procedures.
• Demonstrates knowledge of spelling, grammar, and composition and the ability to determine and follow required formats for correspondence and reports.
• Communicates verbally and in writing with a variety of people from different backgrounds and different levels of understanding.
• Uses judgment in interpreting and adapting guidelines such as agency policies, regulations, precedent, and work directions for application to specific cases or problems.
• Serves as a contact and referral person for patients and caregivers in the absence of the desired team member.
• Advises patients, families, physicians, consultants, visitors, etc. regarding many complex administrative policies and procedures.
• Serves as the communication center for multiple teams of patients and for their supporting interdisciplinary team in the field.
• Consistently treats customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.
• Handles conflict and problems in dealing with customers constructively and appropriately.
• Plans, organizes, establishes priorities while meeting time constraints. This includes working both independently and as a member of the team.
• Assists with the procurement of small items and equipment.
• Demonstrates the ability to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the program and to recommend resolution of problems in a full range of administrative activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned by management.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm, Full-time. Work schedule subject to change based on agency needs.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant/110720
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. This position requires the application, assessment, and questionnaire to be fully completed. The assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

• 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 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)

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, 07/17/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 grade level in the federal service. This experience must have equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and must typically be in or related to the work of this Program Support Assistant position. Examples of qualifying GS-06 level specialized experience include, but are not limited to: providing administrative, clerical, and program support assistance in the day-to-day operations of an office or service line; assisting with the tracking or programmatic data, compiling metrics, and identifying missing information or inconsistencies for staff review, participating in team meetings too coordinate administrative workflows, track data, and assist with document preparation to support team deadlines and compliance goals; maintaining database registries, tracking files, and processing administrative documentation to ensure office objectives are met.

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/.

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; religious; 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 sedentary. The employee sits comfortably to do the work assignments. At times, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items, e.g., papers, books, files, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

USA Hire Assessments include a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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; religious; 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.

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.

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

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.