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Student Trainee(Administration/Office Mgmt)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

The Pathways Internship Program allows students to join VA in career positions that emphasize long-term training and development.. The incumbent serves as a student trainee who has been appointed to the Pathways Internship Program with on-the -job training and guidance to further student technical development. The incumbent will be responsible for providing support in tasks involving clerical and administrative duties in a large multi-faceted service.

*You must be willing to relocate.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$40,736 - $65,599 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 7
Promotion potential
7
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Multiple
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
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
CBSU-13023387-26-RLS
Control number
878794000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current students enrolled in accredited educational institutions from high school to graduate level. Includes internships, pathways and other student programs.

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Duties

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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, or technical/vocational degree or certificate (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps), with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school. The Internship provides managers with 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 curriculum studies or career goals while offering eligibility for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment upon completion. For more information on Internship opportunities within the Department of Veterans Affairs, please visit https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/pathways-internship-program/.

Duties include but not limited to:

  • Performs selected tasks and phases of routine studies and projects that require application of basic occupational field theory and principles in the technical area of the service.
  • Performs a variety of work assignments consisting of established, specific, and related tasks that have been selected to orient the employee in the practical application of basic principles, concepts, and techniques of the occupational field.
  • Attends training classes and activities as directed.
  • Participates with senior personnel in conducting non-routine projects.
  • Studies Veterans Affairs requirements for the projects and researches and studies the current body of precedents and technical knowledge.
  • Analyzes information or data gained from project results, documents project findings, and prepares reports findings.
  • Searches technical literature, reports, and other reference material to locate information requested by senior personnel.
  • Provides assistance in planning, monitoring, and conducting special studies, projects, and initiatives.
  • Attends meetings to observe interactions and understand working relationships with customers, specialists, clinicians, nurses, doctors, and other organizational points of contact.
  • Assists in the collection and analysis of information and data, the documentation of findings, and the development of reports.
  • Uses computers/computer software, such as email, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation programs, and project tracking programs to assist senior personnel.
  • Sets up and maintains logs showing the status of actions and correspondence.
  • Maintains records incident to the department's function, assembles and complies information and data from available records for various reports, briefings, etc.
  • Receives visitors and telephone calls to the office,
  • Takes requests for appointments with Chief/Assistant Chief, checks availability, and confirms appointments.
  • Responds to routine and nontechnical requests for information.
  • Receives incoming correspondence, screening material prior to distribution for suspense dates, establishing controls, and following-up for supervisor.
  • Prepares and distributes minutes of staff and other meetings at the direction of the Chief/Assistant Chief.
  • Assists in posting and maintaining Fund Control Point for the service, to include accounting, disbursement, and expenditure of funds.
  • Independently prepares personnel actions and training requests and related documentation and indicated.
  • Creates, copies, edits, calculates, revises, retrieves, stores, and prints a wide range of documents in final form from handwritten drafts.
  • Serves as principle timekeeper.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Flexible depending on Class Schedule
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Student Trainee(Administration/Office Mgmt)/PD08001A
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
  • To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
  • 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, 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, 08/10/2026.

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.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

To qualify for the GS-5 level:

  • 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: Basic administration and clerical work; customer service; data entry and computer software programs OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed four full academic years of post-high school leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent degree 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 education stated above.
To qualify for the GS-6 level:
  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Conducting routine studies and projects; research technical literature and reference material; collect and analyze data; prepare reports; use of computer programs; maintain record systems and maintain logs OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed 6 full months of graduate level education OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the education stated above.
To qualify for the GS-7 level:
  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Conducting non-routine studies and projects; budget; analyze information and document findings; development of reports; make recommendations for improvement of studies/projects OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed 1 full academic year of graduate level education; or Eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) provision and completion of a bachelor's degree. S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. Please see the following link for more information, General Schedule Qualification Policies (opm.gov) OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the education stated above.

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

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. (Please provide your most accurate/recent copy of transcripts)

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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

You are excluded from health benefits coverage if you are expected to work less than 130 hours per month for at least 90 days.

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. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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.

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.

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:

  • Administration and Management
  • Attention to Detail
  • Clerical
  • Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
  • Flexibility
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Manages and Organizes Information
  • Problem Solving
  • Self-Management
  • Technology Application


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; 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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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.

Veterans Health Administration

Interested in a career that offers a true work-life balance? Look no further! The Oklahoma City VA Health Care Systemoffers a balance of professional and clinical complexity that stimulates growth yet, it also allows the professional an opportunity to enjoy life outside of work. If you are interested in a career that offers an integrated patient-centered approach while providing compassionate and state of the art care to Veterans, we welcome you to apply. By serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans, we fulfill President Lincoln's promise. "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors"

"The VA is in Oklahoma City, which offers a vibrant arts culture with rich historical influences along with the amenities of an urban city. Not many urban areas can claim as much outdoor diversity but with more than 250 days of sunshine each year, many activities are year-around. OKC offers the perfect mix of social vibe, modern businesses and family life making it an ideal location to start a career, raise a family, or ease into retirement.

The VA offers a teaching hospital, with state-of-the-art technology, education and research, making this hospital an ideal career choice for many clinical and administrative professionals. The 192-bed facility that serves a population of 81,000 has numerous specialized programs in addition to comprehensive health care.

Agency contact information

VISN 19 HR Contact Center
Phone
719-227-4600
Email
V19USAJOBS@VA.GOV
Address
VA Oklahoma City Health Care System
921 Northeast 13th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
US

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

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