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Staff Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

This position serves as a Staff Assistant within the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Operations Center, functioning as a key administrative, operational, and program management resource supporting Health Service Area (HSA) Support Teams and VISN-wide strategic initiatives.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
8 vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—Ad-hoc only
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$61,722 - $97,087 per year

"The reflected salary is the Rest of United States (RUS) pay scale. Salary will be determined by duty station.".

Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Promotion potential
11
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive 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
CBTD-13068868-26-PM
Control number
885630100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This job opportunity announcement is open to current employees of legacy VISN 1, VISN 2, VISN 4, and VISN 5 and those who are CTAP eligible.

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Duties

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Program Coordination (40%)

  • Serves as the point of coordination for multiple concurrent, high-priority projects and initiatives sponsored by the VISN Operations Center, HSA Support Teams, and VISN Executive Leadership, several of which are politically sensitive, time-critical, or involve significant reputational risk to the organization.
  • Participates in the coordination of agency-level operational projects, pilots, and mandated VHA initiatives, ensuring that VISN activities are synchronized with objectives set by the Under Secretary for Health.
  • Coordinates the integration of cross-cutting initiatives that span multiple HSAs, medical facilities, and VISN program offices, ensuring consistency of approach, avoidance of duplicative effort, and alignment with VISN and national VHA strategic priorities.
  • Coordinates work groups, task forces, and VISN committees; may serve on subcommittees, assist with meeting logistics and ensure materials are collected or distributed as directed.

Liaison and Communications Coordination (30%)
  • Serves as a liaison between the VISN Operations Center, HSA Executive Leadership, VISN Program Offices, and other internal/external stakeholders, ensuring the timely and accurate flow of information across all organizational levels.
  • Acts as a conduit for the flow of agency-level and VHA Central Office directives, ensuring that information, guidance, and requirements from the Under Secretary for Health are accurately transmitted and implemented at the VISN and HSA levels.
  • Facilitates coordination of priorities, taskers, and suspense between VISN Executive Leadership and subordinate HSAs/facilities; tracks the status of assigned actions and follows up to ensure timely completion, escalating unresolved issues to appropriate leadership.

Administrative and Program Management Support (30%)
  • Provides comprehensive administrative and analytical support to the VISN Operations Center, assigned HSA Support Teams and VISN Programs.
  • Researches and interprets VA/VHA policies, directives, handbooks, and other regulatory guidance to advise leadership and staff on procedural and administrative matters; ensures initiatives and correspondence comply with applicable policy requirements.
  • Develops and maintains standard operating procedures, process guides, and internal control documents to support consistency and continuity of operations within the VISN Operations Center.


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: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Telework: Adhoc only
Virtual: This may or may not be a virtual position as determined by your duty station.
Position Description/PD#: Staff Assistant/PD00005VS and PD0007VS
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
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
  • 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, 09/28/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9.The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

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

GS-9 Grade level requirements:

  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: General working knowledge of organizational structure, administrative procedures, standard office automation, and data systems sufficient to perform recurring administrative, coordination, and correspondence support assignments under guidance.. OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a masters degree or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position or LL.M. if related.. OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond the first year).
GS-11 Grade level requirements:
  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Providing a high degree of support to a director/manager of a complex program; managing the administrative functions and coordinating workload within a large organization; ensuring program compliance with policy and regulations; implementing process improvement initiatives; and preparing correspondence. OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D., equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a related field that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position or LL.M. if related. NOTE: This education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university. If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.. OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and graduate education (beyond the second year).

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Administration and Management
  • Planning and Evaluation
  • Communication

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: The work is primarily sedentary, performed in an office setting. Some travel between VISN facilities may be required to support meetings, site visits, or special projects.


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.

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




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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

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.

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.

"Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care."

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.

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.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - 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 whole health care to Veterans?

Agency contact information

Pamela Mays
Phone
410-691-7766
Email
Pamela.Mays@va.gov
Address
VISN 1 VA New England Healthcare System
200 Springs Rd
Bedford, MA 01730
US

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https://vacareers.va.gov/

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