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Program Support Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Lexington VA Health Care System- Primary Care ( F.R. Sousley Campus & VR & E)

Summary

The Program Support Assistant, as an extension of the Chief of Primary Care, assists and supports Primary Care in daily administrative functions, outcomes management, performance measures, and logistics/supply management. The Program Support Assistant reports directly to the Administrative Officer of Primary Care.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$50,460 - $65,599 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
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
CBTG-13115813-27-MH
Control number
892868900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Please be advised this vacancy is opened to Current and Permanent Lexington VA Healthcare System employees and CBOCs that are aligned with Station # 596. VCS Employees may apply for consideration. If you are unsure of if your current duty station falls under the correct Station # to be considered for this position, you can verify your Station # by referring to Box 40 on your most recent SF-50. The first 3 alphanumeric values should read 596 in order to be considered for this position.

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Duties

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Duties may include but are not limited to:

  • Ensures that all administrative processes related to clinic management are performed efficiently and in compliance with established guidelines.
  • Conducts inventory, requests equipment and supplies for the team, and participates in meetings and discussion concerning construction, activation, and space modifications.
  • Complies, analyzes, and presents data to support decision-making and optimize primary care operations.
  • Interprets administrative policies, assists with developing local policies, define administrative requirements, and/or provides advice to the Chief of Primary Care and Administrative Officer on related issues.
  • Interacts with other services to obtain necessary input and concurrence and to monitor and ensure adherence to approved policies and procedures.
  • Assists with the management of the Chief of Primary Care calendar, resolves scheduling conflicts, rescheduling appointments, and printing documents needed for the day.
  • Assists with the development and modification of service clinic profiles as directed by the Chief of Primary care and/or Administrative Officer.
  • Serves as the primary timekeeper for Primary Care.
  • Gathers and complies data from various systems, including VISTA, KLF, PCMM, CPRS, and other data warehouses.
  • Assists with clarifying DDS (Data Definition Standards) requirements related to data collection.
  • Reviews data transmission errors and inconsistencies to ensure the accuracy of all data in PCMM system.
  • Advanced proficiency in Outlook, Word, Excel, AcuStaf, CPRS, VistA, and a comprehensive understanding of Primary Care policies.
  • Maintains accurate and up-to-date records of employee certifications for Primary Care staff.
  • Responsible for maintaining the 6-part folder for all Primary Care providers which involves organizing, updating, and auditing folders.
  • Prepares and distributes the delegation of authority notification when the Chief of Primary Care is out of the office.
  • Monitors certification expiration dates, ensuring timely renewals, and maintaining a tracking system to document compliance.
  • Other duties as assigned.


Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 8:00am-4:00pm
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant/PD305250
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
  • 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.
  • All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
  • 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, 11/18/2026.

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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6.

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.

Applicants must submit documentation verifying that they meet time-in-grade requirements in accordance with federal regulations. Human Resources will not review or access official personnel records to determine eligibility if supporting documentation is not provided. Failure to submit required documentation will result in an ineligible rating.

Permanent Employee Status: If you are unsure if you have permanent employee status to be considered for this position, you can verify your status by referring to Box 24 on your most recent SF-50. The box must have a 1 or 2 in order to be considered for this position.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

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:

  • Advanced knowledge of the capabilities, operating characteristics, and integration of various office automation software programs, including database, spreadsheet, word processing, and desktop publishing applications.
  • Developing methods to automate administrative reports by considering the interrelationship of data used for multiple reports, such as funds and obligations, training, travel, and staffing data.
  • The position also requires knowledge of medical and technical terminology, enabling the incumbent to transcribe, research, and retrieve data accurately.
  • Importing data from databases, converting tables into graphs, and enhancing presentation quality through advanced publishing techniques.
  • Be proficient in analyzing and resolving problems related to office automation methods, such as troubleshooting nonstandard assignments and integrating software solutions.
  • Thorough understanding of management principles and the functional structure of the VA health care system, as well as the ability to apply these principles to develop process improvements.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), as well as specialized VA software systems, is required to support data analysis, reporting, and the preparation of comprehensive technical and visual materials.
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.

Basis for Selection: Selections for positions will be based on the objective evaluation of the candidates' total qualifications for the position. "Qualifications" means the combination of experience, training, education, skills, knowledge, abilities, personal characteristics, and merit factors deemed to be pertinent to successful performance.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary but requires periodic walking, standing, and carrying medium-weight items, such as patient records. The incumbent may need to stand for extended periods when conducting training sessions or participating in meetings. The position also involves occasional travel between two divisions of the medical center and may require trips to Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). Lifting and carrying of office supplies, files, and equipment may be required, with occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds, The incumbent must be able to perform tasks that involve bending, stooping, and reaching to organize files and manage office materials. Additionally, the position requires effective communication both verbally and in writing, as well as the use of standard office equipment such as computers, telephones, and fax machines.

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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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

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.

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

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced 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/.

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:

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


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.

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?

The Lexington VA Health Care System provides care for Veterans throughout central, eastern, and southern Kentucky. The Troy Bowling Campus near Cooper Drive in Lexington is a fully accredited, two-division, tertiary care medical center with an operating capacity of 199 hospital beds. Established in 1973 and built adjacent to the University of Kentucky, this campus offers specialty outpatient care, inpatient acute medical, neurological, surgical, and psychiatric care.

The Franklin R. Sousley Campus on Leestown Road, established in 1931, is home to the main Primary Care clinics, including Women's Health and Geriatric specialty clinics. It also houses other specialty clinics, such as prosthetics, optometry, massage therapy and chiropractic, mental health, substance abuse treatment, acute rehabilitation, and PTSD rehabilitation treatment. LVAHCS also maintains community-based outpatient clinics in Berea, Hazard, Morehead, and Somerset, KY.

The Lexington VAHCS is ranked 6th nationally for quality, ranked in the top 10 by Forbes as a "Best Place to Work" in Kentucky and commended by a Joint Commission Survey team for "restoring their faith in VA."

Agency contact information

Michael Helton
Phone
615-582-2884
Email
Michael.Helton@va.gov
Address
Lexington VA Health Care System
2250 Leestown Road
Lexington, KY 40511
US

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