Program Support Assistant

Summary

Serves under the GI Screening Team Coordinator. Provides Clerical, administrative and technical support to the GI Screening Program Within the Nursing Service.

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Duties

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• Receives and screens visitors and telephone calls for the GI Screening Program including inquiries from veteran patients and their significant others as well as internal and external clinical staff.
• Works closely with community resources to ensure that cases are processed in a timely manner.
• Creates and queries databases and spreadsheets to generate reports and track program data.
• Performs work involving the collection, compilation and/or tracking of data and statistical information in support of care of veterans in the community.
• Prepares GI non-invasive screening kits for dissemination to clinics or directly to patients, tracking and monitoring compliance within Program guidelines.
• Makes initial and follow-up contacts with veteran patients (via phone or secure messaging) to ensure that appointments are kept and/or rescheduled.
• Maintains Program calendar.
• Plans logistical aspects of conferences, training, awards programs and other recognition events, such as securing location and meeting facilities, compiling attendance lists, and developing support materials.
• Reads incoming correspondence, publications, regulations and directives which affect the GI Screening Program to determine whether individual action can be taken or further guidance is needed.
• Maintains control records on incoming correspondence and action documents and follows up to insure timely reply or action.
• Prepares and reviews documents prepared for signature of, or requiring coordination by, supervisor for conformance with regulations, grammar, format and special policies of the SLVHCS.
• Makes necessary travel arrangements, submits travel vouchers and reports for Program Coordinator.
• Serves as the Records Manager for the GI Screening Program by maintaining a central filing system and library of correspondence, publications, policies and regulations, manuals and other resource materials.
• Assists with maintenance of timekeeping data.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant/ PD067940

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.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: Work is generally sedentary. It does require some physical exertion, such as standing for long periods of time, recurring lifting of moderately heavy items items such as supplies and equipment for special programs. Considerable walking is involved. Must be able to work effectively under pressure of numerous interruptions on a Variety of subjects. 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 ( 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, 07/15/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement : For a GS-05 position. Candidates may be advanced without time restriction to position is up to a GS-05 if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade the employee held within the preceding 52 weeks under his or his latest non-temporary competitive appointment.

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

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• Experience using Microsoft tools(Excel, Outlook, Teams) to track data, communicate, and manage workflow.
• Communicates and treats customers in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner while providing consistent information according to established policies and procedures.
• Experience interacting with the public, telephone skills, receiving and referring phone calls.
• Follow instructions and works independently, clerical tasks such as filing, printing, faxing.
• Monitors data to improve screening rates along with GI fit Coordinator.

OR,

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Successfully completed four (4) years of education above high school level in any field which high school graduation or the equivalent is a pre-requisite. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university. Note: Transcripts are required.

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. You must have an Equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year of first 60 semester hours) and specialized experience which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. Note: Transcripts are required.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

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: 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:

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 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 CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

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.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.