Program Support Assistant (OA)

Summary The Program Support Assistant (OA) for the Community and Recovery Services programs provides administrative/clerical support to the Mental health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MHRRTP) under the Behavioral Health Service (BHS). The position reports to the Deputy Associate Chief of Staff of Behavioral Health Service. Learn more about this agency Duties Help Resolves problems associated with the data analyses, administrative and clerical work of the office. Complete range of program support which includes basic customer service skills, timekeeping, data analysis and graphing Provide administrative assistance to the Section Chief and will be expected to have a good working knowledge of the organization and patient care programs in Mental Health Services. Manages incoming phone calls from Veterans, provides programmatic information, and assists with managing cancellation calls and rescheduling Assists with Veteran communications during emergency events. Assists MHRRTP staff in communication and coordination with other services/programs who collaborate with MHRRTP (i.e. recreational therapy) Extract and analyze data from various databases, including, but not limited to VATAS, VSSC, VISTA and LEAF Collection, compilation and/or tracking of data and statistical information in support of the organization's program operations Schedules Veterans for upcoming group and individual therapy sessions as well as medication management appointments with MHRRTP NP Schedules MHRRTP intakes and coordinates staff schedules for participation in intake Collect, preparation of reports, program support and administrative assistance to VHA VR and MHRRTP Provides clerical support such as answering the telephone, referring visitors, or providing information about the office, its functions, and standard operating procedures, and similar information Maintains the appointment calendar, schedules appointments, reminds supervisor/staff members of the subject matter prior to meetings, and makes administrative arrangements as required Edits letters, composes letters and reports, reviews correspondence for accuracy and completeness, prepares public presentation outlines and meeting minutes, develops standard or form letters and replies to inquiries Assist with timesheets, billing, payments for the Transitional Work component, as well as accounting for the VHA VR program Orders office supplies for PRRC staff. Monitors CWT VHA Vocational Rehabilitation and Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center programs budgets and fiscal responsibility over FCPs Performs other related duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Subject to change by supervisor to meet facility needs. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant (OA)/ PD037690 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Help 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. 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 ( 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, 10/08/2026. 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-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Collecting, compiling and tracking data and information Processing documents and reports Establishing, updating and maintaining office files and records Performing automation duties using such software applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, electronic mail, desktop publishing, calendar, database and/or graphics Answering telephones, referring visitors, and providing information. Physical Requirements: The Program Support Assistant (OA) works in an office setting. Duties require sitting, some walking and light lifting of medical records. Incumbent works extensively in the hospital computer system. Physical demands are limited to normal working, carrying of small batches of documents, papers or pieces of equipment and walking between the workstation and other work locations within the medical center. There are no unusual physical requirements. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional information Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. st Area of Consideration - current permanent Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System employees including satellites;
2. nd Area of Consideration - current permanent Veterans Healthcare Administration employees; and
3. rd Area of Consideration - current permanent VA Nationwide employees.

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 ICTAP and 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. Help 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. Review our benefits 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. VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION