Program Support Assistant

Summary

The purpose of the position is to serve as a Program Assistant (PSA) for the nursing service. This role will help with the Transfer and Lodging Program at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System (VASLCHCS). The PSA supports the Transfer and Lodging Center and Nursing Service activities throughout the health care system.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

Duties include but are not limited too :

• Maintains daily functions of the Transfer & Lodging Center.
• Determines eligibility for Veterans and coordinates with contracted vendors and hotels to reserve lodging for the Veteran's stay.
• Manages high volume calls from Veterans, families, and clinical staff, updates Veteran demographic information, and registers new Veterans.
• Receives requests and processes consults for lodging accommodations for Veterans coming for outpatient appointments or admissions.
• Assists with lodging arrangements for Veteran's discharging from the hospital through the hospital, Fisher House, and the RV lot.
• Resolves minor issues related to the hotel, RV Lot and Veteran complaints, and keeps the Float Pool Nurse Manager informed.
• Monitors contracted vendors for adherence to contract provisions and customer service; documents problems and complaints, investigates, and reports to supervisor.
• Reviews hotel invoices monthly, checks for accuracies and discrepancies and corresponds with hotels management group and VA lodging management. Verifies accuracy, reports discrepancies, approves final invoices and submits to contracted vendor and VA budget staff for payment distribution within the allotted timeframe.
• Maintains records of Hotel stays, admissions, future lodgers, and veteran complaints. Compare and monitor the current lodger's checklist and the hotels daily checkout list for accuracy.
• Uses word processing software to execute several office automations functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files: activating printers: inserting and deleting text, formatting letters, reports, and memoranda: transmitting and receiving e-mail.
• Communicates with physicians, nurse practitioners, case managers, nursing staff and other allied health professionals using sound interpersonal skills while protecting sensitive information.
• Works independently, making decisions based on guidelines, precedents, and regulations, and performs duties in such a manner that only minimal supervision is required.
• Serves as a trainer/preceptor and resource person for less experienced clerical staff.
• Performs timekeeping for Float Pool staff, CNO's, and TLC staff. Implements and processes Float Pool employees' schedules in VATAS, runs exception reports according to established guidelines and procedures, updates and validates leave requests in VATAS, acts as a backup for other timekeepers.
• Audits monthly invoices, confirming accuracy and works with contracted vendor to resolve discrepancies and ensures fiscal responsibility.
• Maintains a professional working environment, through clear communication in a courteous, concise manner, both verbally and in writing with people from a variety of backgrounds.

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, 8:00am-4:30pm

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant/ PD134540 and PD134550

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.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: This is primarily a sedentary position, but the work requires some walking, bending, stooping and carrying of light objects such as manuals, documents, etc. Concentration and sustained performance under prolonged stress is required because of the time factors involved in completion of work assignments within deadlines. 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 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 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, 10/30/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

• GS-06 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:
  • experience where you were responsible for providing administrative support;
  • collecting, compiling and tracking data and information; processing documents and reports;
  • establishing, updating and maintaining office files and records;
  • performing automation duties using software applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, electronic mail, desktop publishing, calendar, database and/or graphics;
  • answering telephones, referring visitors, and providing information.

• GS-07 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 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 where you were responsible for providing administrative support;
  • collecting, compiling and tracking data and information;
  • processing documents and reports; establishing, updating and maintaining office files and records;
  • performing automation duties using software applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, electronic mail, desktop publishing, calendar, database and/or graphics;
  • answering telephones, referring visitors, and providing information;
  • data management, timekeeping, Travel Lodging Center (TLC) policies, and protocols;
  • ability to resolve conflicts based upon a thorough understanding of regulations, policies and procedures and be able to adapt to situations and demonstrate flexibility in changing circumstances.

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

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: 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.

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.

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

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.