Program Support Assistant (OA)

Summary The Program Support Assistant (OA) is aligned within the VISN 20 Northwest Network, Prosthetics & Sensory Aids Services located in Tacoma, Washington. The position serves as an administrative staff resource to the regional Mobile Prosthetic & Orthotic Care (MoPOC) program, which is a VHA Office of Rural Health Enterprise-Wide Initiative. Responsibilities Major duties include but are not limited to: Serves as the primary point of contact for patients utilizing Mobile Prosthetic & Orthotic Care (MoPOC) program services within the local service area and manages clinical schedules across CBOC based, home-based, telephone-based, and telehealth-based settings. Frequently serves as the point of contact for healthcare providers across the medical center and CBOCs seeking information pertaining to MoPOC program policies and for care coordination for specific patients. Provides assistance with route planning, data collection, prosthetic device and component procurement, management of patient interactions for the coordination of care, maintenance of an inventory management system, coordination of vehicle maintenance services and tracking of clinician training schedules. Manages mobile clinical scheduling using appropriate geo-mapping software to maximize efficiencies in route-planning. Builds and manages several clinics electronically using existing administrative software tools, as well as coordinates the availability and management of clinical space for clinicians. Communicates with appropriate purchasing staff to ensure smooth timely procurement of all purchases required by clinical staff. Manage ordering, receiving, and ensures that field-based clinicians receive goods necessary for patient care. Coordinates with VA travel for Veterans that require assistance in traveling to receive MoPOC care. Monitors clinical productivity by tracking numbers, types, length, and complexity of patient encounters, and compiles reports based on those activities. Reviews protocols for collection data and provides recommendations as necessary to improve processes. Serves as primary timekeeper for the local MoPOC clinician(s) and is considered a subject matter expert and resource for other staff assigned timekeeping duties. Plans and/or accomplishes special projects. Provides accurate and appropriately detailed information about MoPOC, its functions and standard operating procedures, appropriately manages sensitive information, and communicates effectively with individuals with medical and non-medical backgrounds. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Tuesday - Friday, 6:00 am - 4:30 pm PST Compressed/Flexible: Available. Telework: Not authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant (OA)/PD103720 and PD103730 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Promotion Potential: This is a developmental position leading to a GS-7 level, performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. 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. Requirements 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: 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, 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 within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 08/06/2026. Proficiency Requirement: In addition to meeting experience or education requirements, applicants must be able to type 40 words per minute. Applicants may meet these requirements by passing the appropriate performance test, presenting a certificate of proficiency from a school or other organization authorized to issue such certificates by the Office of Personnel Management local office, or by self-certifying their proficiency. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience, GS-6: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-5) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Developmentally performing clerical/administrative duties and business practices related to health care delivery systems, operations management concepts, and the varied and complex prosthetic programs and services in an office environment; managing, compiling, and tracking data; analyzing data using qualitative and quantitative techniques; providing guidance and support to operating programs; preparing correspondence, reports, memoranda, and other forms of written communication; utilizing office automation software and maintaining files. Performs professional communications with a broad range of individuals including leaders and clinicians, patients, vendors, other clinical staff, and staff at all levels of the organization. Specialized Experience, GS-7: 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: Independently performing clerical/administrative duties and business practices related to health care delivery systems, operations management concepts, and the varied and complex prosthetic programs and services in an office environment; managing, compiling, and tracking data; analyzing data using qualitative and quantitative techniques; providing guidance and support to operating programs; preparing correspondence, reports, memoranda, and other forms of written communication; utilizing office automation software and maintaining files. Performs professional communications with a broad range of individuals including leaders and clinicians, patients, vendors, other clinical staff, and staff at all levels of the organization. NOTE: 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. 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 these grade levels. 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 Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration