Program Support Asst (OA)

Summary

This position serves as the Program Support Assistant for the HUD-VASH Program, located in the Domiciliary Service, VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS). The HUD-VASH Program is a key component in VA's continuum of homeless services, representing VA's only means of providing permanent housing to homeless Veterans and serving a critical role in VA's Plan to End Veteran Homelessness.

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Duties

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As Program Support Assistant, the incumbent assists the Housing Development Coordinator in maintaining effective and secure data collection systems for housing outcomes related to HUD-VASH, provides ongoing data monitoring and reporting to VISN, VACO, and the Northeast Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC), and supports the HUD-VASH Central Valley region with various clerical and administrative duties on behalf of both program staff and patients.

Major Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Data Collection, Entry, Reporting, and Program Analysis - 60% :
  • The incumbent supports the HUD-VASH clinical team through various data entry and collection tasks, analysis, and report preparation. This includes coordination and documentation of patient and program indicators, thresholds, and performance measures.
  • Management of the comprehensive HUD-VASH tracking system and database facilitates identification of housing opportunities, case management needs, and deadlines.
  • The incumbent, under the supervision of the Administrative Officer (AO), tracks the operating budget, implements controls to monitor expenses throughout the fiscal year, and offers administrative and clerical guidance consistent with program requirements and VACO evaluation guidelines.
• Performance Improvement Activities - 15%:
  • The incumbent collaborates with VA Health Care System multi-disciplinary teams and community agencies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of housing services provided to HUD-VASH program Veterans.
• Office Management/Administrative Support - 15%:
  • The incumbent performs office functions to ensure smooth workflow within HUDVASH. Under the supervision of the AO, responsibilities include coordinating reception and telephone coverage, greeting visitors, providing information and guidance, and initiating actions for Veterans, public, and clinical staff.
• Contacts with Patients - 10%:
  • Regular interaction occurs with HUD-VASH applicants and clients, responding promptly and professionally to inquiries. The incumbent communicates diplomatically with staff and the public regarding program issues, facilitates consultations and referrals, and answers technical questions about patient rights and medical eligibility.
• Other Duties as assigned

Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm or as determined by the supervisor.

Compressed/Flexible: This may be authorized at the supervisor's discretion.

Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Program Support Asst (OA)/ PD06229O

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this 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
• 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 may 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 or trial 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 08/03/2026.

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-07 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. 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 as described below:

• 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 in program administration and management; assistance with day-to-day operational duties; communicating effectively both verbally and in writing with a variety of individuals; problem-solving and applying decision-making skills. Sustaining processes and procedures to ensure program effectiveness; interpreting, analyzing, and responding to requests for information from internal and external entities; collecting, compiling, managing, and reporting program data; preparing correspondence and reports; utilizing automated software (such as Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.); developing a yearly program budget; developing a tracking mechanism to monitor funds and monitor all program expenditures.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Computer Skills
• Customer Service
• Plan and organize work

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; religious; 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.

Physical Requirements: Involves active listening, reading, observing and evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior, walking, speaking, bending, carrying of light items such as paper, books, small parts, writing reports, writing clinical notes, using office equipment such as computers, telephones, fax machines, photocopy machines, and possibly driving an automobile. Some work is performed in a clinical setting that exposes the incumbent to the communicable diseases common of the homeless population. Strenuous physical activity is not required.

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.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period) that is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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.

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.