Executive Assistant

Summary

The Executive Assistant (EA) acts as a consultant, confidential advisor and supports MDEO's Executive Director by independently coordinating administrative functions to include correspondence, communications, meeting schedules, suspense and control items and other analysis of information or refinement of recommendations and proposals that impact the Department's mission and the internal management and operations of the organization.

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Duties

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Specific duties include:

• The Executive Assistant supports MDEO's Executive Director by independently coordinating administrative functions to include correspondence, communications, personnel management, financial support, meeting schedules, scheduling of briefings including hearings, suspense and control items, space needs, and other analysis of information or refinement of recommendations and proposals.
• Assists the Executive Director on highly visible and important formal responses, testimonies, and hearings. Works on Congressional testimony and hearing preparation; assists with establishing or articulating VA's position on broad issues with significant and wide-ranging impact. The incumbent completes special projects that are complex in nature and have significant impact on VBA initiatives. The work requires a high level of interaction with VBA senior leaders and the issues are typically controversial and highly visible.
• Maintains a broad knowledge and understanding of VA and VBA policies, missions, automation, and operating programs and must remain acutely aware of administration policies and government-wide initiatives having a direct impact on VBA and MDEO. The incumbent applies expert analytical skills and division goals in evaluating various program areas. The incumbent uses expertise and judgment in creating recommendations for the Executive Director.
• Exercises objectivity and awareness of the mission and responsibilities of the Executive Director in the priority setting process. The incumbent screens visitors and telephone calls by obtaining background information to determine which calls or visitors must be directed to the Executive Director, others, or can be handled personally. Provides technical assistance and guidance on preparation, coordination, and administrative processing of executive office actions including conducting research to develop presentations, briefings, and other executive materials.
• Initiates and drafts memoranda and position papers, together with other special reports and analytical studies on items of special interest or controversial issues that are of high department or public interest. Exercises a high level of judgment in determining and advising on courses of action. Presents, or arranges for presentations, regarding matters related to current policy and program changes. The incumbent develops standard procedures involving the administrative operations for the office and develops systems which monitor, track, and control a wide variety of items requiring action by the Executive Director and staff for the office.
• Prepares, edits, and reviews incoming and outgoing executive communications, briefing papers, correspondence, and other materials. Prepares presentations, spreadsheets, databases, and other materials utilizing appropriate technology. Provides executive summaries, interpretation of policy implications, or cogent recommendations pertaining to content. Acts as a gatekeeper to prevent inappropriate requests, incomplete proposals, inconsequential issues, and erroneous facts. Confirms appropriate stakeholders have identified and resolved all relevant information, prior to requesting executive leadership signature or endorsement. Independently resolves issues and provides a complete solution so the Executive Director only needs to give approval or disapproval of the proposal.
• The EA works with the MDE budget team, in preparation of the administrative budget, ensuring it is ready for Executive Director review and concurrence.
• Maintains continued awareness of overall activities in order to evaluate effectiveness and to keep the Executive Director informed and recommends actions to strengthen operating and administrative policies and procedures, and/or to advise staff on priority matters of concern. Takes final action in connection with the application of managerial and administrative functions that are within delegated authority. Incumbent is required to be aware constantly of the overall MDEO program and to recognize those areas with which the Executive Director should not be burdened, what actions and commitments should be made without reference to her/him and what matters require his/her counsel or decisions before arriving at final conclusions.

Work Schedule : Full time, Monday through Friday

Compressed/Flexible: Not Available

Telework : This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD# : Executive Assistant; PD 421060

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Duty Hours: 8:00 - 4:30pm

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

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.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selectees are required to service a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:

08/28/2026.

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.

• For a GS-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13 level.

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.

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

GS-14 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position at the GS-14 level, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level. The applicant must document knowledge of managing and coordinating senior-level executive schedules, arranging logistics for high profile meetings, conferences, and committees; Knowledge of a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods for the assessment and improvement of program effectiveness or the improvement of complex management processes and systems; Detailed knowledge of agency program goals and objectives, the sequence and timing of key program events and milestones, and methods of evaluating program accomplishments; Knowledge of Department regulations associated with administration of a program to successfully implement required goals and objectives of the office; Knowledge of administrative principals and techniques, pertinent administrative regulations, and standard administrative practices.

Volunteer Experience: 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; religions; 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.

Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary but involves use of a personal computer so a degree of manual dexterity and visual acuity enough to utilize these tools is required. Some physical effort is required in that incumbent lifts and carries reference books, working papers and similar items. A moderate amount of standing and walking is required in getting to and from meeting places away from the worksite. The incumbent may become fatigued due to reading difficult types of printed and handwritten material over an extended period. No special physical demands are required.

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

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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.

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 (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

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.

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.

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.