Staff Assistant

Summary This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Management (OM), VA Central Office in Washington, DC and reports directly to the Supervisory Executive Assistant (EA). The primary purpose of the Staff Assistant is to provide high-level administrative and operational support as well as programmatic support across OM sub-offices, realigned VA Administration and Staff Offices program elements, and the Department. Responsibilities This position serves as a primary administrative support resource for the Office of Management (OM), Front Office, managing complex and interrelated executive support functions. Anticipates leadership needs and aligns administrative execution with organizational goals. Leads coordination activities among multiple offices with differing priorities to achieve organizational objectives. Independently analyzes workflow, processes, and program execution to identify execution gaps and inefficiencies. Exercises independent judgment in prioritizing and resolving issues. Plans, tracks, and coordinates projects and initiatives across organizational units. Identifies risks, delays, or inconstancies in program execution and recommends corrective actions to Front Office leadership. Ensures timely completion of high-visibility deliverables affecting OM operations. Manages, organizes, and disseminates information effectively, including sensitive information. Handles, safeguards, and coordinates sensitive information, ensuring compliance with applicable security requirements. Ensures adherence to policies, procedures, and internal controls. Provides human resource guidance in the application of personnel management and general management principles with focus on classification and compensation, performance management, staffing, employee relations and training. 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, 7:30am - 4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Ad-hoc telework (situational telework) available as determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: PD20102A and PD81342A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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 You may be required to serve a probationary period 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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one year probationary period or two 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 one year probationary period or two year 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, 07/02/2026. 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-12 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. For a GS-13 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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 some former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience GS-12: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Demonstrating an understanding of the organization's functions and responsibilities; Demonstrating an ability to support staffing, position management, training, and employee retention issues as directed and according to the organization's human resource policies and procedures; Gathering and interpreting pertinent data from a variety of sources and identifies trends available through regular channels and alternative sources; AND Structuring and organizing administrative work to promote the efficient operation of the office. Specialized Experience GS-13: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Demonstrating an understanding of the organization's functions and responsibilities; Experience in staffing, position management, training, and employee retention issues as directed and according to the organization's human resource policies and procedures; Gathering and interpreting pertinent data from a variety of sources and identifies trends available through regular channels and alternative sources; Analyzing data in order to draw conclusions and identify cause and effect relationships to support leadership decisions, recommend a course of action, or solve organizational issues; AND Providing advice and guidance to resolve, implement or manage program or policy issues that involve areas of uncertainty in approach or methodology. 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. Note: Resume must include job title and employer name, number of hours worked per week, start and end dates (including month and year), list of duties and responsibilities for each position held. In addition, if the experience was a federal position, you must list series and grade for each position held. Failure to include this information may result in an ineligible rating. A full year of work is considered to be 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: There are no unusual physical demands. The work is performed in an office setting. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/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 found well qualified, applicants must meet the following qualifications: For GS-12: Provides executive-level administrative and program support to senior leaders, executives, and other management officials, including coordinating calendars, meetings, correspondence, briefings, and other action items. Drafts, reviews, and coordinates executive correspondence, briefing materials, reports, presentations, or decision documents for senior leadership. Exercises judgment in prioritizing competing assignments, resolving administrative or operational issues, and recommending solutions with minimal supervisory direction. Facilitates technical and non-technical competencies needed to successfully carry out human resources activities in staffing, position management, training, and employee retention. Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills in preparing materials and communicating effectively with senior leaders, customers, and stakeholders. For GS-13: Provides executive-level administrative and program support to senior leaders, executives, and other management officials, including coordinating calendars, meetings, correspondence, briefings, and other action items. Drafts, reviews, and coordinates executive correspondence, briefing materials, reports, presentations, or decision documents for senior leadership. Exercises independent judgment in prioritizing competing assignments, resolving administrative or operational issues, and recommending solutions with minimal supervisory direction. Facilitates technical and non-technical competencies needed to successfully carry out human resources activities in staffing, position management, training, and employee retention. Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills in preparing materials and communicating effectively with senior leaders, customers, and stakeholders. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at Local Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from Washington, DC. This includes all locations that fall within a 50-mile driving distance from 810 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20420. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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 (HRA) at The Fair Chance Act. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. 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. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. 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. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. 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 here: