Program Support Assistant

Summary Serves under the GI Screening Team Coordinator. Provides Clerical, administrative and technical support to the GI Screening Program Within the Nursing Service. Responsibilities Receives and screens visitors and telephone calls for the GI Screening Program including inquiries from veteran patients and their significant others as well as internal and external clinical staff. Works closely with community resources to ensure that cases are processed in a timely manner. Creates and queries databases and spreadsheets to generate reports and track program data. Performs work involving the collection, compilation and/or tracking of data and statistical information in support of care of veterans in the community. Prepares GI non-invasive screening kits for dissemination to clinics or directly to patients, tracking and monitoring compliance within Program guidelines. Makes initial and follow-up contacts with veteran patients (via phone or secure messaging) to ensure that appointments are kept and/or rescheduled. Maintains Program calendar. Plans logistical aspects of conferences, training, awards programs and other recognition events, such as securing location and meeting facilities, compiling attendance lists, and developing support materials. Reads incoming correspondence, publications, regulations and directives which affect the GI Screening Program to determine whether individual action can be taken or further guidance is needed. Maintains control records on incoming correspondence and action documents and follows up to insure timely reply or action. Prepares and reviews documents prepared for signature of, or requiring coordination by, supervisor for conformance with regulations, grammar, format and special policies of the SLVHCS. Makes necessary travel arrangements, submits travel vouchers and reports for Program Coordinator. Serves as the Records Manager for the GI Screening Program by maintaining a central filing system and library of correspondence, publications, policies and regulations, manuals and other resource materials. Assists with maintenance of timekeeping data. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (subject to change based on facility needs) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant/PD067940 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized 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. Must pass pre-placement evaluation. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: "Please see physical requirements list under Qualification Section" 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 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, 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, 10/19/2026. 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-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. 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. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Provides excellent customer service and communicating professionally with Veterans by telephone and in person. Manages high-volume telephone calls and documenting patient interactions in an electronic health record (CPRS/Cerner or comparable EHR). Maintaines spreadsheets, and reports using Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook. Experience with Teams messages, faxing and filing. Prioritizes multiple tasks while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced clinical environment. Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams, including providers, nurses, and Medical Support Assistants, to coordinate patient care. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Successfully completed four (4) years of education above high school level in any field which high school graduation or the equivalent is a pre-requisite. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university. Note: Transcripts are required. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond. You must have an Equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year of first 60 semester hours) and specialized experience which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. Note: Transcripts are required. Physical Requirements: The work of the Selectee is primarily sedentary. There is some walking, standing, bending and carrying of items up to 25 lbs. such as equipment and supplies, files equipment provided to beneficiaries within Prosthetic & Sensory Aids. 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. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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