Summary The Program Support Assistant serves as the Program Support Assistant (PSA) for the Caregiver Support Program (CSP) at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System. The position is located under the guidance of Social Work Service Caregiver Support Program. The Program Support Assistant reports to Supervisory Program Specialist in Social Work Service. Responsibilities The Program Support Assistant serves as the Program Support Assistant (PSA) in support of the CSP Program Manager and multidisciplinary program staff. The PSA aids the Program Coordinator in getting things accomplished through an extensive knowledge and understanding of the organization, regulations, methods, and the other tools or recourses of management. In the absence of the CSP Coordinator, the PSA will serve as the point of contact for the CSP and provide vital, sensitive, administrative program information to the Caregiver and/or Veteran, VA approved providers and VA staff. Duties include but are not limited to: Accepts CSP telephone calls from patients, family members, caregivers, CSP staff in the field, other VA staff, Congressional Officers, and/or community agency staff, regarding program inquiries, patient care concerns, etc. Assists CSP Program Manager with data tracking from the Caregiver Program national database. Composes reports and meeting minutes as directed by CSP Program Manager, assists in the daily operation of the program, and processes all incoming correspondence, faxes and action documents. Advises medical/administrative staff relative to create new clinic profiles or make changes to established clinics. Provides a variety of user support assistance such as implementation and support of the services' automated management information systems including, but not limited to, VISTA and CPRS. Uses and accesses the various VA and Service automated systems and software. Assists CSP Program Manager in scheduling interviews of CSP job applicants and organizing documents relating to interviews. Work Schedule: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (Monday through Friday) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant/PD11068A 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 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification 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 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, 03/20/2026. 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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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-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: providing high-level administrative support within a healthcare environment, specifically for the Caregiver Support Program within Social Work Service. This includes proficiency in managing a variety of clerical tasks such as completing memos, reports, and meeting minutes, as well as maintaining competency folders and serving as a primary timekeeper. Candidates must demonstrate skill in data collection and the use of qualitative and quantitative analytical methodology to evaluate program compliance and performance metrics. Additionally, the role requires experience coordinating medical records, managing a high volume of controlled correspondence, and communicating effectively with a diverse audience, including Veterans, Caregivers and Veteran Service Officers. Technical expertise in using specialized healthcare systems like CPRS and VISTA, along with standard Microsoft Office software, is essential for performing studies, analyzing trends, and improving administrative processes. The Program Support Assistant must have excellent verbal and written communication skills. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Computer Skills Critical Thinking Customer Service 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: 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: The work is primarily sedentary and is performed by sitting, standing, bending, and stooping. The employee is required to obtain records from files, and carry files, manuals and other light objects. The employee is required to complete all duties related to creation and mailing of large quantities of correspondence to meet regulatory standards. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. 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) which 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.
