Summary This developmental position, located in the Department of Central Business Office division of Patient Eligibility and Intake Services at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, is a career ladder structure to the full performance level of Transportation Assistant, 2102, GS-6. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the service subject matter expert in all Beneficiary Travel needs for the Central Business Office. Responsibilities Major duties include but are not limited to: Answer inquiries in person and via telephone from patients and/or families regarding eligibility for transportation services, commercial air, taxi, ambulance, and personal transportation. Serve as point of contact for clinical staff regarding eligibility for transportation services. Interview individuals to obtain information to determine eligibility and legal entitlement for transportation services. Interpret and apply policies, regulations, and laws to insure Veterans meet eligibility requirements for transportation benefits. Advise individuals and their beneficiaries or representatives of financial obligations and their rights to appeal. Exhibit tact and diplomacy during interactions with patients, staff, and co-workers. Communicate in person, via telephone, via electronic mail and through shared documents with coworkers and supervisors. Communicate with a variety of individuals including physicians, nurses, technical support staff, Veterans, and Veterans' families. Enter information into computer system (patient registration, disposition, record tracking, appointment management, etc.). Manage and correctly determines which fund control points to utilize when processing authorizations and payments. 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 8:00 am to 4:30pm (Subject to change based on the needs of the Agency). Telework: Unavailable Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Transportation Assistant/PD04627A and PD04626-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved 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, 03/27/2026. 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-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-05 position candidates may be advanced without time restriction to positions up to GS-5 if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade the employee held within the preceding 52 weeks under his or her latest non-temporary competitive appointment. 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. GS- 05: You may qualify based on your experience and education as described below: 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: Maintained and updated patient/customer databases, including addresses, phone numbers, and emergency contact information. Verified patient eligibility and entitlement for transportation benefits. Communicated with patients during admissions, applying medical terminology in daily interactions. Utilized computer systems and Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PDF, Outlook) to complete work assignments such as routine written documents such as correspondence, memoranda, reports, and pamphlets. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 4 years of education above high school in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education (in excess of the first 60 semester hours (beyond the second year) and specialized experience as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED). GS- 06: 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-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Administered CAVHS's complex, multifaceted transportation program. Maintained and updated patient/customer databases to track eligibility, enrollment status, and demographic information (address, phone, emergency contacts). Prepared routine written documents, including correspondence, memoranda, reports, and pamphlets. Verified eligibility and entitlement for transportation benefits for all applicants using established methods. Communicated with patients during admissions, applying medical terminology in daily interactions. Applied relevant policies, laws, and regulations in program operations. Used complex electronic databases for claims processing and auditing procedures. Utilized computer systems and Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PDF, Outlook) to complete work assignments. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Technical Competence Customer Service Computer Skills Control of Funds 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 duties and responsibilities of the position require some mobility between various clinic areas in separate building location sites, but generally the job is sedentary with some standing, stooping, reaching, and lifting to 20 pounds. The position meets Level 8-1, in which the work may require some physical effort, such as standing, walking, bending, or sitting. There are no special physical demands. Level 8-1 is met and assigned. 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 For the GS-05: 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information 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.
