Summary The primary purpose of this position is to provide a variety of administrative and support services essential to the operation of Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) Chattanooga Area Service (CAS). The organization has over 300 healthcare professionals located in one of five geographically dispersed medical facilities. The CAS healthcare delivery system includes clinical, ancillary, support, and administrative services which provides care and healthcare management to over 30,000 Veterans. Responsibilities The Program Support Assistant (OA) will perform a wide variety of clerical, program, administrative and technical duties in support of management with the intent of accomplishing the administrative requirements of the organization to which assigned. The incumbent will provide specialized administrative and support services to the leadership team as well as the rest of the service. Major duties for the Program Support Assistant (AO) include (but are not limited to): Schedules and makes arrangements for regular and special conferences and meetings, arranges for space, equipment, provides notifications, assembles and distributes information required, prior to meetings. Serves as the recorder, prepares agendas and minutes, and distributes documents in accordance with policy. Serves as primary and/or back-up timekeeper, which includes responsibility for preparing, submitting and maintaining time and attendance records in accordance with established guidelines for all Hybrid 38 General Schedule, Title 38 employees, Title 5 employees and Fee Basis Providers. Completes audits necessary from Fiscal Service. Assist with maintenance of six part folders for assigned employees. Reviews folders on a recurring basis to ensure all required documentation is current. Annually ensures all licensures are updated and on record. Sends reminders to clinical staff to obtain a renewed license. Prepares personnel actions through WebHR application for appointments, resignations, transfers, re-alignments, promotions, etc. Incumbent also assists leadership in the creation and processing of proficiency reports, employee performance appraisals, performance awards and other related personnel processes. Serves as the Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Sponsor for assigned employees. Validates the applicant's need for an identification card; initiates the appropriate background investigation process and provides demographic and organizational data required to move the enrollment process forward. Serves as Talent Management System (TMS) Coordinator. Processes coordination and validation requests. Ensures all mandatory training is completed in a timely manner. Maintains training tog and certificates for all assigned staff. Assists staff with educational and travel requests as needed. Ensures training and travel request forms are completed per guidelines, in an expeditious manner, and are submitted to the appropriate officials. Serves as alternate travel preparer and submits travel requests into the travel system as directed. Responsible for maintaining an appropriate level of office supplies by submitting requests through appropriate means. Assists in maintaining the equipment inventory by preparing annual reports, conducting physical inventory, submitting turn-ins, preparing Reports of Survey, or other required actions per policy. Performs government vehicle management duties to include scheduling, cleaning and maintenance, staff training oversight, and other oversight and liaison functions in coordination with responsible officials. Provides staff advisory service and clerical support to operating officials. Evaluates and discusses alternate approaches to problems and assists management in reaching a decision. Takes action on all administrative matters. Coordinates with supervisor, other leaders, and other staff organizations on personnel management matters and various administrative activities to obtain information for accomplishment of own assignments or to assist others as assigned. Work Schedule: 07:30am - 4:00pm or 08:00am -4:30pm Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-Hoc telework only. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant (OA)/PD70660A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although there may be some walking, standing, bending and carrying of light items, such as papers, books or small parts. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. 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 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 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, 04/27/2026. GS-06 Specialized Experience: Applicants 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. Specialized experience is defined as: Making appointments, arranging conferences, and meetings Collecting information and assembling files Compose letters and reports accurately Prepares personnel actions for appointments, resignations, transfers, re-alignments, promotions, etc. Maintain inventory of office and medical supplies and equipment Proficiency Requirement: In addition to meeting time in grade and experience requirements, applicants for this position must show possession of the following skills: 40 words per minute typing speed. 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 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 http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
