Summary The Program Support Assistant is responsible for assisting the Fisher House Manager in all aspects of the Fisher House Program. They will work closely with the Fisher House Manager and Assistant Manager in coordinating the day-to-day operations of the Fisher House. In support of these programs, there are numerous advisory and technical duties the incumbent must master to keep the Fisher House functioning at its optimal level. Responsibilities Major duties include, but are not limited to: Point of contact for initial inquiries to include lodging eligibility, referral processes, staff/volunteer opportunities, monetary donations, and their appropriateness, and offers of in-kind donations; Assists with Fisher House events and supply management, both of which require full knowledge and understanding of appropriated and non-appropriated accounts, to include general post funds and imprest funds; Assess and independently manage urgent situations with appropriate action, to include interaction with the Emergency Department, Safety Office, Police & Security, Facilities Management, etc.; Performs work related to the acquisition and/or development of program information and resource materials; Provides administrative and clerical support necessary to support the Fisher House which entails receipt of referrals via Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), assessment of eligibility, and response to referring source via replies and updates through CPRS; Tracks program census and length of stay using software packages such as Microsoft Excel; Ensures accurate data collection, developing required monthly reports and meeting monthly report deadlines for forwarding through VA Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare Systems leadership, VISN 16, VACO Program Manager, and the Fisher House Foundation; Point of Contact to interact with varied groups and will set the tone for the professional image of the Fisher House, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare Systems, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Fisher House Foundation; Receives and addresses guest complaints and handles inquiries regarding Fisher House standards and house rules; and Exercises independent judgment in addressing unanticipated situations presented by program stakeholders (guests, volunteers, community supporters, etc.). Work Schedule: Varies, Sunday - Saturday, 24/7 Facility (Subject to change based on the needs of the Agency). Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant - Fisher House/PD04835A 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 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 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 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, 06/25/2026. 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. 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-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: Process and submit purchase orders and property requests in compliance with federal procurement procedures. Interpret and apply organizational policies making decisions aligned with agency standards. Coordinate and support routine and after-hours volunteer-led events. Provide front-line customer service to Veterans, service members, families, and caregivers in a temporary lodging or healthcare setting. Utilize digital tools (SharePoint, Excel, Word, Publisher) to track inventory, maintain property records, and generate reports. 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/. Physical Requirements: The duties and responsibilities of the position require mobility between various floors and rooms within the Fisher House and various other buildings at the hospital. The work is primarily sedentary with some standing, stooping, reaching, bending, and lifting up to 40 pounds. This includes preparation of programs, occasional moving/lifting of equipment (100 cup coffee pot, boxes of donated items, etc.) and assist guests with luggage. Although most of the work is sedentary, the employee will be walking, standing, bending, and carrying some light to heavy items, driving an automobile as well as other means of transporting Veterans and guests such as a golf cart. Trips into the community to attend meetings or for program marketing/promoting purposes will be required. The incumbent must be composed at all times while providing customer service to guests experiencing emotional and/or physical stress. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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 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/.
