Summary This position is located in the Veteran Transportation Service at Oklahoma City VA Medical Center in Oklahoma City, OK. Transportation Assistant is responsible for overall planning, coordination, implementation, management, and evaluation of clinical applications of patient transportation with particular emphasis on improving care and safety of veterans. Responsibilities THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Reviewing, verifying, and processing Beneficiary Travel claims and reimbursement requests to ensure accuracy, completeness, eligibility, and compliance with VA regulations and procedures Auditing daily Beneficiary Travel voucher batches, data reports, authorizations, and supporting documentation to identify errors, discrepancies, duplicate payments, or potential fraudulent claims Researching and resolving reimbursement inquiries by coordinating with Veterans, supervisors, Mobility Manager, Fiscal Service, and other internal stakeholders Reconciling vouchers, invoices, authorizations, and payment records; maintaining accurate electronic and manual records in accordance with VA requirements Preparing payment certifications, reports, correspondence, and documentation related to Beneficiary Travel activities Coordinating and arranging appropriate transportation services for eligible Veterans based on medical needs, travel requirements, eligibility, and applicable regulations Determining and arranging the most appropriate and cost-effective transportation method including ambulance, air ambulance, commercial air travel, taxi, bus, and contracted transportation services Reviewing transportation requests, ambulance claims, and vendor invoices to verify authorization, medical necessity, payment eligibility, and proper funding sources Utilizing VA systems and medical records to support travel determinations and coordinating with clinicians, social workers, CBOC staff, receiving facilities, and vendors to ensure timely transportation Serving as liaison between Veterans, caregivers, transportation providers, Fiscal Service, and VA personnel to resolve issues and support continuity of care Providing professional customer service by explaining Beneficiary Travel requirements, reimbursement procedures, and applicable regulations to Veterans, caregivers, and stakeholders Supporting a collaborative, Veteran-centered environment by promoting access to care, coordination of services, and positive customer experiences Maintaining confidentiality and safeguarding sensitive Veteran information in accordance with the Privacy Act, VA policies, and information security requirements Following established safety, security, records management, and administrative procedures while performing assigned duties Performing other related duties as assigned to support the Beneficiary Travel Program Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; 09:00 a.m. to 05:30 p.m. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved 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 Physical Requirements: No special physical exertion is required. The work is primarily sedentary though some work may require periods of standing. The regular and recurring work of the position involves sitting at a desk, conferences, meetings, ect., and occasional visits to activity work sites. Occasional use of automobile and public conveyances may be required. The work requires no special physical demands but will require some physical effort such as standing, walking, bending or sitting. 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) - See "Required Documents" below for details. 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications Minimum Requirement: The following are minimum requirements for appointment as a Transportation Assistant in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which all applicants must met. Specialized Experience (GS-06): You must have one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (i.e., GS-05). Qualifying specialized experience is experience performing administrative duties supporting transportation or travel-related activities, which would typically include but not limited to: maintaining records, processing requests, reviewing documentation for completeness entering information into computer systems; communicating with customers regarding transportation services; and following established policies and procedures. (CLEAR DETAILS OF EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must show complete information for each job entry, such as beginning and ending dates of employment, duties performed, and/or total hours worked per week.) 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 IMPORTANT: There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information 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. 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. 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. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 80 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. 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/.
