Summary This position is located at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Clinic Jacksonville, NC aligned under the Health Administration Service Line and serves as the direct line supervisor for the Lead Medical Support Assistant(s) and all Medical Support Assistant (MSA) staff within the VHA Primary Care Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) and all interdisciplinary clinics. Responsibilities Supervisory Medical Support Assistants (SMSA) provide administrative support to our clinical colleagues in the care of our Nation's Veterans. Our mission is to provide efficient and effective healthcare services by promoting and enabling the delivery of timely, accurate, accessible health care. VA is committed to cultivating a dedicated workforce of highly skilled employees who understand, believe in and take pride in VA's mission. SMSAs are essential to the success of this mission and may be assigned to many areas (service lines) of the medical center that have a need. The SMSA has the ability to collaborate, communicate, and demonstrate customer service and interpersonal skills with internal and external customers to ensure quality/continuity of care and ensure compliance with established policies and regulations. The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: Plans, organizes, administers, and directs how the administrative support services work will be accomplished for the organizations served. Planning, coordinating, analyzing, and directing the many diverse activities of the Community Based Out-Patient Clinics (CBOCs) that provide clerical support for clinicians and services. Assigning work of subordinate staff which requires developing performance standards. Resolving complex issues to ensure that patient services are met. Evaluating new products, equipment and systems in order to make recommendations for improved operations. Provides the technical and management guidance necessary to achieve the optimum use of the support service resources which require the application of highly specialized knowledge and skills. Carries out a full range of administrative and supervisory duties, to include assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff and recommendations for awards and advancements. Organizes work, sets priorities and delegates tasks and responsibilities in order to meet deadlines. Manages staffing requirements, manages priorities and coordinates work in order to complete duties in an accurate and timely manner. Provides briefings, orientations, staff development and training. Develops and formalizes performance evaluations for those under the direct supervision of this position. Provides advisory services to all levels of management regarding the requirements and implications of the services provided and following protocols regarding the hospital's policy and regulations. Provides advice to operating managers and supervisors in various departments on how provided services can assist in accomplishing their missions and programs. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): NOT Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): NOT Authorized Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is NOT a virtual position. 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. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Citizenship of the United States in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(c). Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Education: Candidates must possess a High School Diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. Grade Determinations: To qualify at the GS-8, in addition to the basic requirements for employment, applicants must also possess one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) and demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs): Advanced knowledge of managing or leading patient support staff in a clinic. This includes independently utilizing reference sources, decision making, and empowering the team to collaborate and resolve problems within a complex systems environment. Ability to provide the full range of administrative and supervisory duties to at least one subordinate MSA supervisor or team leader in a patient support setting which includes assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation of awards and/or advancements. Ability to collaborate, communicate, and demonstrate customer service and interpersonal skills with internal and external customers to ensure quality/continuity of care and ensure compliance with established policies and regulations. Ability to provide briefings, orientations, staff development, and training in a patient support setting. Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and identify budget needs. Applicants may qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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 During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. 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.
