Summary This position provides support to the Human Resources Program Specialists at the Muskogee VA Regional Office in all personnel management functions (i.e., training, employee/labor relations, employee benefits, staffing, etc.) and serves as back up administrative support to the Office of the Director on an as needed basis. Responsibilities Provides assistance in a variety of human resources services. Provides information and assistance that sustain important features of the employer- employee relationship (i.e., benefits). Assists with the support of recruitment, selection, placement, job analysis and workforce planning and analysis. Assists with the work that primarily involves entering and extracting data from HR information systems. Assists employees in preparing paperwork related to HR actions. Reviews finished forms for completeness and adequacy. Contacts individual employees or supervisors orally or in writing to resolve questions. Provides information on HR systems, processes, and procedures. Provides web links and resources to employees to obtain HR documents and information. Staffing Support Answers inquiries from applicants regarding such matters as the status of recruitment, kinds of vacancies in the divisions serviced, procedures for filing an application, receipt and disposition of applications, and general questions concerning federal employment. Coordinates the receipt of required documents from applicants. Assists Human Resources Program Specialists with-in processing of new employees and preparation for new employee orientation sessions. Assist separating employees process out and explains separation actions. Employee Benefits Support Provides basic information to employees concerning the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHB), Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and routine retirement actions. Provides resources for eligibility requirements, effective dates, the enrollment process, and basic features (i.e., cost, coverage, time limits for filing, qualifying events, etc.). Provides assistance to Human Resources Program Specialists and employees regarding any difficult or unique situations that may occur with employee benefits. Administrative Duties Receives telephone calls and visitors. Determines the nature of business and using judgment and discretion, assists the callers by answering questions or referring to the appropriate staff member. Receives and reviews all incoming mail, establishing controls on certain items and retaining items of importance for the personal attention of the Human Resources Supervisor. Assures that the action responses are made timely by appropriate staff member and provides any required background information. Researches files for information to be used in replies or reports requested from Human Resources. Makes all arrangements needed for visits, meetings, and trainings including securing a room, requesting technical assistance with visual and audio aids, setting up digital invites, preparing tracking sign-in sheets, etc. Serves as the Human Resources office supply clerk. Maintains inventory of office supplies and makes supply requests as necessary. Serves as backup to the Director's office clerical staff as needed. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: To be determined between 6:00am - 6:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Yes - This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant; PD40117A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. Requirements Conditions of Employment As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may 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 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. You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period 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 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. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:09/08/2026. 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 (unless if in the commuting area and eligible for a non-competitive hiring authority such as Schedule A, VRA, or 30% or more disabled Veterans). For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06 level. If you are a current VBA employee outside of the commuting area seeking reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-07 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-07. 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. These requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement and those applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-07 Grade Level Specialized Experience: At the GS-07 grade level, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization (GS-06). Specialized experience is defined as work that involves: Explaining human resources policies and procedures to employees; Advising employees on general information relating to benefits and other human resources processes; AND Supporting recruitment efforts such as attending job fairs or answering applicant questions. Volunteer Experience: 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. Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education There is no education substitution for 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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/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 (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Click here for more information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. 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. (https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)
