Summary The Supervisory Medical Support Assistant (MSA) oversees daily administrative operations and provides direct supervision to MSAs within the assigned service area. The incumbent ensures efficient scheduling, accurate appointment coordination, exceptional customer service, and adherence to VHA scheduling policies. The Supervisory MSA trains new staff, monitors work quality, resolves scheduling issues, and supports workflow needs to ensure timely access to care for Veterans. Responsibilities VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Supervises MSAs and Advanced MSAs, including assigning work, setting priorities, monitoring workload, evaluating performance, approving leave, and initiating disciplinary actions as needed. Ensures staff compliance with scheduling procedures, business rules, and VHA policies. Oversees scheduling functions, including appointment creation, cancellation, rescheduling, no-show processing, and demographic/insurance updates. Coordinates daily operations to support clinic/provider availability, adjusting workflow to meet patient care needs. Serves as a technical resource for scheduling systems, clinic access guidelines, and order management processes. Provides orientation and training to new employees; identifies ongoing training needs; and ensures required TMS training is completed. Supports performance improvement efforts through data collection, monitoring, and reporting related to scheduling accuracy, timeliness, and clinic access metrics. Responds to patient complaints, scheduling concerns, and workflow issues; collaboration with clinical staff and other services to resolve problems. Ensures excellent customer service by promoting courteous and professional communication among staff, Veterans, and caregivers. Uses applicable software systems (VistA, Scheduling Manager, CPRS, Outlook, etc.) to perform supervisory and administrative duties. Maintains awareness of policies, directives, and operational changes; communicates updates to staff. Ensures compliance with privacy, information security, and infection control requirements. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 4:00pm, (Subject to change based upon the needs of the agency.) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Policy. Experience : Six months experience of clerical, office, customer service, or other administrative work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position; OR, Education: High School Diploma with desire for some post high school education or equivalent experience; OR, Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. 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). GS-7 Supervisory Medical Support Assistant Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements above, all applicants must also meet the following grade requirement for a Supervisory Medical Support Assistant, GS-0679-7. They must have one (1) year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level and also be able to demonstrate "ALL" the KSAs listed below: i. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology and a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or community resources, ability to utilize numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting. ii. Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines, skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect and coordinating with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff. iii. Ability to provide staff development and training. iv. Ability to manage staffing requirements, manage workflow priorities, and adjust the flow of work to meet team and patient needs. This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work across multiple clinics. v. 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. GS-8 Supervisory Medical Support Assistant Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements above, all applicants must also meet the following grade requirement for a Supervisory Medical Support Assistant, GS-0679-8. They must have one (1) year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level and also be able to demonstrate "ALL" the KSAs listed below: i. 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.] ii. Ability to collaborate, communicate, and demonstrate customer service and interpersonal skills with internal and external customer to ensure quality/continuity of care and ensure compliance with established policies and regulations. iii. Ability to provide briefings, orientations, staff development, and training [in a patient support setting.] iv. Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resources and equipment needs, and identify budget needs. v. 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.] Creditable Experience: To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with current MSA responsibilities or an equivalent administrative patient support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as an MSA or an equivalent position in a non-VA hospital or clinic setting. PLEASE NOTE: Experience must be demonstrated in Job duties on the Resume. References: VA Handbook 5005/117, Part II Appendix G45, Medical Support Assistant http://vaww.va.gov/ohrm/Directives-Handbooks/Documents/5005.pdf Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-08. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary with prolonged periods of sitting. The work requires moderate lifting, carrying, pushing, standing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; ability to read without strain; ability to hear the whispered voice with or without hearing aid; emotional & mental stability. Education There is no educational substitution. 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. 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. 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.
