Program Support Assistant - Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Summary This position is located at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center Fisher House. The primary purpose of the position is to assist the Fisher House Manager in providing temporary lodging - a "home away from home" - to family members of patients being treated at the RHJVAMC or affiliated facilities by participating in the direct, on-site management and administration of the Fisher House program. Responsibilities Incumbent participates in the implementation of operational policies related to eligibility, admission, length of stay, behavior standards for guests, cleanliness and state of repair of the facility. The incumbent may supervise volunteer activities. Incumbent participates in the execution of policies and procedures for the scheduling of available guestrooms, check-ins, check-outs, and orientation of guests upon arrival at the Fisher House. The incumbent will operate government vehicles, to include passenger cars and vans. Travel is generally local, and will include transporting Veterans and families who lodge at our Fisher House. The incumbent must pass initial and recurring physical exams to operate government vehicles to transport Veterans and families who lodge at our Fisher House. The incumbent implements Fisher House Manager's procedures, regulations, and guidelines concerning operations. Incumbent participates in activities that ensure the facility is in compliance with health, safety, privacy and sanitation rules and regulations. The incumbent will conduct special studies and reviews. Establishes and maintains various automated databases on program operations such as occupancy, referral sources, average length of stay, guest demographics, etc. Incumbent enters tracks and retrieves data pertaining to program census, equipment, donations, volunteer hours. etc. The incumbent assembles facts, evaluates information, and drafts reports and correspondence for management. Incumbent assists in the development and update of informational bulletins, brochures and resident packets. The incumbent prepares Fisher House correspondence relating to maintenance and operations, manuals, publications, articles, webpage content, etc. for the Fisher House Manager's consideration. Incumbent develops and disseminates in­house materials for educating guests and medical center staff. The incumbent participates in designing and marketing activities and products that educate the public about the Fisher House mission and its interrelationship with the Medical Center and community, benefits provided to families of Veterans and active duty military members. Incumbent reviews established procedures and identifies deficiencies with the facility, equipment, furnishings, tools, materials, and supplies. The incumbent informs the Manager of significant problems and corrects or recommends correction to fix others. Performs evaluations of various components of the program and suggests changes in the program as indicated. Incumbent coordinates the integration of community volunteer participation through a proactive community relations plan designed by FH Manager. The incumbent is responsible for the preparation of assignment guides for volunteers, schedules, training materials, evaluations, and letters of reference. Incumbent works with local schools in developing service learning opportunities for students. Incumbent is responsible for Volunteer Timekeeping which consists of maintaining master lists and summary timecards which are analyzed monthly and reported to Central Office. The incumbent is expected to recommend termination of volunteers who fail to follow established procedures. Incumbent also has the latitude to reassign volunteers as required and to counsel them concerning violation of rules and regulations. The incumbent assists with presentations to the community and participates in tours of the Fisher House to interested community partners and other agencies on the Fisher House mission. Maintains the Fisher House General Post Fund and is responsible for ensuring all donations are presented to Voluntary Service for deposit in the General Post Fund. Incumbent is the purchase card holder for the General Post Fund and is responsible for all purchases and accounting. The incumbent reviews budget status and controls and makes necessary spending adjustments. Incumbent ensures funds are protected and accounted. Incumbent follows predetermined controls and procedures regarding acceptance of donation and gifts. Incumbent works closely with community donors through Voluntary Service in raising awareness of needed FH support. The incumbent develops information and communication for use on multiple platforms within and outside of Fisher House, including electronic, print and graphic design content to support the electronic Fisher House newsletter and the Fisher House website in coordination with Public Affairs. The incumbent prepares a monthly house calendar, weekly house bulletins and promotional materials for events within the House. Incumbent uses specific digital and social media platforms including writing, editing, and graphic design relevant to support a broad base of initiatives, program launches, issues and efforts to support the broadest methods of communications with the widest audience possible. Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 1530-0000 Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant/PD079160 Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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 Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/13/2024. 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 and/or education 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. Progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position to be filled. Specialized Experience (All positions except Reporting Stenographer, Shorthand Reporter, and Closed Micro-phone Reporter)--Experience that equipped the applicant 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. Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience, as indicated in the table, are not required by this standard to have general experience, education above the high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications Customer Service Data Management Information Management Technical Competence 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is minimally sedentary. Frequent walking, climbing stairs, standing, carrying household items and files and driving an automobile are required. The incumbent must pass initial and recurring physical exams to operate government vehicles to transport Veterans and families who lodge at our Fisher House. 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 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 This occupation is being considered for a Veterans Health Administration enterprise-wide Critical Skills Incentive (CSI). Candidates may be eligible for a lump sum CSI. The amount of lump sum CSI is determined based on appointment date and may be pro-rated as determined by the end date of the CSI. Eligible candidates will be required to sign a service agreement agreeing to an obligated service period and failure to complete the obligated service period may result in a debt for the unearned portion of the CSI. This occupation is currently approved for a Veterans Health Administration enterprise-wide Critical Skills Incentive through [insert date]. Candidates may be eligible for a lump sum CSI for a pro-rated amount if onboard prior to the CSI expiration date. Eligible candidates will be required to sign a service agreement agreeing to an obligated service period and failure to complete the obligated service period may result in a debt for the unearned portion of the CSI. Receiving Service Credit or 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.