Program Support Assistant - Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration : Job Details

Summary The incumbent serves as the Program Assistant in the Research and Development (R&D) office at the Iowa City VA Health Care System (ICVAHCS). The R&D office has the responsibility for planning, developing, and directing the administrative activities of a very large and complex R&D Program with an annual budget of over $11 million in all areas of research (biomedical, clinical, rehabilitation and health services). Responsibilities This is a bargaining unit position. Areas of Consideration for all Positions: 1st - Facility-wide (including satellites) 2nd - Administration or Staff office posting the vacancy. 3rd - All other Status eligibles. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Total Rewards Work Schedule: Mon - Fri 8a to 430pm Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Duty Location Status: Will work from VA owned/leased space Position Description Title/PD#: Program Support Assistant/ PD502210 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Physical Demands: The work requires long periods of time working and keyboarding at a computer workstation. It may involve some walking, standing, bending, or carrying of light items. Major Duties: Apply analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to perform duties as assigned. Problem solve by identifying issues or problems during the equipment inventory and facility management process and determine resolutions that fall within established guidelines. Work with principal investigators and research staff to obtain information on work procedures and information needed to conduct inventories and enter work orders. Conduct analysis and evaluation of the research program based on its resources, major issues, program goals and objectives, work processes and administrative operations in order to determine short and long term needs. Provide customer service to all stakeholders of the research and development program. Accurately report any changes in location of equipment, abuse of equipment or addition and/or removal of equipment. Ensure information entered into programs (equipment inventories, work orders, travel requests) represent factual information. Conduct studies related to work procedures to determine more efficient work processes. Report finding to leadership. Knowledge of organizational structure and requirements in order to effectively work with multitude of individuals when placing work orders, conducting inventories and lab closeout Works in a complex cross functional team focused on building and optimizing workflows that require considerable use of judgment and trouble shooting. Demonstrate proficiency using computer applications such as Internet, emails, work processing/publishing software; presentation software; spreadsheets and data bases. Organize, prioritize and work independently to meet deadlines. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/30/2024. 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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. 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. Provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action to indicate your current federal status. You must also submit additional SF-50(s) to clearly demonstrate one year time-in-grade as required in the announcement. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you possess one year time-in-grade. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade. 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. AND Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as providing administrative and clerical support in an office setting; collecting, compiling and tracking data and information; utilization of office automation equipment and software such as word processing, spreadsheet, email, and databases; managing equipment inventory for an office; answering telephones, referring visitors and providing information. Education: There is no educational substitution for this grade level. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analytical Reasoning Manages and Organizes Information Attention to Detail Computer Skills Customer Service Technical Competence Oral Communication Per Office of Personnel Management General Schedule Qualification Policies, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, human resources director, or official documentation such as SF-52, SF-50 documenting an official detail/assignments, or other comparable documentation). The documentation must indicate whether the employee performed the duties full time or, if part-time, the percentage of times the employee performed the additional duties. To receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your position, you must provide official documentation of such experience as indicated above. 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. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit OPM's web site at Education There is no education substitute or requirement for the GS-07 level. Additional Information 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act (or the Act) prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from requesting applicant criminal history record information before extending a conditional or tentative offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S.C 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged non-compliance to VA at [email protected]. Applicant written complaints should include the following: Administration name: Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office name, employee name and contact information or contractor who made contact (if known). Date of contact. Details regarding the job opportunity announcement applied to, and copies of any documents or other evidence related to the complaint. Visit Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) for more information. 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.