The position performs duties to assist one individual, and in some cases the subordinate staff of that individual, by performing general office work auxiliary to the work of the organization. The position is the principal clerical or administrative support position in the office, operating independently of any other such position in the office.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: The incumbent provides clerical and administrative assistance to the organization. Determines nature of call or business of visitors, if business requires the attention of technical or staff specialists, decides whether the importance of business such as to require personal attention of superiors or if the visitor should be referred to the appropriate organizational component concerned with specific subject. Incumbent is authorized to give out administrative and technical information to callers upon determination of their right to receive it. When calls involve matters on which superiors will require background information, tactfully postpones the conversation, obtains the required information, and presents the information when informing the superiors of the pending call. Responds to requests for information and/or develops one-of-a-kind reports covering organizational or technically oriented matters when information is available in office records and/or files. Drafts replies to general inquiries not requiring a technical knowledge of the program. From available background data, assembles requested information or follows up to see that personnel submit requested information within the specified time. Secures for the supervisor documents, regulations, specific statistical and narrative program data or other matters of a technical nature from files of the organization or other organizations by contact with personnel at higher headquarters for other activities. Develops methods for automating administrative reports, considering the interrelationship of reports and multiple uses of the data, e.g., portions of the data used for monthly reports on funds and obligations, training, travel, and staffing can be used for quarterly planning and budget reports. Applies knowledge of the functional capabilities of different software types to select the best software type for each report, e.g., a database versus a spreadsheet. Applies knowledge of how the system works to determine the data categories to be established, to identify the sorting and calculating functions to be performed, and to set up the detailed functional procedures needed to enter and to retrieve the data in the form needed for each report. Applies knowledge of desk-top publishing capabilities to enhance the presentation of the data, e.g., electronically changing tables to graphs, superimposing one graph over another, adding boxed explanatory text to graphics, highlighting significant material with shadowing, importing graphics into narrative text, varying style and pitch of type within the text, and adjusting size and shape of pages to fit the publication involved. A qualified typist is required in order to complete these duties . Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Telework: 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. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Secretary/PD017720 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/06/2023. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. 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 must 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-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: ClericalComputer SkillsCustomer ServiceWriting 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 sedentary. Typically, the employee may s it comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts; driving an automobile, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address West Haven VA Medical Center 950 Campbell Avenue West Haven, CT 06516 US
• Name: Joyce Jarrett
• Phone: 413-584-4040 X6703
• Email: [email protected]