The Transportation Assistant acts as primary contact to Veterans for transportation needs. The Transportation Assistant works with the Veteran Transportation Service (VTS) Supervisory Mobility Manager for transportation workload forecasting, scheduling design, procedure development, and quality improvement implementation, modification of processes, evaluation, and ongoing operational flow of the Veteran Transportation Services program.

Duties

Developmental GS-5 Level: The Transportation Assistant serves in a development capacity at the GS-5 grade level of the target position. However, during the developmental assignment, full performance range and level of selected functions will not be completely delegated to the employee until proper orientation and training have been completed and the incumbent has demonstrated the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to accomplish the work at the full performance level. Advancement to the full performance level of the GS-6 will be recommended only after it has been determined that the incumbent meets all regulatory and statutory requirements, is satisfactorily progressing in the training, is successfully performing the currently assigned range of duties as outlined in the target position of Transportation Assistant, position description number 23494-A, and is capable of taking on expanded duties and responsibilities with greater independence. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Major Duties at the full-performance level GS-6: The Transportation Assistant works with the VTP Supervisory Transportation Assistant (Mobility Manager) and Beneficiary Travel (BT) Supervisor for transportation workload forecasting, scheduling design, procedure development, and quality improvement implementation, modification of processes, evaluation, and ongoing operational flow of the Veteran Transportation Program. Duties include: Consults with management and preforms appointment and admission scheduling. Performs a basic analysis of the data and generates a variety of reports. Evaluates documents, e.g., sampling plans, permit applications and other data collection forms. Reviews documents, reports and/or applications for omissions and inconsistencies and ensures data entry is complete and accurate. Enters pertinent information into an automated tracking system. Maintains automated system of program-specific data to track items such as service project milestones, progress reports, program trends, performance measures, compliance strategies, etc. Interacts with various other transportation services such as Emergency Medical Service (EMS), Volunteer Transportation Network (VTN), Veteran Service organizations (VSO); Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) etc., and other transportation providers. Coordinates service practice that decreases waits and delays for patients. Plans consult processing flow to ensure veterans receive consultation services in a timely manner. Utilizes the Veterans Health Information System and Technological Architecture (VistaA), Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) or SharePoint Consult/Request Tracking System in processing internal consultations. Plans and directs programs that provide support services functions. Responds to "action required" notifications, ensuring primary providers are correct. Coordinates the day-to-day operation of VTS program flow, processes, and functions. Works in the Beneficiary Travel Department and will perform duties in accordance with 38 CFR Part 17 and 70, Beneficiary Travel Under U.S.C. 111. Determines eligibility for Beneficiary Travel program which provides transportation at Government expense to travel to and from VA facilities and other places for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care. Determines method of payment for authorized and unauthorized ambulance claims submitted for consideration. Receives invoices for payment of transportation services; investigates authorizations, orders, and/or utilizes CPRS to review medical records; forwards for supervisory approval and submits for payment. Acts as liaison between vendors and BT Supervisory, COR and Mobility Manager. Writes or selects appropriate letters explaining disposition of unauthorized travel claims. Reconciles vouchers, meal and lodging receipts, against authorizations for accuracy prior to preparing certification of payment. Responds to client requests and seeks resolution of family/patient/employee complaints. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Various: Shift 6:00 AM to 2:30 PM; Shift 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM; Shift 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM. Varies 7 days per week. Available work schedule will be discussed at interview. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Transportation Assistant/PD23494A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, facility applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Non-facility applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/16/2023. 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-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. Qualifications: The following is the experience and/or education required to qualify for this position at the GS-5 or GS-6 grade levels. Experience: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 level in the Federal Service that equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Transportation Assistant position, and that is typically in or related to the duties of this position. Specialized experience for this position would consist of: experience in positions which required knowledge of eligibility for medical care or services; knowledge of electronic medical record and/or patient scheduling software; skill in the operation of computers, copiers, scanners, fax, calculator, and software programs such as MS Word, Excel and Office or other compatible software; and skill in oral and written communication and interpersonal relations, to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers. OR Education - 4 years above high school. Four years of successfully completed education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite is creditable for this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school.TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED. OR Combining Experience and Education - Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying for this position.TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED. Specialized Experience GS-6: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 level in the Federal Service that equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Transportation Assistant position, and that is typically in or related to the duties of this position. Specialized experience for this position would consist of: experience in positions which required knowledge of eligibility and entitlement to medical care or services; knowledge of beneficiary travel regulations; knowledge of electronic medical record, medical scheduling software and how to search and navigate records to acquire information; skill in the operation of computers, copiers, scanners, fax, calculator, and software programs such as MS Word, Excel and Office or other compatible software; and skill in oral and written communication and interpersonal relations, to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers. NOTE: There is no educational substitution at the GS-6 grade level. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:CommunicationComputer SkillsCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Interpersonal SkillsExperience 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 incumbent will be exposed to stressful working situations that require a professional attitude and collective reasoning. The incumbent is subject to high volume of work, the need for accuracy, frequency of interruptions and ever-changing demands due to program changes. Work Environment: The duties will be predominantly performed in one of the Veteran Transportation Program offices with intermittent trips to various locations throughout the Hospital catchment area both in and near patient care areas where there may be risk of exposure to disease. The incumbent must always remain composed in trying to assist veterans, their families and staff who may be upset or in distress and hostile in manner. The incumbent may work with patients who are mentally disturbed and must be alert to the risk of physical abuse. Due to changing deadlines and priorities; work maybe stressful at times. 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

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.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 Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 820 South Damen Avenue Chicago, IL 60612 US
• Name: Shaundila Bass
• Phone: 312-569-7917
• Email: [email protected]