This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at the Birmingham VA Medical Center (VAMC) in the Business Management Service under the Benefits and Eligibility Section.

Duties

The primary purpose of the position is to service as the Program Assistant (Office Automation) responsible for overall planning, coordination, implementation, scheduling, management, and evaluation of clinical applications of patient transportation with particular emphasis on improving and facilitating care both inside VA and Private Sector to ensure safety of veterans and facilitation of care. Other duties include, but are not limited to: Forwards correspondences to receiving facility travel department and/or physician via itinerary or stated preferences with destination and time. May keep in touch with traveler in route regarding beneficiaries return travel arrangements. Arranges all modes of transportation via air ambulance, commercial air, taxi, ambulance, bus, and/or contracted transport services. It is especially important that this care be coordinated in a timely fashion as it could delay patient care and treatment. Secures reservations and tickets from carriers. Prepares appropriate documentation and/or scheduling for travelers according to government rates and substantial rates. Collaborates in a team-oriented, customer driven, professional environment to develop new models of care that emphasize prevention, improve access and coordination of care; educate and empower patients and their families; enhance the customer experience with positive human interactions and therapeutic alliances; and promote the coordination, continuity and integration of care. Reviews requests for reimbursement of travel costs for the purpose of assuring compliance with regulations and procedures, completeness, accuracy, internal consistency, and agreement with basic authorizations. Reconciles vouchers against authorizations for accuracy prior to preparing certifications for payment Provides basic training and troubleshooting to drivers for use of MDCs. Ensures all trips are properly logged and closed within the Veteran Transportation system software in order to ensure accurate reporting and statistics to management and national program office. Reviews eligibility of each Veteran before finalizing Beneficiary Travel reimbursement. Coordinate routes/schedules based on planned and unplanned maintenance on Veteran transportation vehicles, ensuring adherence to eligibility rules. Maintains inventory, charging, and distribution of motor vehicle operator's MDC (tablet displays used by the drivers for their schedules, trip logs, expenses, etc.). Responsible for processing receipts and withdrawals for Patient Funds in Veterans Personal Finance System. Performs other duties as assigned by management. Work Schedule: M-F, 0800 a.m. - 0430 p.m. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant/PD#09836A 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, 10/30/2023. Typing Requirement: This position requires the skill of a qualified typist. In addition to meeting the experience requirements, you must be able to type 40 works per minute to qualify for this position. 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 GSS-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: Knowledge and application of an extensive body of transportation regulations, methods, and practices to perform a wide variety of interrelated or nonstandard transportation support assignment and resolve a wide range of problems. Knowledge of extensive and diverse regulations governing entitlements and documentation requirements for domestic or foreign travel to advise on travel procedures , restrictions, and allowances and to resolve conflicts or issues related to the travel. Knowledge of travel authorities and ability to determine methods of travel and provide guidance to travel claims. Knowledge of the Prompt Payment Act (PPA) for accepting goods , payments due date, and calculating any applicable discounts or interest required for procurement contracts, vendor payments, and utility payments. Knowledge on how to organize and maintain to interpret contracts for transportation services. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and ManagementCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Data Management 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 area is usually an adequately lighted, heated and ventilated office of medical facility setting. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions. The sedentary and may require some walking, standing, bending, carrying and/or lifting of light items like papers or books. The work requires light to moderate levels/times performing keyboarding to prepare correspondence. 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.

Contacts

• Address Birmingham VA Medical Center 700 South 19th Street Birmingham, AL 35233 US
• Name: Tanisha Cage
• Phone: 305-399-7141
• Email: [email protected]