The Program Support Assistant is under the supervision of the Blind Rehabilitation Services (BRS) Admissions Coordinator at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS).

Duties

The Western Blind Rehabilitation Center (WBRC) is a thirty-two bed residential facility located at the Palo Alto Division of the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS). The WBRC provides supports and services annually to nearly 200 visually impaired Veterans and Active Duty servicemembers. The WBRC embraces an inter-disciplinary approach to the treatment of visual impairment so that program participants receive the full complement of services. The incumbent possesses excellent communication skills and familiarity with various computer programs, including Microsoft Office Suite and VistA. A high degree of discretion is required due to frequent access to confidential patient, employee, and health care system information. Good judgment is required in the course of any day to make independent, appropriate decisions, sometimes under urgent circumstances. The incumbent must adhere to all Veterans Administration privacy and information security rules. The incumbent is required to manage and resolve requests for information from internal and external entities. The incumbent interfaces with staff and patients in an efficient and compassionate manner. The position requires the incumbent to possess an unrestricted driver's license. Major duties and responsibilities include, but not limited to: Provides direct support to administration as well as a variety of BRS Specialists. Prepares acceptance, scheduled, and cancellation letters to those patients referred to the WBRC. Arranges travel for inpatients' admission and discharge. Assists in the transporting of Blind Rehabilitation patients to other campuses in the VA Palo Alto Health Care System as needed, including Livermore, Monterey and Stockton or other appropriate locations. Performs work involving the collection, compilation, and/or tracking of data and statistical information which is entered into the Blind Rehabilitation Services National data base. Organizes and maintains a data collection filing system. Performs work development and/or technical activities of the Visual Impairment Services Team Program. Independently composing memoranda for the VIST Coordinator and establishing report deadlines. The incumbent will also follow-up on congressional and special correspondence assigned to the VIST Coordinator. The incumbent must determine the appropriate format for outgoing correspondence in accordance with VA published standards. Preparing minutes and agendas for VIST meetings. Assist in setting up and monitoring patients participating in ongoing research projects within the VIST and in maintaining and coordinating contacts with other VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, Regional Office, and community resources. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm 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#: Program Support Assistant/PD06398O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized 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, 01/17/2024. 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. 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. Driver's License Requirement: The position requires the incumbent to possess an unrestricted driver's license. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience in program administration and management; assistance with day-to-day operational duties; Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with variety of individuals; Problem solve and apply decision making skills. sustaining processes and procedures to ensure program effectiveness; interpreting, analyzing, and responding to requests for information from internal and external entities; collecting, compiling, managing and reporting program data; preparing correspondence and reports; utilizing automated software (such as Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.).. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and ManagementCommunicationsData ManagementOrganizational Performance Analysis 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 sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts; or 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.

Contacts

• Address Palo Alto VA Medical Center 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304 US
• Name: Veronica Alvarado
• Phone: (415) 960-5758
• Email: [email protected]