The Program Support Assistant (OA) is assigned to Social Work Service's Homeless Program primarily as HPACT administrative support in the Service and its Program areas.

Duties

Acts as initial point of contact for all clients who arrive to see the Office staff; takes telephone messages and direct the Veterans to the correct staff person. Assist the clients in completing non-clinical applications to Public Housing Authority. Place calls to clients to remind them of pending appointments. Prepare all correspondence for the staff of the program and ensure that it is in the format outlined by the Medical Center guidelines; including the preparation of correspondence not only to client, but to agencies in the community. Mail and/or fax letters to veterans and Public Housing Authority regarding terminations. Work with support staff to ensure that the office staff has the supplies and any forms needed to complete the goals of the program. Place Program and staff work orders as needed. Setting up and making changes in clinic profiles when needed. Management of timecards for the homeless staff as a primary or secondary timekeeper and may be back up for other social work timecards. Assist with providing administrative support as a backup for the facility program and ensuring that office is operated smoothly. Provide program assistance during initial and annual inspections, documenting and preparing the forms and letters. Assist with the development, updating and distribution of any brochures, flyers, or any promotional materials used for the promotion of programs. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. 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 (OA)/PD07585A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Approved

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/18/2024. 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-5 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-4. 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. Applicants for this position must show possession of the following skill: 40 words per minute typing speed. Applicants may meet these requirements by self-certifying their proficiency. You should be aware your self-certification of possession of this skill is subject to evaluation and verification. 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-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Skill in the use of a personal computer, typewriter, copier, scanner, fax machine and other office equipment. Effectively use the following software: MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer, PowerPoint), and (Timekeeper, electronic work orders, patient record, mailman etc.) Skilled in the use of the organization and function of the programs to effectively refer visitors, telephone calls and mail. Organize data, supplies, file to achieve accurate storage and facilitate retrieval. Use off office protocol and methods of effective communication to coordinate the day-to-day routine of the program area. Communicate effectively (verbally and in writing) with a variety of staff, patients and visitors. Recognize sensitive and confidential issues and to manage these with utmost discretion and diplomacy, and have knowledge of the strict confidentiality maintained for the program. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Successfully completed four (4) years of education above high school level in any field which high school graduation or the equivalent is a pre-requisite. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university. Note: Transcripts are required. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year of first 60 semester hours) and specialized experience which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. Note: Transcripts are required.. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and ManagementCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Information ManagementOrganizational Awareness 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 while working: however, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying/lifting light items books, paper 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

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address New Orleans VA Medical Center 2400 Canal Street New Orleans, LA 70119 US
• Name: Kathy Carroll
• Phone: 813-503-7921
• Email: [email protected]