Job Description
The Program Support Assistant serves as the receptionist for the Office of the Associate Director for Patient Care Services Executive Suite at the VA Maryland Health Care System.
You’ll reply telephones, obtain visitors, respond to inquiries, and refer patients or workforce to the proper individual. You’ll also manage calls for assistance, prioritize time-sensitive situations, and handle incoming mail and email for Nursing Offering functions.
Typing assignments must be finished on time, proofread for accuracy, and formatted per policy. You’ll uphold an organized filing system and retrieve materials as needed.
This role is perfect for present permanent VA employees with administrative assist expertise who are looking to contribute to patient care operations in a federal healthcare setting.
Salary & Compensation
Salary: $51,957 - $67,543 per year.
Qualification
Existing federal employees must encounter time-in-grade needs: 52 weeks at GS-05. You must also kind at least 40 words per minute.
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to put in.
- Time-In-Grade: Present or former federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 level (any occupation) within the last 52 weeks.
- Specialized Background: One year of experience equivalent to GS-05, covering administrative back, figures collection, document processing, file maintenance, and using software such as expression processing, spreadsheets, email, and databases.
- Typing Proficiency: Must category at least 40 words per minute.
- Preferred Know-how: Latest PSA expertise (2 years in the last 5 years), insight of VAMHCS scholarship programs, invoice processing, VISTA software, audit reports, and familiarity with nursing affiliations, EBP, and SPHM programs.
- Education: there’s no educational substitution at this grade level.
- Only degrees from accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education are accepted. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
- Experience must be completely documented on your resume, including position title, responsibilities, month/year kick off/end dates, and hours per week.
Role Responsibilities
Assist as receptionist for the Office of the Associate Director for Patient Care Solutions Executive Suite.
- Response telephones, receive visitors professionally, and respond to inquiries or refer to suitable team.
- Respond to calls for assistance on behalf of patients and workforce, prioritizing pressing situations.
- Receive telephone messages, unseal and sort incoming mail and email for Nursing Solution functions.
- Complete typing assignments on time, proofread for spelling, punctuation, grammar, and information, and format per policy.
- Retrieve requested materials expediently.
- Keep up an organized, tidy filing system.
- Perform other administrative tasks as assigned.
Conditions & Requirements
Must be a U.S. Citizen.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Must finalize a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination plan is required for all VA Health Care Personnel.
- Selective Offering Registration called for for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must complete an online onboarding routine and supply acceptable identification (REAL ID compliant after May 7, 2025).
- Pre-placement physical examination isn’t needed.
- Telework eligible on an ad-hoc basis as determined by agency policy.
Benefits
Complete advantages package as a federal employee, including health insurance, retirement, and paid exit.
- Eligibility for benefits depends on post sort and work schedule (full-time, part-time, or intermittent).
- Access to the Federal Employees Health Gains (FEHB) scheme.
- Thrift Savings Scheme (TSP) comparable to a 401(k).
- Annual and sick leave accrual.
- Life insurance and long-term care alternatives.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Your submission will be evaluated based on your resume, supporting documents, responses to the submission questionnaire, and any called for assessments.
- You’ll be assessed on competencies such as Accountability, Administration and Management, Attention to Point, Clerical, Communication, Computer Abilities, Client Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reading Comprehension, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork.
- If you’re needed to wrap up USA Recruit Assessments, you’ll get a unique access connection after sending in your submission. Place aside at least 3 hours.
- Your background must be fully documented on your resume with role title, duties, month/year start/finish dates, and hours per week.
- Part-time know-how is credited located on time actually spent.
- Volunteer operate, covering through National Service programs, is credited.
- Referred you may be contacted for an meeting and may want to submit additional job-related details.
Required Documents
Resume (must be two pages or less beginning September 27, 2025; include relevant expertise, duties, dates, and hours per week).
- SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (for time-in-grade and eligibility). Give the most recent SF-50 and an additional SF-50 that obviously reveals one year of time-in-grade if the most new is within the past year.
- Span Letter (optional).
- Transcripts (if using education to qualify, though no substitution at this grade).
- Veterans' Preference documentation: DD-214 showing character of service, or SF-15 and supporting documents for 10-point preference.
- ICTAP/CTAP documentation (if suitable for displaced federal employees).
How to Apply
Review the entire announcement and instructions before starting your submission.
- Go to the authorized submission portal and or create an account using Login.gov.
- Click 'Register Online' to launch the submission workflow.
- Track the prompts to pick your the formal submission portal resume and other supporting documents.
- Answer all questions in the submission questionnaire.
Additional Information
Area of Consideration: Eligible submissions will be reviewed in this order: 1) Existing permanent VA employees of the facility, 2) All other VA employees.
- Under the Just Chance to Compete Act, VA prohibits requesting criminal history before a tentative post offer.
- Reasonable Accommodation (RA) requests for the USA Take on Assessments must be handed in before early the assessments. Contact the agency for points.
- If you’re a present federal employee, make sure your SF-50 displays time-in-grade. Award SF-50s aren’t accepted.
- Veterans should claim preference in the questionnaire and offer called for documentation (DD-214, SF-15).
- Contact Nikki Watson at 410-605-7000 or [email protected] for questions.
- Address: VA Maryland Health Care System, 10 North Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.
About Company
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care to over 9 million veterans each year. It operates under the Department of Veterans Affairs and involves medical centers, clinics, and community living centers nationwide. This role is within the VA Maryland Health Care System, which serves veterans in Maryland and surrounding areas. The VHA is committed to Entire Health, an approach that aid veterans and employees to obtain charge of their health and well-being. Working here means supporting those who have served, in a public solution environment that values patient-centered care and employee development.
Veterans Health Administration employment opportunities
FAQs
What does a Program Support Assistant do at the VA Maryland Health Care System?
The Program Support Assistant serves as the receptionist for the Executive Suite of the Associate Director for Patient Care Offerings. Function in this role contains answering phones, greeting visitors, responding to inquiries, sorting mail, typing documents, and keeping up filing systems. You’ll also prioritize urgent calls for assistance from patients and team.
Can I register for this role if i’m not a present VA employee?
This role is open only to existing permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employees. If you’re a federal employee from another agency, you aren’t eligible unless you’re a VA employee. The sphere of consideration first gives priority to current permanent VA employees of the facility, then all other VA employees.
What is the time-in-grade requirement for this GS-06 post?
Existing or former federal employees must have served at least 52 weeks at the GS-05 level (or equivalent) within the last 52 weeks. You must send in an SF-50 that clearly displays this time-in-grade. If your most new SF-50 is less than a year old, you demand an additional SF-50 showing one year at GS-05.
Is there a typing test required for this role?
Yes, you must be fit to sort at least 40 words per minute. This is a qualification need, and your proficiency may be verified through the submission workflow or during the assessment.
What documents do I require to hand in with my submission?
You must send in a resume (two pages or less after September 27, 2025) and an SF-50 showing time-in-grade. If relevant, include transcripts, veterans' preference documentation (DD-214, SF-15), and ICTAP/CTAP documents. A span letter is optional.
Will I need to finalize any assessments after putting in?
Yes, if selected for further consideration, you may require to finalize USA Take on Competency Based Assessments. These online assessments measure critical competencies such as attention to detail, buyer solution, and computer abilities. You’ll obtain a distinct connection and must complete them within the given timeframe.
Is telework on offer for this role?
Telework is eligible on an ad-hoc basis as determined by agency policy. This isn’t a remote post; you’ll primarily operate onsite at the VA Maryland Health Care System in Baltimore, MD.
What is the probationary period for this role?
You’ll be called for to cater to a 1-year probationary period or a 2-year trial period. During this time, your performance and carry out will be evaluated to decide if your continued employment advances the public interest.