About this role
Job SummaryThe Program Support Assistant, provides assistance to the Associate Chief of Staff, Deputy Associate Chief of Staff, Section Chiefs of Psychiatry, and other members of the Mental Health Service Line leadership team at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. The PSA will provide a broad range of administrative, analytical, clerical, onboarding, quality management, and program support functions that directly support the planning, coordination, and daily operations of Mental Health Service programs.
QualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/02/2026. 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. 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-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Developing and maintaining spreadsheets, dashboards, and tracking tools using Excel and SharePoint; Planning and organizing calendars, meetings, and events for Mental Health leadership, including scheduling, agenda preparation, and following up on action items; Proofreading and reviewing reports, correspondence, and data entries for accuracy, completeness, and consistency before submission to leadership or external stakeholders; Coordinating communications and following up with other services and external organizations to resolve operational issues. Best Qualified Criteria: Demonstrated experience independently planning, coordinating, and completing complex administrative and data-related assignments, including gathering and verifying operational information, using Excel and clinical information systems to analyze data, and ensuring accurate, timely products and recommendations for leadership. Preferred Experience: Experience providing administrative support within a Mental Health Service Line or similar mental health clinical setting, and working directly with mental health staff and services. 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/.
Major DutiesMajor duties include, but are not limited to: Gathers, extracts, and compiles operational, workload, and performance data from VistA, CPRS, Excel, and SharePoint to support Mental Health leadership decision-making. Develops and maintains spreadsheets, dashboards, and tracking tools using Excel and SharePoint to monitor service performance, staffing activities, and key indicators. Coordinates and monitors administrative actions (e.g., OPPE/FPPE, accreditation activities, action items), track due dates, and follows up to ensure timely completion. Plans and organizes calendars, meetings, and events for Mental Health leadership, including scheduling, agenda preparation, and following up on action items. Proofreads and reviews reports, correspondences, and data entries for accuracy, completeness, and consistency before submission to leadership or external stakeholders. Coordinates communication and follows up with other services and external organizations to resolve operational issues. Verifies that timekeeping, purchasing, and other administrative transactions are correctly documented and coded, resolving discrepancies as needed. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assitant (OA)/PD210380 and PD260379A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not AuthorizedRequirementsYou must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.