Program Support Assistant
What you'd do
This position functions as the Program Support Assistant at the Tennessee Valley Health Care System (TVHS), Murfreesboro TN. The incumbent serves as the Program Support Assistant to the Office of the Chief, by performing general office work auxiliary to the work of the organization. The position is the principal clerical or administrative support position in the office, operating independently of any other such position in the office.
Major duties
The duties require knowledge of clerical and administrative procedures and requirements, various office skills, and the ability to apply such skills in a way that increases the effectiveness of others. The duties do not require a technical or professional knowledge of a specialized subject-matter area. The primary purpose of this position is to perform numerous tasks which are dissimilar in kind, but which have in common the purpose of assisting the work of one or more persons in an organization. The core duties of this position include but are not limited to: Provides technical guidance to other service support staff on changes to format, policies, and standard operating procedures for clerical processes; establishes priorities for the office daily and consults with the the service chief on complex and/or unusual issues. Provides clerical support to the service leadership by placing and receiving calls, scheduling appointments, and organizing meetings and conferences as required. Makes travel arrangements for all conferences and administrative meeting arranging schedules of visits and reservations utilizing knowledge of format, ability to schedule various modes of travel, knowledge of staff's schedule and travel regulations. Prepares correspondence, forms, manuscripts, and replies for the service chief utilizing typing skills, proper format, and regulations governing release of information. Records and prepares minutes of meetings. Ensures that performance ratings are submitted in a timely manner in accordance with regulatory guidelines. Performs budget execution functions to ensure that expenditures are consistent with budget formulation plans as the fiscal year progresses. Receives, independently responds to, and files correspondence, records and reports; ensures that incoming correspondence is screened prior to distribution for suspense dates, establishing contacts and follow-up. Collects and organizes sensitive information to use in writing response to controlled correspondence, congressional, and reports of contact. Serves as timekeeper for the service; Maintains an up-to-date VA policy manual on time and attendance and disseminates any new changes to the regulations to staff as required. Directs administrative support services to ensure that inquiries, correspondence, and actions for the area of responsibility are addressed appropriately; develops information papers and correspondence on wide variety of administrative functions. Makes arrangements for travel, including preparation of travel requests/orders, vouchers, and accommodations for official travel for the service chief. Reviews and interprets new and established directives, instructions, regulations, etc., and delegations of authority for potential impact on program objectives, operating policies, work operations, and progress. Responsible for protecting sensitive information from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion; following applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc. Collects, compiles, and tracks data and information in support of the Section's operations; maintains educational requirements, send reminders to staff regarding delinquent training, and tracks staff education. Utilizes various computer software applications including VISTA/SharePoint, word processing, spreadsheets and database programs in performance of daily duties. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday | 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM CST Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant/PD708140 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/29/2026. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. 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. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or SF-50s at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old. In addition to the Time-in-Grade Requirements, you must also meet specialized experience. 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. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as: Independently managing complex calendars, scheduling high-level meetings, and prioritizing competing demands. Drafting clear, professional correspondence, memorandums, standard operating procedures, and instructions to ensure appropriate and timely routing and grammatical correctness. Supporting project timelines, tracking deliverables, and following up with staff for required action. Communicating with staff at different levels, including leadership, stakeholders, and the public. Handling sensitive, confidential, or high-visibility information with discretion. 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/.
Before you apply
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