Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)
Veterans Health Administration
Posted: February 25, 2026 (1 day ago)
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Veterans Health Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs
Location
Des Moines, Iowa
Salary
$54,115 - $70,351
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Healthcare & Medical jobs →Closes
Base salary range: $41,966 - $54,557
Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-6. Bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement or 1 year graduate study.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job is for a lead role in supporting medical staff at a VA health center in Des Moines, Iowa, where you'll assign tasks to team members, handle daily issues, and keep patient care running smoothly in settings like clinics or call centers.
It's ideal for someone with administrative experience in healthcare who enjoys leading a team and ensuring everything gets done on time.
No prior experience is needed to start, but you'll need a year at a similar level to qualify for this lead position.
This is the Lead position for the Medical Support Assistant in the VA Central Iowa Health Care System, Des Moines and is responsible for monitoring and making work assignments, providing input on performance, resolving daily workplace issues and maintaining efficient workflow.
Duties may be performed in Clinic Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), Inpatient, Call Center, Outpatient Clinic, or Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model or a Specialty Care Setting involved in a PACT model.
Basic Requirements: a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). b.
Experience and Education. Experience. No experience required. Education.
High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education. c. Certification.
None required. d. Grandfathering Provision.
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
e. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S.
must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credits and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S.
programs. f. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. g. English Language Proficiency.
Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
Lead Medical Support Assistant, GS-7 Grade Determinations: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level, Examples of experience may include: Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines.
Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect, ensuring compliance with established policies and regulations. Ability to provide staff development and training.
Ability to manage staffing requirements, manage priorities, and coordinate with staff in the unit in order to complete duties in an accurate and timely manner.
This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work.
Ability to review and monitor data to ensure all reports are complete and accurate. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Advanced knowledge of medical terminology and a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or community resources.
Ability to utilize numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting.
Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines.
Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect [and coordinating with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff]. Ability to provide staff development and training.
Ability to manage staffing requirements, manage workflow priorities, and adjust the flow of work to meet team and patient needs.
This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work across multiple clinics.
Preferred Experience: Scheduling and Training Experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is G-7. Major Duties:
VA Careers - Lead Medical Support Assistant: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/UJO_XH5uCLs Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include: The Lead MSA monitors and makes work assignments, provides input on performance, resolves daily workplace issues, and maintains efficient workflow.
Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: assuring coverage of all areas of responsibility; conducting ongoing reviews to ensure quality of work; ensuring accurate and timely scheduling of appointments; providing guidance to staff members to include changes in policies and procedures; distributing and balancing workload; creating and maintaining employee work schedules; orienting and providing on-the-job training for new and current employees; ensuring all training requirements are met; organizing the work structure of his/her assigned areas; and acting as liaison between MSA and staff in order to resolve day to day conflicts.
The Lead MSA plans and organizes work with general assistance from the supervisor as to meet local and VA-wide time frames to complete analysis requirements, reports and special assignments and only refers to the non-routine and high technical problems to his/her supervisor.
The incumbent is responsible for reporting backlogs, difficulties in meeting deadlines, uncooperative physicians, or difficulty in securing information from clinicians or the record.
Is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of information obtained to carry out required duties.
The Lead MSA routinely communicates with physicians, case managers, and other allied health professional staff using sound interpersonal skills and is constantly aware of the sensitive information.
Otherwise, works independently making decisions based on guidelines, precedents and regulations and performs duties in such a manner that only minimal supervision is required.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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