Program Assistant

Full Job Description

This position is located within the Mental Health Service and serves as a data analyst and clerical support for programs within the Mental Health Service.

The incumbent also provides support to clinical and nonclinical staff within the Mental Health Service.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/22/2026.

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-5. 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 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-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: general clerical and administrative duties; Receiving, answering and routing inquiries; Prepares correspondence, compiling reports, extracting and organizing data, and reviewing documents for accuracy; Maintaining files, providing program information, and managing and maintaining databases; Proficient with various programs such as VISTA and encounter completion, as well as other computer systems such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook, Knowledge of VA regulations and laws pertaining to Veteran Benefits.

NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.

Preferred Experience: Experience providing administrative and program support within a healthcare or government setting, to include: coordinating clinic and provider scheduling in compliance with VHA scheduling standards; preparing and maintaining policies, SOPs, and recordkeeping systems; and communicating effectively with interdisciplinary teams to support timely and accurate service delivery.

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 Duties:

Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Compilation and/or tracking of data and statistical information in support of the organization's program operations.

Assists in the planning, review and reporting of data/statistical results of programs/project studies.

Establishes protocols for incoming data, organizes computerized data sets and retrieves computerized data. Performs a basic analysis of the data and generates a variety of reports.

Coordinates incoming data from a variety of sources. Reviews documents, reports and ensures data entry is complete and accurate. Enters pertinent information into an automated tracking system.

Maintains automated system of program-specific data to track items such as project progress reports, compliance strategies etc. Prepares, executes and/or tracks program specific information.

Uses software applications to draw information to prepare/assist in preparation of reports. Assists in the planning, review and reporting of data/statistical results of program/project studies.

Maintains a variety of files for administrative and professional activities including VA Central Office (VACO) directives, local directives and policies, VACO circulars, administrative and policy manuals, reports, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), Government Accounting Office (GAO) and DoD communications.

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am-4:30PM Telework: 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 Assistant/PD190110 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized