Transportation Assistant

Full Job Description

This position will operate within the Veteran Transportation program within the Phoenix VA Health Care System.

This position is responsible for the coordination of all patient transportation, including Advanced Life Support Ambulance, Basic Life Support Ambulance, Air Ambulance, Commercial Air, Wheel Chair Van, Stretcher Van and Taxi, for the Phoenix VA Medical Center and 8 outlying clinics.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/31/2026.

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-05 candidates may be advanced without restriction if you have served at the GS-03 or GS-04 within the past 52 weeks. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05.

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 and/or education as described below: GS-05 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-04) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: collecting, compiling, tracking and analyzing data and statistical information in support of transportation; contacting customers to determine transportation needs and requirements; managing schedules for daily activities; entering information into an automated tracking system; and communicating and treating customers in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 4 years above high school in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite.

**Transcript must be submitted at the time of application. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have an equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (beyond the second year) and specialized experience as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level.

One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. **Transcripts must be submitted at time of application.

GS-06 Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Transportation Assistant.

Qualifying specialized experience includes collecting, compiling, tracking and analyzing data and statistical information in support of transportation; contacting customers to determine transportation needs and requirements; managing schedules for daily activities; entering information into an automated tracking system; and communicating and treating customers in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner.

GS-07 Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-06) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Transportation Assistant.

Qualifying specialized experience includes collecting, compiling, tracking and analyzing data and statistical information in support of transportation; contacting customers to determine transportation needs and requirements; managing schedules for daily activities; entering information into an automated tracking system; and communicating and treating customers in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Decision Making Reasoning (Clerical/Technical) Manages and Organizes Information Interpersonal Skills Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: Incumbent will be exposed to stressful working situations that will require a mature attitude and collecting reasoning to overcome.

The incumbent is subject to a great deal of stress because of the high volume of work, the need for accuracy, frequency of interruptions and ever-changing demands due to program changes.

Duties will be predominantly performed in the Veteran Transportation Service program office with intermittent trips to various locations throughout the Medical Center's catchment area both in and near patient care areas were there is a prevalent risk of exposure disease.

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 are not limited to: Coordinates wheelchair, taxi and/or ambulatory transports with authorized transportation requests. Plans and arranges for commercial or contracted transport.

Determines, verifies, and/or explains eligibility for arranging transportation of dependents, escorts, and care givers for interfacility transfers and transplant transfers.

Understands and conveys status of specific medical conditions that may ensure the proper mode of transportation is selected.

Coordinates and advises administrative and professional staff regarding bed confirmation, transfer of records, transportation availability and approval criteria relating to transfer to other facilities.

Coordinates patient movement between Beneficiary Travel, Patient Transportation Service and Veteran Transportation Service dependent on Veteran eligibility.

Authorizes all expenses and related accommodations necessary for completing an interfacility transfer, when the transfer is being supplied care in a Federal or other Non-Federal hospital.

Ensures all transportation logs are complete and meet records management guidelines and must be able to provide accurate statistical data to all supervisory and management personnel upon request.

Communicates clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Performs routine related clerical work.

Ensures staff and volunteer drivers honor and comply with rules governing authorized credit card purchases. Responds to customer complaints or problems involving delays, loss or damages.

Maintains knowledge of regulations and local policies governing transportation, traffic management and scheduling.

Evaluates the medical and administrative information provided with specialized transportation requests. Helps to determine and implement the most economical mode consistent with the veteran's needs.

Provides assistance to the Beneficiary Travel staff and department of Prescott and Tucson VAMC. Performs additional duties as assigned.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: May vary and will be discussed during interview.

Telework: This position may be authorized for ADHOC telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Transportation Assistant/PD11247A, PD11249A, and PD11250A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.