Staff Assistant

This position serves as a Staff Assistant within the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Operations Center, functioning as a key administrative, operational, and program management resource supporting Health Service Area (HSA) Support Teams and VISN-wide strategic initiatives. Program Coordination (40%) Serves as the point of coordination for multiple concurrent, high-priority projects and initiatives sponsored by the VISN Operations Center, HSA Support Teams, and VISN Executive Leadership, several of which are politically sensitive, time-critical, or involve significant reputational risk to the organization. Participates in the coordination of agency-level operational projects, pilots, and mandated VHA initiatives, ensuring that VISN activities are synchronized with objectives set by the Under Secretary for Health. Coordinates the integration of cross-cutting initiatives that span multiple HSAs, medical facilities, and VISN program offices, ensuring consistency of approach, avoidance of duplicative effort, and alignment with VISN and national VHA strategic priorities. Coordinates work groups, task forces, and VISN committees; may serve on subcommittees, assist with meeting logistics and ensure materials are collected or distributed as directed. Liaison and Communications Coordination (30%) Serves as a liaison between the VISN Operations Center, HSA Executive Leadership, VISN Program Offices, and other internal/external stakeholders, ensuring the timely and accurate flow of information across all organizational levels. Acts as a conduit for the flow of agency-level and VHA Central Office directives, ensuring that information, guidance, and requirements from the Under Secretary for Health are accurately transmitted and implemented at the VISN and HSA levels. Facilitates coordination of priorities, taskers, and suspense between VISN Executive Leadership and subordinate HSAs/facilities; tracks the status of assigned actions and follows up to ensure timely completion, escalating unresolved issues to appropriate leadership. Administrative and Program Management Support (30%) Provides comprehensive administrative and analytical support to the VISN Operations Center, assigned HSA Support Teams and VISN Programs. Researches and interprets VA/VHA policies, directives, handbooks, and other regulatory guidance to advise leadership and staff on procedural and administrative matters; ensures initiatives and correspondence comply with applicable policy requirements. Develops and maintains standard operating procedures, process guides, and internal control documents to support consistency and continuity of operations within the VISN Operations Center. 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: Monday • Friday 8:00 am • 4:30 pm Telework: Adhoc only Virtual: This may or may not be a virtual position as determined by your duty station. Position Description/PD#: Staff Assistant/PD00005VS and PD0007VS Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/28/2026. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9.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-9 Grade level requirements: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 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 working knowledge of organizational structure, administrative procedures, standard office automation, and data systems sufficient to perform recurring administrative, coordination, and correspondence support assignments under guidance.. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a masters degree or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position or LL.M. if related.. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond the first year). GS-11 Grade level requirements: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Providing a high degree of support to a director/manager of a complex program; managing the administrative functions and coordinating workload within a large organization; ensuring program compliance with policy and regulations; implementing process improvement initiatives; and preparing correspondence. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D., equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a related field that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position or LL.M. if related. NOTE: This education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university. If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and graduate education (beyond the second year). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Planning and Evaluation Communication 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: The work is primarily sedentary, performed in an office setting. Some travel between VISN facilities may be required to support meetings, site visits, or special projects. 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/. You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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 or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.