Program Support Assistant

Summary

The Program Support Assistant (PSA) serves as the primary service-level representative for all logistical functions within Specialty Care. This includes, but is not limited to, the oversight and coordination of contracts, equipment, supplies, inventory management, and all budget-related activities not directly associated with recruitment and retention, patient access, or care in the community.

Duties

The Program Support Assistant will perform a variety of duties, including but not limited to the following: Ensure that each sub-specialty possesses the equipment, supplies, and resources necessary to successfully fulfill its mission. Provide senior leadership with data-driven findings, assessments, and recommendations aimed at improving operational effectiveness and efficiency. Manage procurement actions for supplies and equipment at both the facility and VISN levels, ensuring compliance, fiscal responsibility, and timely acquisition. Maintain and update a comprehensive equipment lifecycle plan for all major assets within the service. Serve as the primary budget and finance coordinator for the service, responsible for the full scope of budget formulation, justification, execution, and ongoing financial oversight. Develop and submit annual budget requests, preparing supplemental funding requests, conducting detailed financial reporting, and ensuring full compliance with fiscal regulations and organizational policies. Responsible for monitoring annual budget execution, making necessary adjustments, reallocating resources to meet clinical and operational priorities, and submitting resource management requests for funding, space, and other essential needs. Prepares detailed budget reports and formulates new requests base on comprehensive financial analyses and productivity data, presenting these findings to senior leadership with clear justification and evidence-based recommendations. Evaluate the financial impact of equipment and supply acquisitions, disposals, and upgrades, as well as the implications of new or revised programs within the service. Review historical expenditure patterns, operational trends, and utilization data to develop projections, prepare budget justifications, and integrate validated requests into a coordinated and comprehensive service-line budget forecast. Collaborate closely with the service's Administrative Officer to prepare, manage, and monitor all service-related contracts and purchased services. Draft detailed Statements of Work (SOWs) for contracted healthcare services, reviewing and evaluating proposals for technical adequacy and cost effectiveness, and overseeing the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) functions for all service contracts. Ensure that contract execution aligns with budget availability, workload requirements, and operational priorities by maintaining accurate and up-to-date information on the service's current budget and resource allocations. Evaluate contract performance, identifies potential risks or deficiencies, and recommends corrective actions to ensure high-quality service delivery and fiscal stewardship. Serve as the Equipment Inventory Listing (Ell) specialist for the service, responsible for conducting monthly, quarterly, and annual equipment inspections across three operational sites: Austin, Temple, and Waco, Texas. Collaborate closely with Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) to coordinate and manage all equipment and supply needs, including telehealth technology, and ensures that all requests are properly submitted, documented, and processed through the appropriate supply and distribution channels. Review, prioritize, and approve equipment requests for the service, exercising delegated authority to determine operational necessity, validate alignment with clinical priorities, and sign all required procurement and request forms in a timely manner. Perform periodic equipment reviews and inventories to confirm safe operation, identify deficiencies, and support decisions regarding upgrades, replacement cycles, or decommissioning. Work closely with Specialty Care subspecialties to assess equipment needs, determine required resources, and support the prioritization of purchases essential to maintaining access to care and the delivery of high-quality healthcare services to Veterans. Ensure that all Specialty Care programs maintain the equipment readiness necessary to support uninterrupted clinical operations and optimal patient outcomes. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Program Support Assistant/674-013570 Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Telework Eligible: Yes- Ad hoc only Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary; however, occasional physical activity may be required when troubleshooting equipment and peripheral devices. The position may involve periods of standing and walking throughout the facility and associated outlying buildings. On occasion, the PSA may be required to stoop, lift, or move boxes-up to a maximum of 50 pounds-containing training materials, computer software, or computer equipment. Requirements

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. Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/31/2026. 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-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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 as described below: You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service; experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Performing administrative and clerical support duties such as, scheduling and coordinating meetings, responding to email and written requests; Collecting, analyzing, and tracking data for reporting on cases and status of suspense items; Understanding and applying laws, VA regulations and guidelines, and facility directives accurately; Organizing office procedures and reports; Performing office automation duties using various software applications such as databases, spreadsheets, and software programs to support the department needs. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Budget Administration Administration and Management Problem Solving Contracting/Procurement There is no educational substitution for the GS-06 level. 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 sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds 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/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level. How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. Other Information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.