Program Support Assistant

Summary

This position is located at our John Cochran Division - in the office of the Chief of the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) - for the VA St. Louis Health Care System. The Program Support Assistant works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model and performs administrative duties - clinical services support - customer service - personnel timekeeping support and other duties assigned for the proper and timely treatment of patients.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 06/24/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: For the GS-5 level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-4) 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 administrative support; collecting - compiling and tracking data and information; processing documents and reports; establishing - updating and maintaining office files and records; performing automation duties using such software applications such as word processing - spreadsheet - electronic mail - desktop publishing - calendar - database and/or graphics; and providing information and customer service. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 4 years above high school. OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond high school. For the GS-6 level: 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: providing administrative support; collecting - compiling and tracking data and information; processing documents and reports; establishing - updating and maintaining office files and records; performing automation duties using such software applications such as word processing - spreadsheet - electronic mail - desktop publishing - calendar - database and/or graphics; and providing information and customer service. OR - Education: Generally - not applicable. As a general rule - education is not creditable above GS-5 for most positions covered by this standard; however - graduate education may be credited in those few instances where the graduate education is directly related to the work of the position. 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/.

Duties

• Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: - Handles routine inquiries (face to face and telephone) from medical personnel - nursing - reference lab personnel - and visitors to the laboratory regarding lab administrative duties - outside lab test results - consult requests and routing inquiries to appropriate personnel
• - Receives and screens visitors and telephone calls for the service
• takes concise messages
• answers questions concerning established policy and uses personal judgment in determining whether supervisor should be interrupted - or caller referred to other key personnel
• discerns and assigns priority to urgent calls and notifies appropriate persons for immediate actions
• - Manages the calendar for the Chief - P&LMS - including scheduling meetings - booking conference rooms - contacting meeting attendees to confirm attendance - tracking attendance and preparing meeting agendas and minutes as needed
• - Incumbent coordinates the flow of Anatomic Pathology consult cases - including cases sent to other institutions as well consults sent to St
• Louis VAHCS from other institutions
• - Serves as official timekeeper for P&LMS and is familiar with all current fiscal policies and procedures appropriate to correct documentation and submissions of employee timecards
• Works with department supervisors to ensure correct and timely input of staff leave requests including appropriate and regular corrections of leave exceptions as needed
• - Works with P&LMS chief - manager and supervisors to electronically submit all requests for new equipment to the facility Equipment Committee
• - Prepares annual input for acquisitions planning for well-established levels and types of standard equipment and expendable supplies necessary to support PLMS operational and Administrative functions
• - Implements federal and agency program for control and inventory - return and reutilization of equipment
• 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 from 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 Support Assistant/PD105030 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized